Error

There must be some mistake. The Guardian ran a cartoon on Saturday which was funny, thought provoking and without much reference to nether regions or bodily functions. No exhibition of infantile fascination with same.

Thought provoking in the sense that the accompanying words explained that the European leaders are all engaged in bandying sign and symbols around, signs and symbols which they all need to calm down the depressingly simple minded and nationalistic fears and ambitions of their voters - which are not altogether just the result of murdoch media activity, dodgy or otherwise. They, the leaders that is, mostly know that it is all nonsense, but nonsense that they nevertheless have to be seen to take seriously.

I am reminded of the negotiations which eventually resulted in the formation of the Irish Free State, near a hundred years ago now, and which almost foundered on such signs and symbols. On, for example, the exact relationship of an independent Ireland to the British Crown. What about the oaths of fealty to the crown of office holders, usually, at that time, taken on taking office? What limit could be put in writing, if any, to Irish ambitions for the incorporation of Ulster into the Irish imperium? More seriously, as it turned out, what about British access to the ports & havens of Ireland in the event of another war? Was an independent Ireland to have charge of its own bouys, lightships and lighthouses?