20 AUGUST 1937, Page 23

RUSSIAN TIMBER AND RUSSIAN SHIPS

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Snt,—Several correspondents have questioned the accuracy of my statement in your issue of July 16th that " every ton of Russian timber reaching these shores today arrives in Russian ships." May I give the precise figures which, for 1936, show that of 1144 million cu. ft. of timber imported from U.S.S.R. o million cu. ft. was carried in British ships? I gather that the position for 1937 to date is even less encouraging.—Yours