THE £1,500,000,000 POLICY [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In
the course of your article under this heading you refer to the Prime Minister's " realism " in connexion with the huge expenditure on armaments.
May I suggest that " realism " forces itself upon us in many ways ? Recently there was a display of newspaper placards outside a local newsagent's shop. Some of the placards contained in large type the following announcement : " £1,500,000,000 More for Armaments." Standing a few yards away from the shop I observed a small group of men playing music on various instruments. Each man was maimed, having lost a limb or an eye in the last War. Each one would have been glad of half a crown, and the newspaper placards were a sad commentary on their poverty and plight. That is one aspect of " realism."
Income Tax payers this year will experience another form of " realism " when their demands for income tax and national defence contributions are received. Still another form of " realism " is the bankruptcy of diplomacy in Europe today—that form of bankruptcy which is fast leading the nations into financial ruin.
As you state, there is certainly strong " ground for the comment that the Prime Minister with his realism under- rates the strength of idealism in this country."—Yours, &c.,
Previous page
