Britain and Europe
Sir: I am glad that Mr Ash (`Mourning becomes Europa', 29 October), makes the proper distinction between the advantages of freer economic arrangements with Europe, and the political disadvantages of derogating from sovereignty, Britain losing control to any extent over her own deci- sions.
It has to be asked bluntly whether we could trust the French and Germans on the basis of their historical record in this century.
It is true that Germany has had a decent record in the past 30 years; but the appalling record before that gives no ground for confidence. And it is interesting to learn that Adenauer had no complete trust in German political stability. Similar- ly with France. We remember France's utter breakdown and failure in 1940, and the chronic governmental instability after the war.
Mrs Thatcher's instinct is not to put our political fate into such hands, but to keep ultimate decisions under our own control. Women are more cautious than men, and her judgment has proved sounder than Mr Heath's.
A. L. Rowse
St Austell, Cornwall
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