Britain and de Gaulle
Sir : Is there any reason why a relatively prosperous community should receive a new partner who is financially unsound? Judging by Tuesday's press and radio comment, to reject such a partner is outrageous. One would suppose that de Gaulle was a contemporary Hitler. One eminent and ill- bred politician near enough suggested it.
Why is it supposed that France is the only country against us? Anyone who listens to the equivocal comments made by the other five must know very well that the General has a lot of support. One strong voice is enough. The rest have no need to antagonise us.
Objective economists know that de Gaulle has a strong case. When the Community was weak we didn't want to join. We pursued our own interests. Now it is strong we want to join and we expect de Gaulle to put our interests first. We know we are in a mess and we know it is our own fault, not France's. Sir Alec Douglas-Home told us that we must make an honest attempt to solve our own problems before belabouring others for not helping us.
The utmost charge we can bring against de Gaulle is that he is short-sighted, but when he looks at the economic disorders of England brought about by the far-seeing policies of out leaders, perhaps he prefers myopia. We should remember, too, that it is both ill-mannered and imprudent to abuse one's creditors.
We have lost our leadership: we have lost our stability. Let us at least not lose our dignity.
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