15 NOVEMBER 1946, Page 5

The Soviet Embassy reception last week had its unique features,

as receptions at the Soviet Embassy often have. In the matter of dress, the rule clearly was that there should be no rule—at one ex- treme black coats and Old Etonian ties (if that is an extreme), at the other at least one gentleman in a light tweed knickerbocker suit. The staff of the Embassy, in the new diplomatic corps uniform, all looked like admirals. I had left before Lord Montgomery arrived, but I gather that his advent was the event of the occasion, even though Mr. and Mrs. Attlee and other politicians of eminence came, saw and (I take it) drank vodka. It is satisfactory on all counts to find Soviet Russia thus providing an international meeting-groand.