26 OCTOBER 1985, Page 25

Selling Ulster

Sir: I hesitate to disillusion Richard In- grams (Diary, 12 October), but Churchill tried the very volte-face he suggests over Ulster in 1940. The price of handing the six counties to Eire was to be that country's declaration of war on Germany. Mr de Valera, who was no means certain of the future prospects of the British Empire, and who had, already, had one civil war on his hands, declined the offer.

David Duckels

38 Exchange Street, Driffield, Yorkshire