GREAT BRITAIN: Bear Hugs

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The glass eyes of the slightly moth-eaten stuffed bear on the staircase of London's St. James's Club should have bugged out last week. The ghost of suavely arrogant, egg-domed ex-Member George Nathaniel, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and British Foreign Secretary of the 1920s, must have shivered in its shroud. Founded in 1757, St. James's is famed for its claret, its caricatures by Sir Joshua Reynolds and the exclusiveness of its membership, mostly confined to diplomats from the topmost social drawer. A Tsarist prince once lost £10,000 in its card rooms. Last week's tradition-shattering new member was short, thick, athletic Ivan Mikhailovich Maisky, 57, Soviet Ambassador to the Court of St. James's, whose moon face, chuckling dark eyes and ragged imperial whiskers make him look like a small-time conjurer of the old school.

Other British huggings of the Russian bear:

> The Russian Military Mission were made honorary members of the United Service Club, haven for brass hats.

> The British Fire Brigades sent a delegation to Russia with more fraternal greetings and tips on smoke-eating during Blitzkriegs.

> The Ministry of Information announced the formation of a Russian division.

Cracked a wag: "Changing the name of Piccadilly Circus to Tovarish Square will come next."