Letter: A pure myth, possibly made in the USA

Sir: Tim Lincoln (Letters, 16 October) asks if it can be true that a place in Japan was formally renamed Usa for the purpose of stamping 'Made in . . .' on exports destined for the United States.

When one considers that until comparatively recently the Republic of Ireland was awash with goods - mostly the tourist souvenir variety - stamped 'Deanta sa tSeapain' (Gaelic for 'Made in Japan'), one is left in no doubt as to the lengths of ingenuity to which some exporters and importers will go.

Perhaps it is time for Hatfield to be formally renamed 'Taiwan' in order to promote its industrial renaissance as a toy plane manufacturing centre.

Yours sincerely,

JOHN W. DEELEY

Dunstable,

Bedfordshire

16 October