Free Trade in Brickbats

Sir:

Reaction on the part of TIME and Americans generally to the Churchill-Attlee speeches [TIME, May 25; June 8] is astonishing. The U.S. has [always had] the largest commitment in Korea and the loudest voice in the formation of policy. But Americans seem to expect Britain and other nations to place troops at the disposal of American commanders--to make their troops instruments of American policy--and yet to withhold all comment on that policy. Satellitism, surely! Face it: either regard the Korean war as an American venture ... or else regard it as a U.N. affair and stop being so damned sensitive to criticism from abroad. (No taxation without representation, you know.) . . .

N. L. WILSON

Lennoxville, Que.

Sir:

Your observation that the damage done to U.S.-British relations during the utterances by Churchill, Attlee, et al. was partly caused by the failure of Americans "to take seriously years of anti-American propaganda by British journalists and intellectuals" is perfectly justified.

Having lived (as a student) among the British for over five years ... I believe that for the security of the West and, above all, for lasting peace in the whole world, the British must accept their present status in the world. It is no fault of the U.S. that Britain is a third-rate power today, that Britons are "playing second fiddle to the U.S. in world affairs" . . . But the British have long memories; they are unable to forget that America was once a colony ... In a matter like this, all Britons--Tory, Socialist and others--and even those "most admired by Americans," think alike . . .

CHARLES R. JACOB JR. Georgetown, British Guiana

Sir:

Re the recent exchange of brickbats between the U.S., and the U.K., and the U.S. threat to "go it alone": there is nothing we British would like to see better . . . You are not going to get us involved in a war between the two groups of homicidal maniacs in the U.S.S.R. and the U.S. A plague on both your houses! The idiotic idea you have over there that you can kill an "ism" by bullets or atom bombs is so moronic that you certainly had better figure on "going it alone . . ."

We are inclined to believe that you really don't want war; you just want the phony boom conditions of a war without actually fighting one . . . Remove the pecuniary profit from your private armament making and we wonder how long your recently acquired international morality would survive.

A. CRAIGON Toronto

Sir: we British see spreading in America ... is an emotional reaction to a symbol instead of a realistic consideration of a set of circumstances . . . What we fear is not Senator McCarthy--every community has its share of cranks and one-track minds --but his acceptance by so many of your people . . .

GILBERT WHYATT

Ipswich, England

The Greatest Show on Earth

Sir:

Re the coronation (which TIME, June 8 depicted so graphically): Is Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey really the greatest show on earth?

ALBERT M. WEBB Barbados, B.W.I.

Sir:

. . . The British [had] a gay time crowning their Queen. I only hope that the bill will not be sent to this side of the Atlantic . . .

ROBERT SMITH Bloomington, Ind.

Sir:

TIME'S splendid report of the coronation sums up neatly the merits of royalty in a modern world. American respect goes to a British institution, though many Englishmen may doubt its overall advantages . . .

After the moving words of the Prime Minister and the address of the Queen, I am convinced that they will strive to make this ancient institution an instrument of the general welfare, and that Anglo-Saxon genius in the field of politics will leave nothing unturned to enhance its value and usefulness . . .

WALTER MANN Philadelphia

3-D & Kindred Gimmicks

Sir:

Your June 8 cover story on Hollywood's current 3-Dither rates four shimmering stars . . .

DONALD HIGGINS

New York City

Sir:

Only recently returning to the U.S. . . . my senses were temporarily blurred by the imposing, overdone and confusing 3-D publicity. Bravissimo for your article. I am now in focus. That "villainous, moth-eaten old eagle" is still carrying "the innocent and apparently content" adolescent public. An uninteresting endurance test, if you don't happen to own stock in Polaroid . . .

ROBERT M. TIBBITS Glen Ellyn, Ill

Sir:

. . . The only shots in the arm our movie industry needs are better material and a few actors who look like people--3-D and kindred gimmicks are no substitute . . .

SUSAN D. FANNON

Alexandria, Va.

Sir:

... I often think of the simple days when we just went to the movies, munched popcorn and happily watched (without Polaroids) Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire . . .

By the way, I wonder what became of Ginger? . . .

