NESTL is in business to sell a product and make a profit ("Disgusted by Nestl", Letters, December 23).

It has an obligation to its shareholders. Therefore, the firm should be expected to attempt the collection of the $6 million owed by Ethiopia.

Nestl earned $4 billion because it sells an excellent product. The company deserves to have the money go straight back into its pocket.

The United Nations and the concerned citizens of the world should help Ethiopia in its time of need.

The English people and, more especially, the ones in York should be happy Nestl earned $4 billion.

The company pays a lot of taxes towards the social system in England. Nestl, and companies like it, support the highly-taxed economy in England.

I like its chocolates, but if the price goes too high because of losses, I may start eating American chocolates.

Let Nestl make quality chocolates and let the United Nations take care of Ethiopia in its hour of need.

Lorren Britton,

Villa Drive,

Euless,

Texas,

USA.

...NESTL has done nothing illegal or wrong in claiming six million dollars from Ethiopia.

A former Ethiopian government forcibly nationalised many foreign-owned businesses thereby taking money which was not theirs.

The famine is awful, but it is not the fault of Nestl. It is no good just trying to cancel Third World debt.

Most of those nations would then just borrow more and through corruption, inefficiency and sheer incompetence waste it again. The poor would not benefit.

David Quarrie,

Lynden Way,

Holgate, York.

Updated: 09:25 Saturday, January 04, 2003