LETTERS
National matters
Sir: Professor Bew's article CA nation proud, free and dull', 24 August) is most illuminating, but contains a number of points with which I wish to take issue.
It is not entirely clear to which nation the headline refers, but I assume that the tar- geted nation is Ireland. Ireland is anything but dull. I have nothing but lively memories of my visitors there, and of my meetings with Irish friends. I am Scots.
The cover of The Spectator implies that the article is aimed at Scottish aspirations at least as much as at Irish ones. But the article says extremely little about Scotland and a lot about Ireland. Scotland is thrown in as an afterthought, perhaps to make a headline.
Is it really true that Ireland might have remained within the United Kingdom? I very much doubt it. The whole history of the late 18th century to the early 20th cen- tury, as it affects Ireland, suggests other- wise. Professor Bew displays' too much learning for me to want to believe that he is blind to the romanticism of his countrymen. I think Ireland is better off economically today than it would have been if it had stayed within the United Kingdom. Of course, most of the benefits are due to Brussels and the generosity of successive German governments. But the benefits are there.
lain Smith
Lugar de Redonda, Cortes, P-4950 Moncao, Portugal
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