Daily Mail – 17 September 1998

In continuing to claim, incorrectly, that nuclear deterrence is illegal, Ken Gorman misses the point about seeking to legislate the world's evils out of existence (Letters, September 9).

Even if the International Court of Justice had ruled the possession of nuclear weapons to be illegal (which it did not), how would that help protect us?

In the Twenties, the Geneva Gas Protocol ruled out the offensive use of poison gas, but Hitler killed millions of defenceless civilians with it in Nazi extermination camps. However, he dared not use it against the Allies because of our ability to retaliate in kind.

Having decisively lost the public opinion battle, anti-nuclear activists are trying to dismantle our deterrent with worthless legalistic techniques. They will not succeed.

Dr JULIAN LEWIS MP
House of Commons
London SW1