16 APRIL 1965, Page 11

Britain and Germany

SIR,-111 is dangerous as well as stupid nonsense to say, as Miss Gainham does from her observation post in darkest Bonn, that 'nobody on the continent takes Britain seriously,' In nine European countries during the last year I have found strong evidence to the contrary. Holland and Belgium, desperately want Britain to join the Common Market and, in any case, rely on Britain to play an active role in Europe. President dc Gaulle has kept Britain out precisely because British prestige was—still is—liable to detract from his own authority in Europe. Italy and Greece (the latter in spite of Cyprus) are closer to Britain than at any time I can remember. The 'gnomes of Zurich' react to every move of British' economic policy—be they debtors or creditors, ask them whether they do not take Britain seriously! Even in West Germany Miss Gainham obviously meets the wrong people (which could be proved on the strength—or rather: the Weakness—of most of her German reports). Chancellor Erhard, however bumbling his handling of foreign affairs since, has told me inure than once that he regarded British influence in Europe as an indispensable asset. Foreign Minister Dr. Schroeder is notorious for his Anglo-American fixation. Willy Brandt has a very healthy intelligent regard for Britain. Whatever one's personal views on the implications, I am stating incontrovertible facts.

So how does your correspondent arrive at her conclusion that nobody on the continent takes Britain seriously? Let her divulge her sources and authority to her readers (if not to her editor)! Or quote the continental publications which support her statement. Alternatively, she would be well advised to stop pandering to those elements in Bonn who are determined to reduce Britain to the position in which Miss Gainham sees her, and who hope to achieve their objective with the connivance of a few gullible, gushing British expatriates (or 'expatriots' to retain my typist's Freudian slip) whose political irresponsibility is only matched by their ignorance.