No English help? It’s no surprise

ANGELINE Womack asks (Connexion, June) why English translations seem to no longer be available on various products and manuals. I believe this attitude can be traced back to the Second World War.

When the French capitulated in 1941, Churchill gave the order to sink the French fleet to prevent it falling into German hands. De Gaulle never forgave us and also made it clear that he did not like the Americans either by ordering Eisenhower to remove all American soldiers from French soil after the war.

These days most French people have a more enlightened view of us Brits and Yanks and how much we contribute to their economy but the lack of English translations on packaging remains perhaps as a symbolic gesture that we are guests in their country and must not make waves. Just enjoy all the good things about France and forget about their intransigence as it is never going to change.