Letter: Our democracy can easily survive the downfall of the monarchy

WHAT a pity Michael Fathers omitted two dominions which also had to pass abdication Acts in December 1936: the Irish Free State, and Newfoundland.

Stanley Baldwin may have scored over De Valera in the short run in making him introduce an abdication Bill, but it gave the latter the opportunity he had been looking for to introduce a constitution Bill, which led ultimately to the present Republic of Ireland.

As I understand it, the only reason the republic left the Commonwealth was because there was no precedent for being a republic and remaining a member. The exchange of greetings between King George VI and President Sean T O'Kelly was cordial. It was only thereafter that the King was declared head of the Commonwealth, in time for India to become a republic and not have to leave.

Owen Kelly

Stanmore, Middlesex