The China Debate

Sir:

Your tremendously interesting cover story of Vice Premier Li Fu-chun [Dec. 1] was one of the most enlightening articles concerning Red China that I have read. It truly gave an inside picture of the never-ending problems that Communism has bestowed upon this underdeveloped country. It should give the people of America the courage to help win this "silent war" before we too are confronted with the evils of Communism upon our free American soil.

MRS. RICHARD R. DOAN Decatur, Ill.

Sir:

I am sick and tired of hearing the argument that we should recognize the Peking regime because that is the government the Chinese people chose. Would those who support this argument ask themselves whether in all sincerity they would choose such a government? If not, why do they think the Chinese people would freely and willingly choose such a government?

I am not trying to defend the corrupt administration of the pre-war Chiang Kai-shek government that, to a great extent, was responsible for the Communist takeover of the China mainland. But if I had to choose between two evils, I would choose the lesser.

GLORIA LIEU A Refugee from China Detroit

Sir:

Do you sincerely believe that a nation whose population now exceeds 600 million people, whose industry was practically nonexistent, is capable within such a short period of time of straightening out all its major problems? It achieved national unity, which is already a miracle.

CHARLES DAITCH Forest Hills, N.Y.

Sir:

Your article most impressively points up how ill harmonized the goals of the Chinese Communists are with the real needs of the Chinese people. No matter what "utopian" goals Mao Tse-tung and his colleagues have in mind for China, to gain them a long and fearful exploitation of an oppressed, hungry people seems a necessity. In their pursuance, as well, the Chinese people will be denied the invaluable help of reflecting upon their rich and noble past or upon any form of spiritual and moral ideals. The Chinese Communist "utopia" that may form, needless to say, will be void of any expression of human dignity.

THOMAS S. WHITE Washington, D.C.

Three Named Texas

Sir:

The article on "The Sea" [Dec. 1] makes reference to Julian Harvey's yacht striking the submerged wreck of the U.S.S. Texas in Chesapeake Bay. The U.S.S. Texas left Newport News, Va., in July 1946 to be towed to Texas. Can you enlighten me as to how the Texas got back to Chesapeake Bay?

HARVEY F. NICHOLS Hamilton, Mass.

> There have been three U.S. Navy ships named Texas. The first was an ironclad ram captured from the Confederates in 1865 at the jail of Richmond. The second Texas took part in the Spanish-American War. In 1921 she was used as a target in Chesapeake Bay in Billy Mitchell's effort to show that a plane could sink a ship, and it is in Chesapeake Bay that she still lies. The third Texas, a veteran of World Wars I and II, was towed from Norfolk to Texas in 1948, where she has become a historical shrine near Houston.--ED.

Left & Right

Sir:

There is no question that extreme right-wingism could constitute as much of a danger to our nation as the extreme left does, as you so aptly point out [Nov. 24].

A greater and unrecognized danger may come from the nation's news media, which all too often seem to have no hesitance in labeling honest anti-Communism as extreme right-wingism.

LLOYD DAMSEY, M.D. Marathon, Fla.

Sir:

Those of us who have been working for harmony and mutual trust appreciate your help in bringing to us the calm, clarifying national voices of the President, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and the National Catholic Welfare Conference. The genius of our heritage for responsible freedom will prevail as we continue to mature.

HIRAM C. WELD The Bexley Methodist Church Columbus

Sir:

If they could hear the words of Jack Kennedy, I wonder if the people of Poland, Hungary, Cuba and East Germany would agree that "the one great irreversible trend in world history is on the side of liberty."

I believe that if Kennedy and TIME would devote as much time to fighting Communism as they do to attacking the anti-Communist movement in this country, we wouldn't need an anti-Communist movement.

I challenge the President to call upon J. Edgar Hoover to tell the people that they should not actively be concerned with the Communist threat in the U.S.

LEONARD E. BOEDER, D.D.S. Milwaukee

Sir:

Welch's "absurd charge" that Ike was "a conscious agent of the Communist conspiracy" appeared in Welch's The Politician, not the John Birch Society Blue Book as reported in "Thunder Against the Right." LEONARD LYNN Monterey, Calif.

