17 JUNE 1955, Page 15

PUBLIC RELATIONS

SIR,—May I add a footnote to Mr. Brian Inglis's excellent article on 'The Freedom of the Press' in your issue of June 10? The British Institute of Public Relations defines public relations practice as 'the deliberate, planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain mutual understanding between an organisation and its public.'

This is the very opposite of a curb on the activities of the' press or any other medium of news and views. The press officer, and in par- ticular the press officer of a government depart- ment, subscribes to the same conception of the need for mutual understanding—for he is an important member of the public relations team.—Yours faithfully, R. A. PAGET-COOKE

27 Hill Street, Berkeley Square, London, W