I WAS amazed that Jeannette Jenkinson believes most letters opposing the European Union are informative and factual considering her own letter had no information and consisted of a diatribe and obfuscation. (December 4).

I can tell her, as one born shortly after the Treaty Of Versailles in 1919, that Europe today has found peace, stability and prosperity even in those countries which were in thrall to the communist bloc behind the Iron Curtain.

I could never imagine this was possible when I travelled through the ruins of the Third Reich in 1945 or that Churchill's vision of a Europe without barriers in 1942 would become a reality.

Europe once more stands at the cross-roads of history and a meaningful debate is crucial. Information about Europe is readily available and our six MEPs, representing all three parties, are easily accessible. We need facts not fiction for this debate.

Richard O Whiting,

Redman Close, York.

...THE Government is proposing to sign up to the proposed European Constitution in 2004. Such a decision will have monumental consequences for our democratic right to govern ourselves.

A change of such magnitude must have the consent of the British people and must, therefore, be decided in a referendum.

The body, REFERENDUM04, has no connection with any political party or other organisation. It has been formed to co-ordinate the demand from as great a number of individuals as possible for the Government to grant such a referendum.

I urge your readers to write to me, expressing their support for this campaign so I can forward their names or they can write direct to REFERENDUM04.

W C Harrison,

1 Queen's Court,

Fetter Lane, York Y01 6EH.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, December 11, 2003