The report “Britain suffers as bystander to Europe’s crisis” (December 10) reminds me of a heading in a leading British newspaper in the late 19th century after a gale in the English Channel. It read: “Gales in the Channel: Continent Isolated”.
What a turn of history. After the Second World War, Britain lost its superpower status but found it hard to accept. So, in the 1950s, though six countries in western Europe – West Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg – united to form a common market, Britain tried to organise a parallel outfit, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), with Austria, Switzerland, Portugal, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. But in those days, British leaders had foresight and courage and that was why the country, suddenly on the last day of July, 1961, applied to join the Common Market. The current political leadership should understand that in these days of electronic revolution when geography has become history, Britain cannot live in isolation.
Nirupam Haldar, Kolkata
