Mistaken?
Sir: Mr Geoffrey Wheatcroft must surely be wrong in saying (Notebook, 12 February) that Lord Wigg's Memoirs were emended because of the harsh things that he had said about Mrs Marcia Williams (now Lady Falkender) because 'someone at Number 10 leant heavily on someone at Times Newspapers.'
When Lord Wigg's memoirs were published, Mr Heath was Prime Minister and had been so for some time. it is difficult to believe that he or his civil servant or political staff would care very much about what Lord Wigg might say about Lady Falkender.
Mr Wheatcroft writes: 'It was the first time I have witnessed what the very powerful can do when very angry.' Since the political secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, which Mrs Williams was at the time, has no power, may not Mr Wheatcroft be confusing power with potential libel? Libel actions can be very expensive indeed.
Hurnphry Berkeley Three Pages Yard, Chiswick, London W4 GEOFFREY WHEATCROFT writes : Mr Berkeley is of course quite right. Like everyone else, I had 'Number 10' on the brain last week. What I meant to write was: 'someone in
Lord North Street emended my story was exactly true. Does Mr Berkeley believe that the Leader of !he Opposition and, as it may be, his political secretary, have no power—and in particular, no powers of persuasion over newspaPer proprietors and editors?
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