16 MARCH 2002, Page 40

From Mr Kim du Toit Sir: Your leading article says

'[America) unilaterally withdrew from the Kyoto agreement on climate change'. Considering that the US Senate had voted against Kyoto's ratification (during former President Clinton's presidency, moreover), America and President Bush didn't withdraw from anything. An unratified treaty is worthless.

Furthermore, had President Bush agreed to become party to the International Court of Justice, he could well have faced impeachment by Congress. The President is expressly forbidden by the US constitution to surrender the country's sovereignty in such matters.

Kim du Toit

Chicago, Illinois, USA