12 MARCH 2005, Page 21

Gilligan hard to defend

From The Rt Hon. Lord Patten of Barnes

Sir: Andrew Gilligan (‘Selling out to China’, 26 February) ascribes to me the view that Europe should end the arms embargo because it is humiliating for China. What I actually said on the BBC was that I did not believe that the Chinese thought they would be able to purchase many more weapons from Europe under a code of conduct rather than the embargo, but that they wanted it dropped because they felt humiliated by it.

After having expended so much dinnerparty breath on Mr Gilligan’s behalf, it is a useful corrective to be reminded what a difficult chap he is to defend.

Patten of Barnes London SW1