27 AUGUST 1937, Page 21

[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—No, Mr. Arnold Wilson,

it will not do. You state that "every ton of Russian timber reaching these shores today arrives in Russian ships," but you now admit that in 1936 practically to per cent, was carried in British ships, but you omit to add that a further 50 per cent. was carried in vessels belonging to Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Holland and Greece.

My percentage is from observation only, but as Mr. Wilson apparently has access to the statistics, perhaps he will verify or refute this. Judging by the chartering for 1937, not more than half the timber imported into this country will come by Russian vessels.—Yours faithfully,