Two Letters on Preventive War [1950–51]

The socialist students were reacting to comments made by Russell on the American lecture tour from which he had lately returned. On 27 November 1950 Russell was notified by Harvey Cole that the Cambridge University Labour Club had carried the following resolution by 28 votes to 8 at a business meeting attended the previous day by 50 of its 422 members: “This Club strongly condemns the recent statements of Lord Russell on the desirability of a preventive war, and considers such views as incompatible with the Presidency of the Club.” But Martin opposed Russell's hawkish turn after the Second World War and even rowed with him at a Brains Trust session in May 1948. Although Perkins and Blitz have skilfully elaborated the nuances of Russell's early Cold War strategy, one might easily argue that the "logical distance between advocating threats and supporting a pre-emptive strike if the Soviets refused to yield was never a great one".