A blanced view
Sir: I have begun to ask myself why, as a convinced pro-European, I still look for- ward to reading The Spectator each week, in Spite of the ubiquitous articles complaining about Maastricht, the ERM and all things Pertaining to the European Community.
Take this week (14 July), for instance. No less than three 'Little Englanders' give voice to the usual moans — Simon Heffer, Christopher Fildes and Will Hutton (no Noel Malcolm this week?) — as well as Your leader, which is entirely given over to criticism of what I thought was an extreme- ly sensible letter from Tristan Garel-Jones, which, to your credit, you published last week.
Will it ever be possible, I wonder, for you to give consideration to the other side of the question? Or are you trying to embar- rass the Government by your constant undermining of the sterling work being done by Mr Major and his team in today's difficult situation?
However, in spite of this statutory whingeing, I remain one of your constant readers because I do so much enjoy the rest of your publication. This week there are splendid articles by John Simpson, John Gummer, Robin Lodge and Hardy Amies — and Paul Johnson is for once tolerable. Your review section is always worthwhile — the poems interesting and occasionally stunning. Cartoons, though sometimes incomprehensible, provide light relief.
As long as, in my opinion, the good out- weighs the bad I shall continue to take your magazine — and keep (possibly vainly) hoping that one day an occasional article in favour of the European Community will find its way into your pages. What a lovely surprise that would be!
Barbara Dunn
Shenton Cottage, Greywell, Basingstoke
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