Letter: Finance for the 'Morning Star'

Sir: The Moscow-based Reuters correspondent Jonathan Lyons reports (29 July) on unofficial Soviet international relations, based on Communist Party of the Soviet Union documents, dated from 1987 to 1990, that were passed to him by the Russian government. While concentrating largely on the relationship between the Soviet Union and Libya, Mr Lyons's piece also touches on other parts of the world and contains the following comment: 'Irish comrades and the British Communist daily the Morning Star received cash.'

The implication is that the Morning Star was the recipient of a financial subsidy from the Soviet Communist Party - which this paper totally rejects. The only monies received from the Soviet Union or any other country have been in payment for copies of the paper ordered and duly sold.

Yours sincerely,

TONY CHATER

Editor

Morning Star

London, N1

29 July