31 JANUARY 1958, Page 7

I SEE THAT the Director of the News Chronicle's Galliip

Poll still feels that the criticisms I have made of its methods have no substance. The point that I was trying to make was that to tabulate under the headings of definite alternatives the answers to questions which were not asked with such alternatives is misleading. And the way in which the question is put certainly does affect the replies. Mr. Durant tells me that'the question which I myself suggested, 'Are you in favour of a meeting between the Western leaders and Russia?,' produced only 70 per cent. of affirmative answers, Whereas the Poll's question of which I originally 'complained produced an 85 per cent. affirmative reply. I must con- :fess that Mr. Durant has diagnosed the case ,-correctly. 1 do not really see much point in this kind of 'investigation' of public opinion about complicated international problems.