Madam, - Firing a broadside across my bows for daring to criticise the participation of the Irish Naval Service at the commemoration of the Battle of Trafalgar in the Solent, Tim McAlpin (July 5th) feels we should be mature enough graciously to accept and enjoy the invitation to attend.
He points out correctly that France, Bulgaria, Serbia, Poland, Algeria, Brazil and Colombia participated in the review and that none of these countries are Commonwealth members. However, what Mr McAlpin omits from his argument is that none of the above countries have a territorial dispute with Great Britain, and no British soldiers are currently patrolling any of the cities of these countries.
May I say that I am very proud of the Irish Naval Service, which was born out of the struggle for national independence from British rule, and it is not my intention to be in any way abusive or disrespectful to serving personnel, or to embroil the Naval Service in embarrassing controversy?
Nonetheless, there is a political principle that must be addressed before normal relations between Ireland and Britain can be countenanced.
I take the view that the Irish State, in allowing itself to be pressured into participation at the fleet review and into Remembrance Sunday events, is effectively surrendering sovereign control over State ceremonial to Britain, which is hostile to the very ethos of an independent Irish nation. Enough is enough. - Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER,
Delaford Lawns,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.
Madam, - Tom Cooper (July 2nd) and Mark Urwin (July 6th) appear to share a concern about the possible loss of Irish sovereignty, and the bases for their concern are almost the same - the decision by the Irish people to dispense with Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution, the awarding of British decorations and their acceptance by Irish citizens, the attendances at British Remembrance Day ceremonies and the involvement of the Irish Navy in the recent celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar.
It all, presumably, smacks of a devious plot to surrender our independence and rejoin the United Kingdom.
Quite who has devised this plot is not alluded to by either of your correspondents, but clearly the Irish people themselves have a strong case to answer, and something needs to be done. Could I suggest Messrs Cooper and Urwin, together with like-minded people, get together and form a committee which could set down the terms and conditions applying to membership of the Irish nation? Thereafter, any non-compliance with same would result in, initially, a stern warning written in the first official language, and, for any subsequent breach or serious misdemeanour, an immediate loss of nationality.
I have to confess that I am more than a little guilty myself, as I am quite fond of foreign games and have also had an occasional peek at BBC television. But if I promise to repent, perhaps I may be allowed to stay. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN STEWART, Forest Hills, Knocknacarra, Galway.