3 JANUARY 1958, Page 30

4 ASTOR-OWNED' SIR,—In your issue of December 20 Mr. Ran- .dolph

Churchill mis-stated the ownership of the 'Observer by saying that it is 'Astor-owned: For the last eleven years it has been the property of Trustees, who have full power to dispose of it in any way they 'choose. No members of the Astor family are members of the Trust, which was founded by the late Lord Astor and his son, who owned the paper at that time. -.—Yours faithfully,

IFOR EVANS

Chairman, The Observer Trust 21 Chester Terrace, NW I