6 SEPTEMBER 1997, Page 26

Growling and barking

LAMBERTO 'Wait for me' Dini has said it again. Europe should not start a single cur- rency until countries such as Italy (where he is foreign minister these days) are ready for it. In Brussels, the monetary commis- sion will not hear of it. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg condemns him, as does Gunther Rexrodt, who leads a shadowy existence as Germany's minister of eco- nomics. Hans Tietmeyer at the Bundesbank says that delay wouldn't hurt, and Theo `Down, boy' Waigel, the finance minister, has said before now that Italy cannot hope to meet the deadline, but he is behind the sofa, growling at Chancellor Kohl. Some of the others appear to be barking.