In the letter below, English theatre critic Kenneth Tynan writes to the Tribune regarding “the unique moral splendor” of nuclear annihilation, and insists that the Royal family be immediately evacuated to “some distant British dependency.”
To the Editor, Tribune
[120 Mount Street]
[Published February 1958]
The inaugural meeting in London of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament included some thought-provoking analyses, notably by [philosopher and mathematician] Bertrand Russell and [ex-naval officer and author] Sir Stephen King-Hall, of our defence position as outlined by [conservative minister of defence] Mr. Sandys.
Nuclear weapons are the basis of our defence: our possession of them makes us an automatic target for nuclear attack: we have no defence against nuclear attack.
This seems to be the situation in which the Government has placed us. What nobody has yet pointed out is the unique moral splendor of it all.
We are committed, if war breaks out, to a gesture of self-sacrifice unparalleled in human history. We have volunteered for annihilation.
Some may scoff at us: some may even call us suicidal maniacs. But we British have been called names before. We shall go to our graves in quiet heart, secure in the knowledge that by our sacrifice we shall have made our island uninhabitable to the invading hordes, or for that matter anybody else.
I do not wish to be accused of mealy-mouthed sentimentality: but is there not one family that should be spared? I am sure I speak for every member of it when I say that they would vastly prefer to stay with their people in the event of war and be wiped out alongside them.
All the same, I feel it my humble duty to suggest that the Royal family should be evacuated from these islands without a moment’s delay.
We would all, I feel sure, rest easier in our graves if we knew that somewhere in the world a British family survived to carry on the British tradition of civilized decency and respect for human life. And not only survived, but survived intact.
To expose the Royal family to radiation would be to risk the most fearful dynastic consequences. Both patriotism and commonsense lead Inescapably to the conclusion I have respectfully suggested.
The royal family should take up residence, with all convenient speed, in some distant British dependency. Let cowards flinch and traitors glare: we’ll keep the old flag flying there.
KENNETH TYNAN