13 DECEMBER 1968, Page 35

Sir: In the course of Mr Milner-Gulland's intemperate attack on

Mr Szamuely (Letters, 6 December), he questions the picture of Yevtushenko as a 'denouncer.' Perhaps he can elucidate what he means by the word by clear- ing up a matter which is now of some historical importance.

He was Yevtushenko's interpreter at the famous meeting at the Royal Court Theatre. He has recently gone on record as saying that the poet did not there denounce Mme lvinskaya, Pasternak's mistress. Will he now tell us what Yevtushenko did say so that SPECTATOR readers (and history) can judge for themselves?