Dear Editor,

Opposing a strike against Iraq, Robert Manne argues (Opinion, 8/19) that "few principles are more fundamental to the conduct of international relations than the idea of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states". He does not tell us which principles are more fundamental, or stress how badly flawed is the principle he quotes.

A much more fundamental principle is that no state can claim the "right to non-interference" if it recognizes no rights internally. Granting no rights, dictators can claim none.

Tom Minchin

Melbourne, Australia