GAGARIN—SI!
SIR,—May I point out that in the years before the Stalinists jumped on the unilateralist bandwagon, they voted for Gaitskell's multilateralism. Does Mr. Clarke know of any occasion when their votes were discounted then? If not, his accusation of fellow- traveller is two-edged; if unilateralists are fellow- travellers now, Macmillan and Gaitskell were two years ago and presumably Mr. Clarke. A fellow- traveller is someone who follows the CP line. not whose line the CP follows.
As for Mr. Barry's smear on the CND speakers at the Park perhaps he would specify which one is anti-American. Perhaps he does not know that some of them are American (nor would I advise him to shift his line to anti-Gerinanism); last Sunday when I was listening I heard the spokesman talking of the Freedom Riders, to illustrate the efficacity of non- violent resistance; is this what Mr. Barry calls anti- American?
If Mr. Barry cannot appreciate that a major power deliberately giving up its most potent weapons, breaking with all power blocs and devoting the money saved to the relief of world poverty would not only be neutral but would radically alter the whole nature of international politics; then his understanding of these leaves much to be desired and it is no wonder that he has turned to Mr. Khrushchev for support for his beliefs. But slander is not a substitute for reasoning.
He is right, of course, at one point: all unilatera- lists arc, of course, neutralist (ignoring the miniscule Stalinist element that joins us today and will rejoin Mr. Clarke tomorrow); but to be unable to dis- tinguish between pacifists and those who merely wish to give up one weapon shows remarkably short sight.
LAURENS OTTER
57 Ladbroke Road, W I
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