From Mr Aaron Schneider Sir: I was quite impressed by
Conrad Black's ideas on Britain's potential place in both the EU and Nafta. I do not, however, feel that he goes far enough. In his autobi- ography The Measure of the Years, Sir Robert Menzies said that he always hoped that at least Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada would 'remain as a solid core of combined and influential opinion in a very disordered world'. Unfor- tunately, this has not been the case. While Britain is being dragged kicking and screaming by New Labour towards a Euro- pean federation, the Australians have been enduring a similar outrage at the hands of the two pre-Howard governments regard- ing their relationship with Asia. Great Britain, Canada, Australia and, to a lesser degree, New Zealand are the best friends the United States has. Why should Britain and her former dominions not form their own bloc which would facilitate trade between all the other blocs that seem to be popping up around the world?
Britain could provide an entrance to Europe, Canada to the USA, and Australia to Asia. This would give the United States a large English-speaking ally, in the form of a Britannic union, while ensuring that Britain and the former dominions don't become too Americanised. It would also stop Britain losing further autonomy to Europe and keep Australia from getting lost in an often hostile Asia. Furthermore, Australia, Britain and Canada have three of the world's 12 largest GDPs. If united, despite geographical constraints, we could easily have one of the largest economies in the world.
Aaron Schneider
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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