Sir, – While I agree with much of what Derek Scally wrote in “Lessons for Irish unification from Germany” (World, April 2nd), it ignores the vast amounts of money poured into east Germany by the west, paid for by increased taxation, in order to give easterners access to western social protection such as pensions and medical care, to build new roads and train lines, and to rebuild the east’s crumbling cities. In addition, east Germans could exchange their currency for west German Deutschmarks at a favourable exchange rate to protect their savings. Many old industrial towns in the west, deprived of extra financing in favour of the east, are now much poorer than renovated eastern cities, many of which are now thriving.
Furthermore, reunification was complicated by the fact that east and west German social structures were very different – one communist with a heavy state role in people’s lives, the other social democratic. The expectations of the respective citizens were hence much more divergent than those of Irish people from either side of the Border. Resentment in both communities was probably inevitable, whether or not the national anthem and constitution had been changed.
The story of German reunification can serve as a warning that even when – as was the case – almost everyone desires reunification, it is not always smooth sailing. Irish reunification, without a similar consensus, could be stormy. – Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN YEATS,
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Starnberg,
Germany.
