Hold the red line

Many interesting letter writers in the past week have suggested that learning a lesson from the First World War is difficult because the UK actually chose to come into the war – the German government did not declare war on the UK. The Germans, however, crossed our red lines by invading Belgium (as part of their invasion plan for France).

Why do countries insensitively ignore other countries’ red lines and think there will be no consequences? Red lines are in place because they protect vital strategic interests! A smoking gun here was the Kaiser’s Neo-darwinian philosophy. He believed a country could not remain in an economic big league for long unless it dominated other countries. Hitler would express the same sentiment later when he wrote: “Struggle is the father of all things. He who does not struggle for life will lose it.”

This paranoid mentality was seen as foolishness by better men. The poet Wilfred Owen wanted no ritualised remembrance: “What passing bells for these who die as cattle? Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle, can patter out their hasty orisons.” Instead, he wanted people to remember how insensitivity had taken the men to war: “Cursed are all dullards whom no cannon stuns, that they might be as stones.” We must guard against insensitivity. When red lines become red rags to

bulls that insensitivity can cause trouble again.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh