From the Revd Dr John Roden

Sir, — At the State Banquet for the Chinese leader, the Archbishop of Canterbury chose to attend. He could have said “No” — as did the Prince of Wales (because of his friendship with the Dalai Lama).

Given that so many Christians in China are harassed, persecuted, imprisoned, and (in some cases) tortured, the Archbishop could have shown solidarity and support for his fellow Christians by saying “No.”

It is deeply disturbing that he did not make a stand.

JOHN RODEN
Ebor Cottage
8 Copmanthorpe Grange
Copmanthorpe
York YO23 3TN

From Ms Hilda M. Buckley

Sir, — While not gainsaying China’s human-rights abuses, should not we be hanging our heads in shame over the Opium Wars? And, as regards dumping, Europe has a history of just so doing: for instance, money was thrown at farmers to grow sugar beet, and from 1984 the resulting massive surplus was dumped on world markets. The price fell by some 87 per cent. In Brazil and the Philippines, cane fields became redundant, and many thousands of already poor people no longer had work.

Those in our Government who are dealing with China need to be in a little more touch with our relatively recent history.

HILDA M. BUCKLEY
8 Pond Green
Ruislip HA4 6EW