Neutrality is not ‘freeloading’

Sir, – The headline “Freeloading as a security policy” (Letters, May 24th) is denigrating to those of us who continue to believe that our traditional stance of military neutrality is a sustainable value in today’s world.

We are not irresponsible “freeloaders” but opponents of the belief that only war achieves peace.

We are following the spirit and letter of the first sentence of the preamble to Unesco’s constitution which states: “Since wars start in the minds of men‚ it is in the minds of men that the defence of peace must be constructed”.

This sentence is carved in stone on a monument at the Unesco’s headquarters in Paris and should be carved into the minds and hearts of all peoples. – Yours, etc,