Theirs not to reason why
Sir: In recent weeks Geoffrey McDermott has apparently twice condoned the policy of the terror raids on Germany and more particularly that on Dresden. He has also assured us that while he personally had no qualms about the policy of forcible repatriation of Russians at the end of the war it was in any case a necessary gesture on the part of Sir Winston.
I am sure that similar weighty reasons for our betrayal of Poland, neatly epitomised by the recent fiasco of the Katyn memorial, our glorious Suez venture under the leadership of the architect of the repatriation policy, and the craven support of the American military adventure in Vietnam which characterised Conservative and Labour governments. No doubt this is the way it is. No doubt orders are orders — and of course there will always be excellent reasons why no one should rock the boat or permit personal conscience or humanity to get in the way. But I think it should be said that the good name of our country is not entirely vindicated merely because bullying, cowardice and brutality happened to be expedient.
Michael Tatham Clod Hall, Odell, Bedford
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