§ Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what causes he ascribes the heavy fall in circulation in the Soviet Union of "British Ally "; and how its circulation now compares with comparable Soviet publications in this country.
§ Mr. Ernest DaviesThe Soviet agency which distributes "British Ally" in the Soviet Union has informed His Majesty's Embassy in Moscow that the fall in circulation from about 47,000 to about 30,000 a week was "a result of incomplete sales consequent upon a reduction in demand." I do not, however, dismiss30W the possibility that, if there has been a fall in circulation, it is due to inadequate distribution rather than to lack of demand. The average print order of "Soviet Weekly," which is published under the auspices of the Soviet Embassy in London, was in the region of 44,000 copies a week last year. "British Ally's" weekly circulation over the same period, according to the Soviet monthly sales returns, was some 47,000 copies. Figures for the current year are not available.