16 JANUARY 1982, Page 17

The Giles connection

Sir: Auberon Waugh writes (9 January) that it has not escaped his notice that Frank Giles `is a member of the Executive Com- mittee of the Great Britain-USSR Associa- tion. Enough said Apart from the Editor of the Sunday Times, the following also serve with him here: the Archbishop of Canterbury, two Garter Knights, an OM, a GCMG and GCVO, four CBEs and ump- teen others honoured by Her Majesty, if not by Mr Waugh. Enough said? Not quite.

Mr Waugh's casting of this aspersion at Mr Giles, and by implication at this Association, makes it necessary to remind you and your readers that we are both ap- proved of and largely financed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This is so because it is understood there, as elsewhere, that it is wise to support an organisation promoting professional, cultural and social Anglo-Soviet contacts, which is in civilised and politically reliable hands.

J. C. Q. Roberts

Director, Great Britain-USSR Association, 14 Grosvenor Place,

London SW I