A name for an effect
Sir: If, as your correspondent Mr Hum- phrey Dougherty writes from Madrid (26 June), El Alcazar did use the phrase 'Gans° Verde', it was inventing a place which would be Green Goose in English. Not many Spanish or South American towns have what we would call a green and the nearest equivalent is probably `prado' i.e. a meadow or field. Thus 'Prado Ganso' would be an acceptable rendering of Goose Green in a Spanish-language publication.
May I also take this opportunity to re- mind Patrick Marnham, whose article `Relying on the revolver' appears in the same issue, that Salvador Allende's death was reported as suicide committed with an automatic weapon presented to him by Fidel Castro? Whatever the CIA's role in Chile, it is only Marxist propaganda which credits that organisation with Allende's death.
In my view, the ignorance of Spanish and of Latin American affairs in usually well- informed circles in this country must count as a contributory factor in the recent crisis. `Gans° Verde' shows that the ignorance is unfortunately mutual!
Neville Beale
Chelsea Towers, Chelsea Manor Street, London SW3
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