Hope in Indo-China?
Sir:
In 1952, as national commander of the Jewish War Veterans, I [visited] Viet Nam and . . . can attest to the accuracy of your observations in your Nov. 22 story on Ho Chi Minh, [but] a number of optimistic points might be made on the basis of what I saw. I found the then President Tran Van Huu definitely pro-American and highly regarded by those Vietnamese who are favorable to the West. Although he left me with a clear impression that he felt that Viet Nam will eventually fall to the Communists because of the clever Communist propaganda program directed to what the masses wanted to hear--independence and freedom from colonial rule--I felt that against this is the fact of the existence of strong anti-Communist organizations with large private armies having headquarters at Saigon . . . It is to the concerted power of such groups that we can hope for anti-Communist strength.
I think it of significance, too, that at the end of World War II, the French interned Chinese Nationalist troops in Indo-China and placed them on a small island off the coast . . . and were still holding them when I was in Indo-China. I was amazed to learn . . . our allies in World War II should have been interned in order to appease the Chinese Reds, who did not want these troops returned to Formosa ... It is all important to the security of the U.S. that the Associated States of Indo-China remain among the free nations of the world.
PAUL GINSBERG
Atlanta
Sir:
. . . Your article clearly illustrated the ruthlessness of the French and all their dirty, underhanded dealings in an effort to keep the people of Indo-China under their thumb. They supported Bao Dai, a puppet, who lived in frivolous luxury while the people suffered in poverty and disease. Ho Chi Minh lives simply and works hard, and took advantage of all this . . .
LOUIS PHAL
Topeka, Kans.
Sir:
That picture of the Indo-Chinese women greeting the Viet Minh in Hanoi looks more like a national convention of tombstone gazers than a glad-hand welcoming committee. Ho Chi Minh and his henchmen would probably shudder with fear if they could properly analyze and interpret the facial expressions of these sad-looking souls.
DON KEES
Moscow, Idaho
Man of the Year
Sir:
My nod goes to President Eisenhower . . . This year ranks as the most peaceful one in the cold war period . . . Undoubtedly the President receives a large part of credit . . .
JUDAH DICK
New York City
Sir:
. . . I nominate Vice President Richard Nixon . . . Many are finding fault with him, but I believe . he will make a wonderful President some day.
VEDA F. MINNER
Wrangell, Alaska
Sir:
As an American who has lived and worked in Asia during most of the past 16 years, I nominate Chief Justice Earl Warren . . .
HORACE W. RYBURN
Bangkok
Sir:
Senator Arthur Watkins.
ROBERT J. INGRAM
Huntington Park, Calif.
Sir:
. . . Sir Anthony Eden--who held the Geneva Conference together . . .
DEREK WILD
Lille, France
Independence's Independent
Sir:
TIME should hang its head in shame for the smearing article on Dr. Albert Einstein in its Nov. 22 issue. I feel sure there are millions of Americans who agree with me in objecting to your interpretation of his statement "I would rather choose to be a plumber or a peddler in the hope to find that modest degree of independence still available under present circumstances." A man who so keenly feels his responsibility to mankind is certainly not to be condemned for his desire for more independence . . .
DEBBIE HARCLERODE
Berwyn, Pa.
Sir:
TIME seems to imply that because Dr. Einstein is allowed to criticize the Government, enjoy independence, and (horror of horrors) work with a security risk, he should show his gratitude by not denouncing something which he thinks is wrong. Just what does freedom mean?
CURTIS COLBY
Honolulu, T.H.
Sir:
Your accurate summation of Professor Albert Einstein is to be applauded . . . Having escaped the horrors of Naziism, he received in our country not only asylum but honor and privilege, yet he has repeatedly shown a hostility to America that is galling. A year ago he advised a certain individual not to give any information to one of our congressional investigating committees. The professor must think that if one dare not shout "fire" in a crowded auditorium, he is being deprived of the privilege of free speech. When you say he is a great scientist, still does not understand his responsibility of freedom, it proves that there are other avenues of life and human conduct not covered by science.
