TIME," a reader wrote last week, "is a very positive magazine." Being positive is a responsibility that TIME assumes as part of its aim to tell the reader what is so and to alert him to what is not so. Toward this end, TIME'S researchers, correspondents and editors dig as deep and roam as wide as they can to establish the facts--large and small--for every story. But as each issue is going to press, the editors always find that in the interest of accuracy and completeness and curiosity they want more details--very often small but nonetheless important.

This leads to what in office language is called the "checking query," which seeks to double-check, to amplify, to clarify. These queries on precise points of fact are sometimes the bane of correspondents' lives, but they help TIME to be complete--and as positive as it can be. Some press-time querying for this week's TIME:

To Punta del Este: Was Haedo state dinner held in main ballroom of Cantegril Country Club? Did Guevara lead his entire retinue into the ladies' room? Was there no applause after Guevara main speech, or was there applause from the gallery? Did three--or four --Cubans lunge for Guevara shouting "Murderer!" ? For the answers. See THE HEMISPHERE, Troublemaker at Work.

To Paris: One of the girls is described as Picasso's daughter, the other as his stepdaughter. Who was the mother of the daughter, and who was the father of the stepdaughter? Are they both 13? Are their outfits considered the latest thing in St. Tropez fashion? See PEOPLE.

To New Haven: In connection with story on WCTU convention in San Francisco, would like you to ask Yale Center on Alcohol Studies if San Francisco still has highest rate of alcoholism in U.S. See RELIGION, Double-DO for WCTU.

To San Francisco: What kind of fake flowers were in Merman's room--roses, snapdragons, gladiolas or what? See MODERN LIVING, A Rose Is Not a Rose.

To Jerusalem: Checking for Eichmann story whether any criminal has ever been hanged during 13 years of Israel statehood. See THE WORLD, Trial's End.

To Washington: Does Proxmire do 50 or how many pushups a day? See THE NATION, Quixote from Wisconsin.

To Punta del Este: Please check if Dillon's suits come from Peale the Tailor. See THE NATION, Man with the Purse.

To Dallas: For story on Texas amusement park, is it correct to say that the 103 fans are in oak trees, palm trees and banana trees? See SHOW BUSINESS, Under Nothin'.

To Harrisburg, Pa.: On Eisenhower's passing driver's test in Gettysburg, what year and make car did he take test in? See PEOPLE.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.