27 SEPTEMBER 1969, Page 29

Lucky old Pope

Sir: Mr Walder (6 September) says that the British 'got themselves off the hook' in 1921. But did they? The only effective way to do so would have been to aquiesce in the creation of a genuinely separate and foreign republic for at least twenty-six and probably twenty-eight counties of Ireland without the nonsense of reciprocal citizen- ship rights and special trade privileges. The results would have been instructive and spectacular, beneficial alike to Ireland and to England's reputation in the world. As it is, however much the subject may bore you, you are left with certain tiresome responsibilities and you have to reckon with damaging and fairly unscrupulous Irish propaganda all over the world and especially in the us. Incidentally, has any- one compared the much-abused 'Special Powers Act' of Northern Ireland with the 'Public Safety Act' of the South?