Letter: An alliance of French patriots

Sir: It is not true to say, as Norman Lamont says, that nearly half the people of France have voted against the Maastricht addenda to the Treaty of Rome. Nearly a third of the voters in France did not vote one way or the other.

People and voters appear to be less concerned than overexcited politicians. Nor is it correct to equate the dive of the pound with flaws in the ERM. The pound has fallen to the level to which it has been reduced by Thatcherite economic policies.

Ministerial obfuscation is not a good way to begin to sort things

out.

PETER CALVOCORESSI

Bath

22 September