5 MARCH 1988, Page 20

Acceptable crime

Sir: I knew I would never get through to Barbara Smoker (Letters, 20 February). She now says it would have been all right to abort me because I would have known nothing about it. Since when has the victim's knowing nothing of it made a crime acceptable? I could bump off Miss Smoker without her knowing anything about it, but I would hardly think it was right or even desirable, let alone that it should be made legal. It is interesting that Miss Smoker should be the first to introduce Hitler into this discussion. It was his followers who wanted to perfect the human race by killing the weak and by genetic engineering. I being to wonder about this society of which Miss Smoker is president.

Quentin Crewe

Le Grand Banc, 04110 Oppedette, France