DANIEL B. HART
Pittsburgh
Sir:
Professor Einstein was and is a hero of mine. Thirty years ago his lofty character and guileless manner seemed no denial of the deepest insight into human as well as cosmic affairs. Then ... I realized he was not just greatly simple, but naive and biased . . . I have also met mathematical physicists without Einstein's outward simplicity&#amp;151;men of ruthless objectivity in their field--who somehow lacked the experience or will to make even a less than profound analysis of world events. Thus, I reluctantly admit there are scientists whose great accomplishments have given some of their views an undeserved weight in public matters . . . What kind of "rugged Americanism" is it which judges any man's rationality on any subject by the label he happens to wear?
HERBERT O. ALBRECHT
Springfield, Pa.
Lament's Lament
Sir:
Mr. Corliss Lament's macabre ritual [TIME, Nov. 22] is fine for a dead dog but hardly befits a human being who has an immortal soul. If even atheists "have a hankering for music and a few well chosen words," it is not unthinkable that in the terrible moment of suspension between life and death, they might also have a hankering for a Reality that is wider than music and higher than Santayana's quiet despair. It would be an injustice . . . to force upon them the inhumanity of "A Humanist Funeral Service." They will get a much more sympathetic treatment from a Christian friend who will mumble a requiescat in pace over their bones.
(THE REV.) FRED J. CARDINAL
St. Patrick's (Roman Catholic) Church
Lagro, Ind.
Sir:
. . . It is we, who believe in a compassionate personal God and a hereafter complete with resurrection of the body, who should be put away with a minimum of hubbub . . . It is the atheists who should have a little ceremony. For, lacking a belief in God, if they have any moral purpose in life, it must be solely the betterment of and service to their fellow men. It seems to me that some small tribute of remembrance in words and music would be fitting for one who had held the belief that he was returning to the black eternal void whence he came.
DONALD C. SKONE-PALMER
North Hollywood, Calif.
Care in Handling Worms
Sir:
. . . Remembrances of my boyhood were brought back to me by your quoting of the recollections of the Hon. George Leader's father, Mr. Guy Leader. He reminisced as to how he had to assist in poultry husbandry of the baby chicks and "to remove tapeworms from their throats by the use of a hair from the tail of a horse [TIME, Nov. 15]." Like him, I too often watched my mother perform a similar operation, [but] the only parasite my dear Republican mother was ever able to extract from the chick's throat was gapeworms.
J. WILSON BROWN
Natick, Mass.
Sir:
. . . Get fowled up in a lot of red tapeworm ?
J. MORISON
New York City
P: TIME taped when it should have gaped. For difference, see cut.--ED.
The McCarthy Issue (Contd.)
Sir:
. . . TIME has completely lost any and all objectivity in the reporting of the McCarthy case . . . It gives me a great deal of pleasure not to renew my subscription . . .
GILBERT DURAND
Los Angeles
Sir:
. . . How many canceled subscriptions do you have to tabulate each week as an expression of the ire of McCarthyites over your point of view of their hero? . . . My renewal subscription to TIME for the next three years, which goes into the mail today, can offset three cancellations by Joe's joes. And I hereby take time to say so . . .
DOROTHY DUNCAN
Montreal
Heart in the Right Place
Sir:
I am a registered nurse and could not help noticing that the Nov. 22 picture showing the operation on Edna's heart seems to be taking place on the right-hand side of the body.
Could it be that the picture was reversed? Most texts describe the anatomical position of the heart as being more to the left of the chest.
RITA SHANAHAN
Montreal
Sir:
Very interesting! TIME has created a surgical first for Dr. Frank Glenn. I know of no other instance where a mitral commissurotomy was performed on a patient with dextrocardia.
Was TIME'S heart really in the right place?
Louis R.M. DEL GUERCIO, M.D.
New York City
P: TIME'S was, but the patient's suffered from an accidentally reversed picture.--ED.
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