SIR, - THE PARALLEL DRAWN By SEAMUS O TUATHAIL AT THE RECENT DESMOND GREAVES SUMMER SCHOOL - WHICH I ATTENDED - BETWEEN THE IRISH CONSTITUTION and THE FEDERAL GERMAN BASIC LAW (GRUNDGESETZ) IS TIMELY INDEED. MAY I COMMENT?WHILE TEACHING IN GERMANY IN THE 1980S I USED THE TEXTS OF THE GERMAN BASIC LAW AND THE IRISH CONSTITUTION FOR MY STUDENTS AS A BASIS FOR A COMPARISON OF THE LANGUAGE OF THE ASSERTION OF CLAIMS TO NATIONAL TERRITORY. WHILE THE BASIC LAW, PRIOR TO THE FORMAL RE-UNIFICATION OF GERMANY IN 1990, WAS MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE "GERMAN PEOPLE" AND THE IRISH CONSTITUTION REFERS TO THE NATIONAL TERRITORY, THE ASPIRATION TO UNITY EMBODIED IN THE PHRASEOLOGY IS IDENTICAL.IF THE PRESENT DISCUSSION IS TO EMBRACE CLOSER CONSIDERATION OF THE GERMAN BASIC LAW AS A PARALLEL, MAY I POINT OUT THAT THE GERMANS WOULD NEVER HAVE DREAMT OF TINKERING WITH THEIR OWN BASIC LAW TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SOVIET UNION FOR EAST GERMANY.HAVING EXPERIENCED JUST HOW FIRMLY THE GERMAN BASIC LAW HAS TAKEN ROOT IN THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE GERMAN PEOPLE AS A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THEIR OWN DEMOCRACY, I AM AMAZED AT THE WILLINGNESS IN IRELAND TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLES 2 AND 3. I CANNOT FATHOM WHY THE IRISH PEOPLE SHOULD BE ASKED TO TAMPER WITH THEIR CONSTITUTION AS A QUID PRO QUO FOR AN AMENDMENT OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT.A POSSIBLE AMENDMENT TO AN ACT PASSED BY A COLONIAL GOVERNMENT IN THE 1920S (SINCE AMENDED), WHOSE ONLY RIGHT TO SOVEREIGNTY OVER IRELAND WAS GRANTED TO ITSELF BY ITSELF IN THE 16TH CENTURY, DOES NOT MERIT HANDING OVER THE FAMILY SILVER BECAUSE THE SON OF THE ABSENTEE LANDLORD IS NOW TREATING ONE COURTEOUSLY. THE ONLY LEGITIMATE QUID PRO QUO WOULD BE LIKE FOR LIKE - I.E. THE ABROGATION OF ARTICLES 2 AND 3 OF THE IRISH CONSTITUTION IN RETURN FOR THE REPEAL OF THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND ACT AND AN END TO BRITISH SOVEREIGNTY IN THE SIX COUNTIES.THERE IS EVERY REASON IN THE WORLD TO CO-OPERATE FULLY WITH THE BRITISH TO BRING ABOUT A JUST SETTLEMENT, BUT TAMPERING WITH THE IRISH CONSTITUTION WILL ONLY COURT BRITISH DISRESPECT AND CYNICISM. IN WHITEHALL THERE WOULD BE SMIRKS AND ARROGANT COMMENTS IN THE GENTLEMEN'S CLUBS ABOUT THE IRISH BEING PREPARED TO SELL THEIR SOULS IF YOU PACKAGE THE DEAL CLEVERLY ENOUGH.AS A DIRECT DESCENDANT OF THE 16TH-CENTURY LAWYER, SIR ANTHONY ST LEGER, (LORD DEPUTY IN IRELAND FOR FIVE TERMS) WHO DEVISED THE POLICY OF "GRANT-RE-GRANT" BRINGING IRELAND UNDER THE CROWN, I APPEAL TO THE IRISH PEOPLE NOT TO BE TRICKED AGAIN INTO GIVING AWAY THEIR BIRTHRIGHT FOR A PALTRY AND ILLICIT REWARD. - YOURS, ETC.,QUEEN'S CLUB GARDENS, LONDON W14.