9 JULY 1977, Page 17

Eire and the Empire

Sir: Mr. Ewart Milne is confused (Letters, 25] une). We were in the Commonwealth in the 'thirties. We did not leave until 1949. The headline in the Daily Express said: 'The Empire tells Eire: you will suffer if you leave.' We have not suffered. Cranks no longer write to our newspapers suggesting that we rejoin the Commonwealth. From 1937 until 1949 we, not India, were the first republic within the Commonwealth. Patrick Bury The Grey Door, 23 Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin