Recently, we have received some impressive evidence of how world-minded U.S. businessmen have become. This evidence came to us as a result of a development I told you about a few weeks ago: the consolidation of TIME'S 17 international editions--excepting those still needed for our troops overseas--into four main editions which now have a civilian circulation abroad of 275,000 copies a week.

Having thus committed ourselves to print TIME around the world for all English-reading people who want it, we got in touch with U.S. industrial leaders regarding the business aspects of this new publishing venture. We wrote to hundreds of U.S. manufacturers, exporters, and plain businessmen about our plans, asking them to tell us what they thought of them. The response amazed us. Not only was it large and enthusiastic, but also, significantly, it added up to an overwhelming approval of our main premise that "the future of U.S. business depends upon a thriving world trade."

Significantly, too, the replies of these American businessmen were thoughtful and realistic. Here are some typical excerpts:

A sales executive of a large Eastern manufacturing company wrote: "There is no question that our country, its industries, and our people must look to much broader horizons in the future for the progress that we hope to attain in our own country. This is only going to be possible if we are successful in taking our place in world affairs and world trade relations. . . . We believe you are performing an excellent service to the entire industry of the United States in bringing our thoughts, plans, and ideas so quickly to . . . foreign markets. . . ."

A Midwestern manufacturing executive added: ". . . Only by a dissemination of factual material on an unbiased basis to the peoples of all countries can we hope for an understanding of our common problems. . . "

The president of an East Coast advertising agency had this to say: ". . . Advertising men, especially, have watched with mounting amazement . . . TIME-LIFE reach out its strong news arm to the far corners of the world--inaccessible before to U.S. business. World War II has made us all world-minded. . . ."

From the director of market research for a large airplane manufacturer: ". . . Giving cohesive purpose to an editorial objective that must encompass not only many moods in one nation, but a host of tradition-based attitudes in other countries, is a difficult task. Your approach to the problem deserves commendation and prompts my best wishes. . . ."

Another Midwestern manufacturing executive echoed many of our correspondents in saying: ". . . Since the only practical means of getting this economically-groggy old world back to livable conditions is through the exchange of merchandise and services . . . and since the type of people interested in publications such as TIME constitute the intellectual, social, and economic group upon which such exchange must depend, your plan should prove not only very helpful but very successful. . . ."

And, from another advertising executive: ". . . You are planning a great venture which should affect international understanding as well as international commerce. More power to you."

And more power to those U.S. businessmen who have taken the trouble to express their understanding of America's new role in world affairs and the value of free exchange of information among free peoples.

Cordially,

James A. Linen

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