Sir, - Robert Martin (Opinion, November 23rd) would like Ireland to rejoin the commonwealth, an organisation not exactly noted for the high standards of democracy and public administration practised by some of its members, such as Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Many members, such as Ghana, have third world economies whose farmers are being driven off the land while the population buys cheap, subsidised American-grown food. This is called globalisation.
The Commonwealth - and indeed Canada itself and the UK - could have been acting as a strong force on behalf of these countries in international trade talks for many years. But do they - or do they just represent themselves.
For Britain, of course, Commonwealth contacts are useful when selling arms. And Britain sells a lot.
The Commonwealth Institute in Kensington, London, which exists supposedly for promoting education and understanding, was narrowly saved from being closed down two years ago (building falling down, no money available) through a donation from an Arab millionaire.
A statement that the Irish Government was committed to rejoining the Commonwealth might well warm the hearts of Northern unionists, but it would probably go down like a lead balloon in the Fianna Fβil heartland. - Yours, etc.,
Sean Macken, Queens Parade, London NW4.