IT'S tough, debating with Europhiles. They don't seem to hear what one says, but keep on repeating their old superficial assumptions in this case, that the EU is keeping us at peace.

Although my letter of July 6 gave several examples of how the EU actually presents a danger of war, neither Mr Simmonds nor Mrs Smith (BFP letters, July 20 and 27) seem to have read it.

Understandably, they seem preoccupied with their memories.

Perhaps I should have quoted some of my own gruesome recollections, for I knew (and hated) the horrors of war even more intimately than them.

But though such stories may win attention and sympathy, they're no substitute for recognising present-day realities.

Rather than the EU, hasn't it been the fantastic growth in modern communications and transport and the spread of an international language (English), encouraging holidays abroad and international dialogue, that has brought the democratic peoples of Western Europe closer in the peaceful harmony that makes war between democracies ever less likely?

To maintain this intercourse at individual and government levels, why do we also need the oppressive baggage of government by the Brussels bureaucracy with its crippling regulations, disastrous agricultural and fishing policies, the emasculation of our elected parliament and the £1M per hour tribute we pay Brussels for these privileges?

And at each Inter Government Conference, our government "negotiates" to hand over more of our independence, in order to buy exemption from even further subjection. Some "influence"!

To dismiss us as mere (!) patriots for preferring the ancient rights of freedom under the law and democracy that our comrades and loved ones died for, instead of a corrupt and bellicose EU regime that we can never deselect, seems an odd way to respond to the sacrifices of our dead.

I think they would have agreed with us.

Anthony Hoyle

Puers Lane

Jordans