26 OCTOBER 1985, Page 25

Disinterested

Sir: Is Christopher Booker saying that as an Observer correspondent in Moscow I served Soviet interests? In his Diary of 21 September he hid behind quotation marks. Perhaps he realised he was saying some- thing silly? If not, I suggest that you, Sir, who generously on several occasions sug- gested I write Moscow dispatches for the Spectator, whisper a little common sense into his ear.

Mark Frankland

8 St Andrew's Hill, London EC4