Madam, - Thank God there is still someone prepared to speak out with a statesman's vision of Europe.
Dr Helmut Kohl is quoted by Derek Scally (The Irish Times, January 23rd) as saying that "whoever demands a two-speed Europe must ask the other members for their permission".
If they proceed without this permission, they are in flagrant breach of the solemn international treaty signed recently for the express purpose of allowing up to 12 new members to join the EU.
Threats from certain parties to proceed without this permission smack of jackboot tactics to frog-march us into a EU of their own making. That would not be the EU that so many Europeans hope for - one of sovereign states freely co-operating for their common good. - Yours, etc.,
DICK HUMPHREYS, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.