The following letters were sent to the NYT editorial board in response to Stephen Krasner's "A World Court That Could Backfire," Op-Ed, Jan. 15.

To the Editor:

Stephen D. Krasner's ("A World Court That Could Backfire," Op-Ed, Jan. 15) argues that an international criminal court should be rejected since the threat of punishment might inhibit genocidal dictators from settling conflicts peacefully. He overlooks the fact that the pending treaty for a world criminal court specifically confirms the right of the UN Security Council to halt criminal prosecutions when deemed necessary to further peace negotiations.

However imperfect in practice, deterring aggression and crimes against humanity must remain the primary goal. Permitting political considerations to immunize perpetrators shows contempt for their victims and the judicial system. Allowing notorious criminals to escape to a comfortable life in exile breeds despair and resentment that leads to vengeance

Those who seek to trade justice for peace will find neither peace nor justice. Upholding the rule of law without exception, remains our best hope for a more humane and peaceful world.

BENJAMIN B. FERENCZ

(The writer was a Nuremberg war crimes prosecutor)