J. OLIVER Ossining, N.Y.

P: When last heard from, durable Actress Rogers was happily vacationing on the beach at Waikiki--posing for her husband, Jacques Bergerac (see cut).--ED.

Decision at Harvard (Cont'd)

Sir:

Re "Decision at Harvard" [TIME, June 1]: you ask whether teachers should be fired for invoking the Fifth Amendment when asked whether they ever have been Communists. Considering that Alger Hiss was a high-ranking son of Harvard, I should say yes, by all means. Any off-center teacher can set youthful minds at a tangent in many ways. The teacher gives the grades. Or withholds them ... To such a pass has Harvard come!

ESTHER Y. WALSTER Randall, Iowa

Salute to (and by) Engine Charlie

Sir:

"Let's get to work." Imagine where this country could be if someone had used this slogan 20 years ago instead of: "Let's see how much we can waste." They were politicians. I hope Charlie Wilson will always be a "hell of a lousy politician" [TIME, June i]. We have so many expert politicians now sitting on their fat rumps, afraid to stand up and legislate for the taxpayer, they can't understand the logic of a man like Wilson when he wants to save or suggest ways of saving our resources by running his department as he would run a successful business . . . [Wilson] is building his organization with men of proven ability, not vote-getting politicians. Of course, that makes him a lousy politician --more power to him . . .

C. H. HANNUM

Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Sir:

TIME, June 1, carried a picture of the Pentagon chiefs saluting the colors. Three of them [in civilian dress] are rendering the salute strictly in accord with Section 5 of Public Law 829 (commonly referred to as the flag law). This . . . states in part: "... When not in uniform, men should remove the headdress with the right hand, holding it at the left shoulder, the hand being over the heart. Men without hats should salute in the same manner . . ."

Mr. Wilson ... as a Cabinet officer should . . .set the proper example . . .

JOHN MCDOWELL Chicago

Sir:

Those critics of Secretary of Defense Wilson's "salute to the colors" could better spend their time and efforts in attempting to equal his patriotic contributions.

E. J. SHAFER Lieutenant, U.S.N. Falls Church, Va.

Rome or Canterbury?

Sir:

Thank you for your [June 1] publication of Bishop Donegan's comment on the defection of one of our clergy to Rome. While we do not normally burst into print with the fact that there is a two-way road between us and the Roman Church, it is well known to every clergyman that the traffic is heavier in our direction than is usually supposed.

During a 23-year ministry on the West Coast, I .have never conducted a confirmation class without a Roman Catholic being a member thereof and frequently have had five or six adults seeking entrance into our church. During that same period I have known of only five Episcopalians who have gone over to Rome.

(THE VERY REV.) JOHN C. LEFFLER St. Mark's Cathedral Seattle

Sir:

. . . Bishop Donegan's statistics are poor brief indeed for the two-way-street argument. It may be a two-way street but ... it is a very wide street with about 15 lanes to handle traffic towards Rome and one to handle the Protestant-bound sojourners.

If these statistics be typical of Protestant church conversions, it seems obvious that whatever leakage there is in the Catholic Church is not oriented towards the heirs of Luther or Henry VIII.

BERT BAXTER

Seattle

Sir:

... In this parish in the past four and a half years, we have presented for confirmation and acceptance into the communion of this church 453 people. Of these, 32 have been Roman Catholics, duly confirmed in the Roman Catholic Church, and received into the full communion of this church.

Of these 32, 24 are faithful, regular and good members; only eight of them have been inactive in their religious duties.

(THE REV.) WILLIAM O. HANNER St. Stephen's (Episcopal) Church Coconut Grove, Fla.

Sir:

. . . How can ex-priest Dr. Roderick Alverez Molina say the Roman Catholic Church emphasizes externals after he has studied the theological chapters on sanctifying grace, the infused virtues and the infused gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are standard possessions of every justified soul? ... He must certainly know that the Roman Catholic Church is the first to admit that her real princes are the saints, no matter whether they be laymen or clergy . . . Individuals in the church may emphasize ceremonies, and often they are those whose spiritual life is failing. They become formalists . . .

(VERY REV.) MARCELLUS SCHEUER Carmelite Seminary Hamilton, Mass.

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