Letter: Tories conjure up the demon Blair

Sir, The Fabians have certainly lived up to their namesake's delaying tactics in waiting till now to recommend for Britain what was done for Japan half a century ago ("Labour disowns Fabian attack on the Queen", 12 August). That doughty right-winger General Douglas MacArthur, as Allied supreme commander in occupied Japan, presided over a dramatic reduction in the staff of the imperial household (more than 7,000 retainers lost their jobs) while the Emperor's daughters ceased to be princesses and the Japanese peerage was abolished under the constitution of 1947.

One result is that the future of the Chrysanthemum Throne is today a lot more secure than is that of the House of Windsor.

PETER MARTIN

E-mail: p.martin@netcom.co.uk