I've always thought Max Hastings to be a pompous, arrogant twat, and his jingoistic article in the "Daily Mail" confirms this.

He calls any rapprochement or concord with Germany as "sucking up" to the Germans and claims it dishonours the millions who died and who he believes sincerely supported the war.

Well, that support and belief was then, by the soldiers of the time - and it was also almost 100 years ago. Perspectives alter. I would ask Hastings this" Is it, in the long run, more sensible (a) to refuse any friendship, rapprochement or political alliance with Germany and keep old grudges going in Europe, or (b) to find ways of building friendship and alliances within Europe and, without forgetting the events of the past, try to ensure that such events don't happen again?

I'm sure the old soldiers of 1914-1919 would never want the events of those days to be repeated, and it's surely possible for alliances to be forged without dishonouring the memories of those men. As it happens, the hard-nosed terms of the Treaty of Versailles, with the consequent economic and social effects on 1920s Germany, were a major contributor to the rise of the Nazis. Grudges beget grudges.

I recall my grandfather telling me of a conversation with his own father in the 1920s. "Son", old George said to my grandad, "you mark my words - our natural enemies are the French. In the next war, it'll be us and the Germans against them." How wrong can you be...