The Spectator

Letters | 19 June 2010

Spectator readers respond to recent articles

issue 19 June 2010

Let Turkey join the EU

Sir: There are many answers to your editorial ‘Turkish menace’ (12 June) — but perhaps the one that serves its purpose best is: ‘EU asked for it’. Turks feel, quite simply, that they have been insulted by the EU in the way their membership application has been endlessly delayed, while dubious ex-communist countries like Bulgaria and Romania have been given the red carpet treatment. And the ultimate insult is to allow Greek Cyprus, with a population one hundredth that of Turkey, to dominate the proceedings, demanding that the Turks stand to attention while what they regard as insult after insult is flung in their face.

The EU is, admittedly, in distinguished company. Winston Churchill as First Lord of the Admiralty thought the Turks would be a walkover in 1915. The result was 250,000 Allied casualties at Gallipoli. On the other hand, Napoleon warned: ‘Never anger a Turk to the point where he draws his sword.’

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in