15 JULY 1972, Page 26

Defending the FO

Sir: It is the privilege of journalists, particularly of editors of distinguished journals, to make con troversial statements which stimulate the readers and increase the circulation. At least that is the purpose of the exercise.

To state, as you do in your editorial (July 8), that the Foreign Office is conceited and bewildered is just not true. To add that it has ever planned to divide France and West Germany is equally false. This would appear to me to be a clear )reach of journalistic privilege.

Ian Harvey

43A Lonsdale Road, London W11