4 JULY 1981, Page 16

The Calvo Sotelo family

Sir: I share Simon Courtauld's concern in the democratic welfare of Spain and I enjoyed reading his article (20 Tune). May I add a postscript: Leopoldo Calvo Sotelo is the nephew of Jose Calvo Sotelo, the leader of the Monarchist Party and main opposition spokesman in the Cortes of 1936. His murder by assault guards and others in 1936 was the pretext for the Nationalist uprising that led to the Franco dictatorship.

It was the equivalent of say Michael Foot being assassinated by Special Branch detectives. Let us hope that history does not repeat itself in Spain.

Leonard Merson 14 Silverthorn Drive,

Hemel Hempstead,

Hertfordshire