>TIME erred. The absurd charge was in Welch's The Politician.--ED.

Rembrandt & the Market

Sir:

Permit me to congratulate you on your splendid essay on the Erickson sale and the current art market [Nov. 24].

Although the sale had been referred to extensively in the press, your article wrapped it all up neatly and gave it additional significance by including an illuminating glimpse into the fascinating chiaroscuro of the present art market.

As a collector of almost 40 years' standing and an active participant in the current art scene, I do not go overboard easily for this type of popular summary, but I admit that after reading your article I immediately bought a dozen copies of TIME to make certain that none of my friends and associates will miss it.

JOSEPH H. HIRSHHORN New York City

Sir:

The cover reproduction of Aristotle Contemplating the Bust of Homer is one of the major contributions to the temporary destruction of this work of art. Several years will probably be required before one will be able to stand before the picture without hearing awed comments about the price. Very few will be able to ignore the green haze about the picture and respond to the picture as art. Instead, most people will approach it as they would those other altars to Mammon, the jewelry window and the fur display.

ROBERT C. SIEGEL Princeton, N.J.

Sir:

I always turn immediately to your Art section. The thorough coverage given this story was highly informative and a model of fine writing.

NORMAN KENT Editor American Artist New York City

Missionary Spirit

Sir:

"The mountains got pregnant and a little mouse was born" (and this little mouse was stillborn yet!). I am referring to your infinitesimal article, "Missions to the Gentiles" [Nov. 24].

Judaism was the first religion to organize missions, and Judaism never abandoned the claim to become the world religion. The only person who was narrow-minded about missionizing to the gentiles was Jesus of Nazareth, who was an extreme Jewish nationalist (Matthew 10:5-6).*

Josephus reports conversion to Judaism en masse among the ruling aristocracy of his day. According to famous Jewish historians, at the beginning of the Christian era, millions of gentiles were converted to Judaism. Political rather than religious considerations put an end to Judaism's attempt to extend the realm of its believers. However, today Inquisitions no longer exist; the inferiority complex of some of our Jewish leaders still does.

The National Jewish Information Service broke with untraditional tradition and openly seeks converts. We deny the historicity of the soft-sell approach of Judaism to the world. RABBI MOSHE M. MAGGAL President National Jewish Information Service Los Angeles, Calif.

Terrible Service

Sir:

As a Siamese owner I enjoyed your article "Keeping Tabs on Tabby" [Nov. 24]. However, I am inclined to disagree with Mr. Greer. He claims that Siamese "go around muttering to themselves." That's not true at all, what they're actually doing is complaining about the service. After all, the Siamese is always the boss !!

NINA BARA Hollywood, Calif.

Man of the Year

Sir:

I would like to nominate an African for TIME'S Man of the Year, Moise Tshombe. By his shrewd, conservative politics he has created an island of peace in the chaos of the Congo, an island where the economy prospers and Europeans are at least given some chance to remain alive. More men like Tshombe would fight Communism far more effectively than a thousand summit meetings, though our U.N. delegation refuses to recognize this.

JOHN C. TUTEN JR. Lakeville, Conn.

Sir:

For Man of the Year I name the American President J. Kennedy.

By his firm and determined stand he has forestalled the designs of N.K. (U.S.S.R.) to create a panic in the world and has thus given a severe blow to international Communism.

T.R. DESAI Bahrein

Sir:

For Man and Woman of the Year I would like to nominate Jack and Jackie Kennedy, the new and present American heroes.

America seems a much more exciting place, the future of the nation seems more promising, than just a year ago, and this is due, I think, more to the public example set from the White House by the young Kennedys than any other single factor.

RICHARD W. CROSBY Amherst, Mass.

Sir:

In your issue of Dec. 1, Yuri Gagarin was nominated Man of the Year. I would suggest that since the American chimpanzee Enos has done as well as the Russian aviator in circling the globe, Enos is equally entitled to that honor.

JACK PERKINS Wayne, Me.

*"Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not."

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