6 JANUARY 2001, Page 21

Target for Euro-army

From Mr Basil Dewing Sir: The reason for creating a European Army, even if it is called a Rapid Reaction Force, appears to he to enable the European Union to intervene in situations where their interests diverge from those of the United States of America. One wonders where such a situation might arise. Reading the articles by Jeremy Clarke (Peace on earth — but not yet') and Emma Williams (`Bombs over Bethlehem') in your Christmas issue (16/23 December) makes one wonder whether the Holy Land might be the trigger. Could it be that the Europeans will decide that they cannot just stand by and watch, but feel obliged to go to rescue the Palestinian Christians and Muslims?

Basil Dewing

Great Malvern, Worcestershire