Sir, - I was delighted to read Dr John de Courcy Ireland's reply (June 17th) to my letter in which I defended Ireland's imminent entry into the Partnership for Peace. I welcome his learned opinion based on three score and ten years of historical study and concede that my opinions are formulated on observations of human behaviour over a considerably shorter period.
I fear that further comments on my part would add little to an already belaboured subject. However, I would like to offer a short response to the question posed by Dr de Courcy Ireland in the last paragraph of his letter: "Does any thinking citizen really want our country to enter partnership with such an alliance of the rich, aggressive, over-armed juggernauts as NATO has shown itself to be?"
Like it or not, Ireland has already entered the first phase of a partnership. We are members in good standing of the North Atlantic Co-Prosperity Sphere. The thinking citizens (idealists) of Ireland may argue against such a relationship, but the seductive powers of materialism which have engulfed our nation seem to reflect the preference of the majority. Behold the "Celtic Tiger"! We, the inhabitants of this small, militarily insignificant island have bonded with a country whose opulent lifestyle is the ultimate achievement for those upwardlymobile movers and shakers who not only dominate our political system but will ultimately decide, without a plebiscite, Ireland's foreign policies. The next step in this natural progression is incontrovertible: membership of the Partnership for Peace! - Yours, etc.,
Edward D. Rafferty, Grogans Road, Wexford Town, Co Wexford.