6 FEBRUARY 1971, Page 24

Stifling protest

Sir: A sidelight on the Tireless Tory Titan's fight for British in- dependence from She Common- wealth. One wonders whether Mr Heath has provoked the continu- ing row over arms for South Africa mainly to stifle protest about the cutting of trade links with the white Commonwealth and South Africa involved in going into the Common Market, which requires an end to preference and the setting up of preferences against these, our sister nations.

Is Mr Heath's speechifying about Britain's independence, which was never threatened by the Common- wealth, to draw attention away from the abandoning of our in- dependence forever in the Etc?

Is Mr Heath's pose as the white man's friend designed to distract us from the fact that EEC entry means tight links with most or all African states, except South Africa, and free immigration to this coun- try from Martinique, Guadaloupe, Reunion, Guiana, and, in a few years, from Turkey?

G. J. A. Stern 6 Eton Court, Shepherds Hill, Lon- don N6