24 SEPTEMBER 1965, Page 14

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From : Quint in Hogg, QC, MP, Mrs. M. Biswas, Claire Rayner, Lilian Knapp, David A. Wilson, Michael F. Cullis, Bennie Gray, Charles Chenevix Trench, Joyce Emerson, Donald Reid, E. J. Forks, Patrick Gordon Walker, Lady Gaitskell and Sam Watson.

Lord Butler and Mr. Hogg

SIR,—Like Lord Butler, Mr. Randolph Churchill is occasionally a source of embarrassment to his friends, amongst whom I count myself.

In his apoplectic piece last week he omits to state that Lord Butler was the man his father chose to be Chancellor of the Exchequer throughout the entire period (1951-1955) of his post-war government, and that with full knowledge of all relevant facts concerning his attitude before, during and after the war.

Mr. Churchill really does an ill service alike to himself and his father's memory and reputation as a judge of men and a statesman by his ill-balance51 attacks on one of his father's closest colleagues during his final period of office.

I may be unduly obtuse, but I fail to see what possible light the Oxford by-election of 1938 (of my pant in which I am wholly unashamed) can con- ceivably throw on Mr. Prytz's telegram of 1940 or the subject to which it relates, or my judgment of its present importance.

QUINTIN HOGG Carlton Club, 69 St. James's Street, SW I