In an otherwise largely instructive, interesting, learned and persuasive letter (March 26), Bruce Ross-Smith claims that “the origins of the disintegration of the Greek economy and, in effect, Greek civil society are far more complex than I and Keith Mitchell suppose.”

I in fact refrained from making any statement, but restricted myself to asking rhetorically: “Does John Tanner seriously believe that the Greeks have in no way brought this upon themselves?”

Posing a simple question by no means suggests that one considers the response not to be complicated.

The acknowledged implication that the inhabitants of that country may to some extent be responsible for their own fate on no account necessarily excludes the possibility of external factors being instrumental in their destiny.

It was not I who explicitly accused the Greeks of being “a nation of tax-evaders and spendthrifts”.

I am sure that no malice was intended and no offence was taken but perhaps a little more care should be exercised regarding what is written and printed – not invariably identically – on your often outstanding Viewpoints pages.

Your On This Day feature (March 26) points out that that date in 1780 witnessed the original publication of The British Gazette and Sunday Monitor, the first such newspaper in this country.

Pity it was not the last, some may say.

DAVID DIMENT Riverside Court Oxford