22 AUGUST 1998, Page 24

When in Rome . . .

Sir: Writing the Diary (15 August) from Italy and observing the disregard for law traditional in Romance cultures, Allan Massie immediately claims that heed for the law makes Britain non-European.

In which continent does Massie believe that the Germans exist? Their culture is jokingly characterised, not least by them- selves, as one in which nothing is allowed except that which is expressly permitted. Nor are they the only such culture in the political entity now calling itself Europe: it is overwhelmingly Germanic and law-abid- ing. It is exactly this split between the Ger- manic and Romance cultures which will eventually destroy the aspiring monolith.

P.G. Urben

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