1 JUNE 2002, Page 28

From Mr Derek 0. Sibthorpe Sir: Chris Patten's sentiment —

'A healthy European democracy will develop only when people begin to feel an emotional commitment to their European identity' — reminds me of O'Brien's promise to Winston Smith in Orwell's Nineteen EightyFour: 'We shall squeeze you empty, and then we shall fill you with ourselves.'

Derek 0. Sibthotpe

Belves, France