12 APRIL 1957, Page 18

CENSORSHIP Sta,—In view of your references to the refusal of

Smith's bookstalls to handle Randolph Churchill's book, would it interest you to know that this sort of thing is not a new practice? In 1932 my first book, a novel, met a similar fate at the hands of the same firm, and since it was otherwise well received and reviewed this treatment by a large bookselling firm was something of a blow to a young author.

I have looked up correspondence of the time, which shows that Messrs. Smith, though refusing to accept any copies for display or stock at their branches, were willing to supply copies to members of the public who asked for them, which happened in a number of cases. It is a queer form of com- mercial morality (I think the objection was on some sort of moral, but not legal, grounds).—Yours faith- fully,

FRANCIS WATSON