The Curtain of Ignorance

Sir:

As a former radio propaganda writer for Army Psychological Warfare in the Far East, I was appalled when I read Attlee's favorable impressions on Red China [Sept. 20]. As we G.I.s used to say: "Never happen !" . .

LAWRENCE A. BREHNE North Bergen, N.J.

Sir:

Re the Labor Party's visit to China: if Attlee and clique wish to see real Chinese democracy, may I suggest an enlightening trip to the island of Formosa. Only there can they today expect to see uninhibited Chinese reaction to social and political injustices—and they won't need their "made-in-Socialist England" rose-colored glasses to enjoy these advancements being made by the "New" China developing on Formosa.

GEORGE C. KENNEDY JR. Philadelphia

Sir:

Your "Curtain of Ignorance" article about Attlee et al is an unblushing twisting and slanting of the news. Surely you underestimate the intelligence of the American reader. Up here we believe there is a great deal of truth in what Attlee says . . .

C. C. MAHON Calgary, Alta.

Sir:

. . . All over the world reports come in showing the common man wavering in his resolution against slavery, obviously trying to convince himself that "coexistence" is the answer. The ordinary man doesn't become concerned about the Communist advance (he is interested in low taxes and high income, i.e., the immediate future) until it is very nearly too late. Then he panics and switches to coexistence . . .

I think history will conclude that democracy as an institution was exterminated, like the dodo and the passenger pigeon, because it was unable to anticipate trouble with intelligent action; it could only react blindly like a jellyfish when stimulated by immediate contact . . .

ALFRED B. MASON

Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Sir:

. . . Possibly the efforts of simple, sincere men searching for a way out are beyond your ken.

HUGH J. MAGUIRE Collingdale, Pa.

Sir:

. . . The prevalent American attitude is that Red China is an enemy and is totally and irrevocably wedded in policy to the Soviet Union. The more common attitude outside of the U.S. is that there is a possibility that Red China can be weaned away from Russia, that its size and its national pride will make it an uncomfortable satellite for Russia to try to manage . . .

Attlee would prefer to see a China that feels in a position to be a little aloof from Russia. A Communist China which regards itself as the equal of Russia and which may feel that its interests clash with those of Russia in Asia is a better prospect for the Western world than a China which is made to feel that it must lean on Russia or face the prospect of having enemies on both flanks . . .

DUDLEY A. BRISTOW Willowdale, Ont.

Sir:

Even ubiquitous TIME has no bureau in Dante's inferno—but is not Beelzebub your stringer? Only supernatural news sources could have supplied Mr. Attlee's comments he did not make about a place he did not visit ["Different people had different tastes, but it did seem rather too hot"].

What is the use of condensing the news, if in the space you save you print such devilish vapor?

JOHN DELEJ New York City

¶TIME found the shades up.—ED.

Diamonds on the Left

Sir: