SIR,—I am flattered by the attention your re- viewer, Mr.
John Davenport, has given to my recent book. The chief fault that he finds with it is one which I would not dispute. I have indeed been too discreet. Mr. Claud Cockburn, reviewing the book for the Observer (Novem- ber 4), sees, however, the point of this when he 'refers to my 'habit of nervous discretion, which may annoy some but will be applauded with relief by many.'
When I came to write this book, my pub- lishers were anxious that I should include a chapter on my dealings with various foreign governments in order to obtain decorations for certain distinguished citizens. As many a these clients of mine are alive today, I would not like their families to suppose that the rosettes, or even stars, they are entitled to wear were the fruit of any behind-the-scenes transactions. My path did once or twice cross that of the late lamented Mr. Maundy Gregory, but if I ad- mired him for nothing else, I certainly admired his gift of silence about his particular line of business, a silence which I have always tried to emulate.—Yours faithfully, 9a Ovington Square, SW3
GERALD HAMILTON
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