Sir, – I have read with sadness of the death of Helmut Schmidt, one of the few politicians I admired ("Former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt dies aged 96", November 10th). I recall what he said a few years ago: "Politics without a conscience tends towards criminality. I understand politics as pragmatic action for moral purposes." – Yours, etc,
JAMES BRENNAN,
Ballyouskill,
Co Kilkenny.
