BEFORE accusing people of ignorance Mr J Harvey (letters Jan 10) should get his own facts right.

It is the setting up of The North Atlantic Treaty NATO which came into force on August 24 1949, that has ensured peace in Europe since the end of World War II. not the setting up of the European Union as claimed by Mr Harvey.

The EEC Common Market did not come into force until January 1 1958, and this was first set up purely as a trading partnership.

M Bunce

Swindon