30 DECEMBER 2000, Page 23

In defeat, ingratitude

From Mr David Ramsay Sir: In his well-reasoned article 'The right to say no' (9 December), Daniel Hannan dis- cusses and then rejects the theory that other EU countries resent Britain for winning the war. The French certainly have a long list of grievances against Britain. They have never forgiven the British for not collapsing, as they themselves did, in 1940, and thus they have no one with whom to share their shame.

The French establishment's animosity is directed not only against the British. They continuously criticise and deride the USA despite the American blood so liberally shed for France in both world wars 10,000 Americans are buried at Omaha Beach alone. They also forget the Marshall Aid so generously extended after the sec- ond world war, which arguably prevented France from going Communist. French ingratitude of such a degree should sharply remind us that in this world no good deed ever goes unpunished.

David Ramsay

Indian Wells, California