4 APRIL 1998, Page 28

Calamity

Sir: In your issue of 28 March (Letters), John Owen, director of the Freedom Forum, says that I 'continue to assert' that I didn't know my remarks about the Times were on the record. Indeed I do. I saw a camera belonging to the Forum, and micro- phones. I assumed they were for in-house use. But Mr Owen does not deny that he has apologised for not informing me the seminar would go out on the Internet — which I don't see — and said that because he felt somewhat responsible for the row he would offer me the facilities of the Forum to write a book in case I suffered a calamity with my employer. I accepted his apology and declined his courteous offer.

Jonathan Mirsky

London W11