Referendum
Sir "If the people endorse the verdict of ... the mandarins of Europeanism I, for one, will accept their verdict' says Mr Patrick Cosgrave (February 1). I do not agree that this would dispose of the matter for ever, or even for generations, Which seems to be widely believed. The EEC is just the kind of confederation which could not last according to The Federalist Papers, which were Published for the purpose of persuading the American public to approve the document which became the Constitution of the USA, and they mentioned all the relevant historical examples in support of their argument. That is why the federal government of the USA has its own armed forces and other means of coercion. A member nation of the EEC can no more be prevented from Pursuing an independent policy than Ian Smith's government cold be restrained from proclaiming and imple menting a UDI. It would, indeed, be very far less bitterly opposed. I will vote for our resignation from the EEC not because I think that the continuation of our membership would permanently deprive us of sovereignty but because the terms are against our interests. Subsequent governments and the electorate will recognise, if the referendum confirms our membership, that it was a mistake to join; and then we will leave Without much ado; unless the EEC becomes little more than a free trade area, which would be acceptable but make one wonder what all the fuss was about.
Possibly I am not taking the matter as seriously as some of my fellow
anti-Marketeers think I ought; but if the result of the referendum does not meet With our approval, I will not be mourning the death of the British nation but ready to fight another day.
D. E. Folkes 5 Queen's Walk, Ealing, London W5
Previous page
