The Soviet Empire
Sir: Nina Tuckman (Letters, 10 December) compares a separation of the Soviet Union into its constituent nationalities and republics with the division of the United States of America into its component states.
However, unlike the Soviet Union, the United States of America is not geographically divided into nationalities. The majority in each state speaks the same language as the rest of the country; and the entire population is originally immigrant. In the Soviet Union on the other hand the inhabitants of each area speak their own language and are historically resident there; but the inhabitants of one area (Russia) have invaded and colonised all the rest and sought to impose their language and government on them.
Why should Ms Tuckman be so alarmed and indignant at the remote prospect of these lesser nations regaining their in- dependence — attacking them with the hackneyed cry of Nazi, while alluding to the 'principles' of the Soviet government?
In fact the Russian and Nazi principle was the same — to win an empire and to hold on to it by whatever means. The Rus- sians were cautious and successful; the Ger- mans were rash and failed.
Adrian White
36a Wakehurst Road, London SW11
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