AMERICANS WINCE WHEN SOMEthing distinctly "American," like California beachfront or Rockefeller Center, is bought by foreigners. But an April 10 decision by a federal bankruptcy court in New York to allow the sale of the Texas-based LTV Aerospace and Defense Co. to Thomson-CSF, whose principal stockholder is the French government, raised questions far more vexing than matters of mere national pride. About 75% of LTV's products are defense- related, including such advanced systems as the Multiple Launch Rocket System and the B-2 Stealth bomber. French ownership would effectively guarantee French acquisition of LTV's classified American defense technology.
On the other hand,...