A lump of England
Sir: I see Gibraltar is to the fore with you again. You were good enough to print a letter or two from me on that theme in May 1965. I still think much the same, viz, that at this point of time and history the right and honest sol- ution is that, upon conditions, it should return to Spain—at long notice, perhaps, to give time to inhabitants to leave or adiust, or unon compensation; naturially they all, or nearly, vote to stay with us, which is obviously their material interest (still more so if they have free entry here for permanent res- idence and all privileges attached). There are a great many arguments, pro and con. with plenty of alleged parallel situations (there are none in fact, I think), but the only one I should think of weight is if Gib- raltar can be shown to be in fact vital to our sea defences in an epoch when Russia seems to be a menace. As it is a vital duty— perhaps the very first, which not only justifies but absolutely re- quires that we supply South Africa with necessary naval equipment (though leftists think not, thinking which has brought us near to utter disaster twice this century already)—of every Cabinet to de- fend its people, I think in that case we should retain rights there as a naval base. Otherwise I should say the position could be fairly put as follows: I am driving from Malaga direction (as I often have) with a friend, from New Zealand let us suppose, when we see the great Rock loom ahead. 'That's a big lump of Spain' he says (not much knowing European politics or geography). 'It's not Spanish, it's ours' I reply. 'But hang it, it is a lump of Spain,' he says, as we get nearer. And so it is, and in my former correspondence I put the question, among others: 'How should we like it if a foreign power held, however legally, a lump of England sticking out into the sea'. Answers were offered to my other questions but not to that one.
D. G. Davies 49 Trinity Church Square, London
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