Forged Diaries

To the Editors:

Hitler's odious power to spellbind an audience has wreaked havoc once again in the furor over the fake diaries [May 16]. Even in death, Hitler has destroyed the reputation and credibility of gullible historians and editors, most notably those at the magazine Stern. All it took was a forger for the Fu"hrer to bask in the limelight yet another time. Had the diaries proved authentic, then collectors would have been at one another's throats to own the journals of a man who caused such worldwide suffering.

Christina Marion Rieger North Little Rock, Ark.

When such historians as Hugh Trevor-Roper and David Irving within days of the "discovery" change "yes" to "perhaps" or "no" to "yes," it appears that being on the winning side is more important than intellectual probity. Responsible historians should keep their lips sealed until they have researched the subject properly. The wobbling actions of these experts have dealt historiography a slap.

Leslie H. Hurwitz Arlington, Mass.

The fact that the diaries were written in volumes produced after World War II does not prove they are forgeries; rather they may prove Hitler is still alive. He probably wrote them last year.

Steven A. Stepanian II Pittsburgh

Bishops vs. the Bomb

The letter of the Roman Catholic bishops on the morality of nuclear arms [May 16] is a courageous step in the right direction. Would our repudiation of nuclear weapons jeopardize our freedom? A true Christian might prefer to die rather than live in captivity, but might rather live in captivity than kill.

Paul L. Rosasco Pensacola, Fla.

TIME sees the bishops' pastoral letter as "a classic example of the church's age-old effort to use moral idealism to change the realities of politics." However, the only practical solution to the nuclear threat is a moral solution. Nothing is more timeworn than the ancient ruse that morality and practicality are opposites. To deny the moral solution is to deny our common humanity on a small planet and to assure its destruction. Is that practical?

(The Rev.) Roland S. Fredericks First United Presbyterian Church Marietta, Ohio

I am a practicing Catholic, but I am appalled by the bishops' vote criticizing U.S. nuclear arms policy. The Soviets will attack the U.S. and its allies only when we are weak; therefore this vote does not decrease the possibility of a nuclear holocaust but increases it.

JaroslawJ. Tatomyr Levittown, Pa.

The pastoral letter raises countless questions that the bishops must have considered in their meditations. Without nuclear deterrence, must Catholics support the huge outlay of money necessary to match our conventional forces with the Soviet Union's and so deprive domestic programs of funding? Must Catholics be conscientious objectors, since U.S. defense depends on "immoral" deterrence? What about the moral implications of succumbing to the evil rule of a godless dictator? Could a Catholic President seriously take the oath of office to protect the U.S. from foreign attacks? Our bishops must not leave millions of Catholics in this moral dilemma. We have heard their objection to our defense system and are now awaiting realistic alternatives.

Karen Markette San Antonio

Perks for Ex-Presidents

Hail, America, a democracy of prosperous "royalty," ex-Presidents living at the expense of the taxpayer [May 16]. We have a huge national debt, unemployment, inflation, recession, curtailed welfare expenditures, a slowdown of Social Security benefits, and so forth, yet a one-term President is given lifetime benefits at an escalating cost that staggers the imagination. If this is "democracy in action," who can afford it?

Mary Anne Witkowski River Grove, III.

I resent having to support an ex-President's lavish tastes, especially when my annual salary is equivalent to the price of a rug.

Kerry Prager New York City

I am a knee-jerk Kennedy-liberal Democrat and no fan of Nixon's, Reagan's or even Ford's. I feel, however, that almost nothing is too good for a former Chief Executive. The sacrifices any President must make for us in terms of health, safety and privacy require that he or she be appropriately thanked by the nation. The job has many responsibilities and few enough enticements. Let Senator Lawton Chiles use his time trying to slash less deserving programs.

Charles H. Dome Winter Park, Fla.

Takeover Battles

As the president of Xerox Corp., I was struck by a statement in your article "Corporate Civil Wars" [May 9]. You said, "When Xerox was threatened last summer by a bid from GTE, it bought Crum & Forster, the big insurer, so that it would be more difficult to take over." That statement is simply not true. Xerox did buy Crum & Forster in January 1983, but that purchase was not connected to any takeover move by GTE.

David T. Kearns Stamford, Conn.

Freedom to Look Different

Hats off to Late-Night Walker Edward Lawson in obtaining the overturn of the California vagrancy law that requires an individual to provide identification to the police if asked [May 16]. Lawson should not have to wear a three-piece suit or get his hair cut in order to walk freely around a neighborhood!

Chuck Ryor Springfield, III.

It is predictable that Lawson with his extreme appearance would be stopped strolling in the dead of the night. It is equally foreseeable that if someone wore a white sheet with a pointed hood in a black neighborhood, he would also be stopped. It may be Lawson's right to walk when and where he likes, but some miseries in life are self-induced.

Franklin W. Y. Liu Boston

Typewriters We Have Known ...

I too have a fond feeling for the old, reliable, well-built and indestructible manual typewriter [May 16]. Unlike the electrics, my machine needs no expensive maintenance, just an occasional ribbon. Perhaps my feeling toward my vintage manual borders almost on love. I do know that it works with me instead of against me, and that is important when I find myself facing that frightening piece of blank paper.

Michael Samuel Aurelius Munster, Ind.

Your Essay on the vanishing of the manual typewriter shows a mild nostalgia for the companionship of the old machine, but it misses an important point. I have never been willing to drive a car with automatic transmission, because I want to be in control of the gears. I will continue using my old manual typewriter, because I want to be in control of the words. Good thoughts do not necessarily come with electronic speed.

Betty Kirkham Ames, Iowa

Years ago, when I was newly wed to a sergeant in the Army, he wrote me letters in the dark of night on a portable typewriter perched on the hood of a Jeep during field exercises. Try doing that on a word processor.

Georgia M. Coxe Provincetown, Mass.

When I graduated from high school, my thrifty mother gave me a typewriter. "It will last you the rest of your life," she said. I have recently got into computers and dot matrix printers. The speed and versatility of electronic marvels cannot be denied, but manuals are forever.

Glenn E. Cahn Canton, Mass.

It seems to me that Roger Rosenblatt gives up too easily. I am stockpiling late-'40s Royals, and I am about to form the Qwerty Yuiop Resistance League.

Linda K. Bridges New York City

Soviet Subs in Swedish Waters

Your article about the Swedish Submarine Defense Commission's report [May 9] states that Sweden has "agreed to share information on the incursions with NATO." This is not true. No such agreement exists. However, the commission's report is unclassified and available to the public.

Anders Thunborg Minister of Defense Stockholm

There is only one answer the Soviets will understand. A stronger NATO, and Sweden as a part of it. We know where our friends are.

Jan AfKlintberg Onsala, Sweden

Check-Clearing Delays

I was amazed by your story concerning the increased "clearing time" that banks claim they need to verify deposits by check [May 16]. I did not realize how much money a bank could "hatch" by investing the funds and earning interest. However, I do not think my bank does this to deposits to my account; if it did, I would be overdrawn most of the time.

Arthur E. Sebelius West Hartford, Conn.

In a day when banks pride themselves on high-speed operations by computer, it seems unnecessary for them to take more than one day to determine whether a personal check is backed by adequate funds.

Hamilton Gray Columbus

Christo Wraps lt Up

A lot of us here admire what Artist Christo and his crew accomplished in Florida [May 16]. As they surrounded eleven islands with 6 million sq. ft. of pink polypropylene, they also removed tons of garbage. If the city fathers of Miami and Miami Beach had tried to do that, we would now be surrounded with 10 million ft. of red tape.

Revalle B. Robbins Bal Harbour, Fla.

Who would spend $3.2 million to surround islands in pink plastic? Christo should be wrapped in something white with sleeves that tie in the back.

Lee Washburn Maloney San Antonio

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