18 DECEMBER 1993, Page 58

Curtain call

Sir: The expression 'Iron Curtain' to mark a divided Europe does not owe its origin to Joseph Goebbels as stated by James Buchan (Books, 13 November) nor to the Chutch Times as suggested by I. A. Peter. sons (Letters, 2"/ November).

It was coined by the Russian writer Vasilii Rozanov (1856-1919). See Every man's Concise Encyclopaedia of Russia, edited S. V. Utechin, 1961, page 463. Irfon Roberts

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