ARMS FOR CHINA
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR] SIR,—It seems sometimes that the capacity for moral- indig- nation and moral courage is passing from the modern world. How else can we explain the attitude of the Powers towards the supply of munitions to China—poor China, engaged in a deadly struggle with the aggressor ?
Great Britain, taxed with the crime of helping China by selling her arms, is at pains to explain what a very small quantity she has supplied. France, facing a similar charge, makes haste to apologise and promises to stop the arms traffic through Indo- China. Germany and Italy defend their supplies on purely economic grounds—they cannot afford to lose the opportunity of making a little money.
The United States find righteousness in refusing munitions to either side, but they continue supplying to Japan large quan- tities of petrol and scrap metal, which she readily converts to military uses.
Russia alone has the courage to tell the aggressor that she is doing what she can to help China in her agony, and that her action is in full accord with the laws of civilised nations.
I hold no brief for Russia or Communism, but is it surprising in the face of these facts that the moral leadership of the world is departing from the orthodox democracies ?—Yours faithfully,
H. L. NICHOLLS.
63 Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-Sea.
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