Sir, - My colleague Des O'Malley TD quotes approvingly (The Irish Times, October 15th) the secretary-general of the Department of Foreign Affairs citing Bismarck's dictum: "Diplomacy without arms is like music without instruments". Indeed. So much for the attractions of the human voice. And while one cannot help admiring this surprisingly Wildean intellectual confection from Mr Bismarck, it is worth remembering that the successors to this little Wagnerian orchestra also gave us "Springtime for Hitler" in the 1930s. Perhaps for all his appreciation of marching band music, Des O'Malley may have a thin ear when it comes to the moral issues involved.
Most people in this country find the noise made by NATO's cluster bombs and other anti-personnel devices exploding in the hands of the children they were designed to attract a little off-key. Moreover, while it may be true that the melodious thud of uranium-enhanced warheads may well produce a fairly general peace, that peace could well turn out to be both complete and sinister. It is also quite likely to leave most of the boys in the band and their audience not only without arms, but without legs, heads and various other assorted bits and pieces. - Yours, etc.,
Sen David Norris, Member of Bureau of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Seanad Eireann, Baile Atha Cliath 2.