22 APRIL 1966, Page 11

Atomic Diplomacy SIR.—Reviewin g Atomic Diplomacy: Hiroshima and Potsdam, by Gar

Alperovitz. Mr D. C. Watt de- scribes the author's thesis that the US decision to drop the A-bomb was directed against the USSR as much as against Japan as 'new and startling.'

References to it will, however, be found in my book. The Uncertain Ally 1917-1957, published by Johnson in 1957. I also discussed the 'contention that the abrupt cessation of lend-lease deliveries at the end of August 1945 was intended as a form of pressure on the Soviet Union,' and found more in it than your reviewer accepts.

JOHN BIGGS-DAVISON

House of Commons, London, SW I