Name calling

NEWS that Argentina is getting more accusatory over its claims that Britain is guilty of “hypocrisy” (your article, 19 January), in relation to the Falklands, would be funny if it were not for it previously making war against us for the islands.

Now that a Scottish company, Cairn Energy, is involved in what could turn out to be another oil bonanza in those waters, Cristina Kirchner, president of Argentina is describing Britain as, “a crass colonial power in decline”, while trying to isolate the Falklands from other South American powers. The reason for this is, of course, natural resources.

The truth of the matter is Argentina is a European colony in another continent. Mrs Kirchner’s ancestors are European, as are most of the Argentine population, whether they be Spanish, Italian or Welsh immigrants.

As David Cameron said, Argentina is guilty of “colonialism” and, as it is a European colony in South America, it is hard to see why Mrs Kirchner finds such an apt term “offensive”.

Andrew HN Gray

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh