COMMON MARKET SIR,—In your remarkably clear analysis of the Common
Market negotiations in last week's number I think you cover the facts both clearly and cogently but also do appear to underrate the very great uneasiness felt by the man in the street at the Hay the present negotiations are being handled. Firstly, I think it must be said that the Government are in a difficult position over these, because they have gone into them in the wrong way, at the wrong time, under the wrong pressures and for all the wrong reasons. Of course. they should either have joined Europe at the beginning so as to help mould the framework strategically or waited until they had built up an economically and strategically stronger Commonwealth, at which stage they could have named their own terms of association.
I think it is the `Government's attitude to the Commonwealth that is the key to their failure. After all, it needs more vision, more strength and viability, more courage and a sounder England at the heart of it to develop a new Commonwealth, than to hold an old Empire. It is precisely because the Govera-
ment believe that a Commonwealth policy is a policy of abdication that they have failed on both fronts.
Surely from the vast mass of British political thinking, and, I would have thought, from the best sections of all parties there must be sufficient ability to develop a Commonwealth policy and a policy for. Europe which will safeguard British interests, ensure the security and prosperity of the British people and provide a vision fit for our sons.
PETER BAKER Buckingham Court, 78 Buckingham Gate, SW 1
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