P. KAISERMAN (Your Letters, June 18) and I seem to be missing some of each other's points whilst agreeing on others.

I am not so naive as to suppose that leading politicians of any nation are motivated by altruism. My original letter gave them the perhaps under-stated label of "contriving and disingenuous". However, even if they were morally inspired, it would be impossible to act against all the inhumane activities in all the countries P. Kaiserman mentions.

The sentiment behind my letter of May 14 was that, however hypocritical the motive, Nato's action was attempting to end the suffering and barbarity which was not - as P. Kaiserman cynically suggests - "alleged", but tragically very real. However mendacious the objective, there were prior overtures which Milosevic could have negotiated on and prevented hostility, instead of continuing torture and slaughter. I also drew attention to some positive and humane qualities which Britain practises but which seem to be ignored by those engaged in fashionable national self-denigration. Unfortunately, Britain's current concessions to terrorism in Ireland, its obsequiousness to Brussels and its unctuous compliance with America are destroying national identity, pride and once-respected world influence.

P. Kaiserman rightly draws attention to the urgent potential threats to peace in Europe, but these threats are not due solely to Western powers; other participants deserve equal censure. There is an international lack of statesmen of strength with wisdom, philanthropy and vision. I am concerned about the world that my children, and theirs, will know.

CEEAITCH, Prestwich.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.