SIR,—Taper may well be right in criticising the use made
by some Welsh MPs of the periods set apart in the Commons for the discussion of Welsh affairs. Their speeches on these occasions too often seem merely plaintive, unconstructive and uncoordinated. But he is surely wrong in suggesting that Welsh affairs do not substantially differ from affairs in this or that part of England, and in minimising the importance of the fact that the Welsh are, however much diluted, still a different nation from the English, with a recognisably different attitude in some ways to people and things and with, in addi- tion to English, a language of their own, still widely spoken.
Let Taper make a speech in Wales such as he would probably make in England on, say, the Sunday opening of 'pubs,' or let him imagine himself a child who has done well in some subjects taught in English in one school, but who Is now doing very badly in them in another school because he is being compulsorily taught them in Welsh, or vice versa, and he will know. If anything could make the `Parliament for Wales' movement formidable, it is the Taper-mentality, as here revealed, in England and at Westminster. • But there—even the brightest of tapers should be excused an occasional fizzle?—Yours faithfully, Argoed, Dolgolley, Merioneth MERVYN HAIGH
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