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(SFC.) EUGENE J. BARRIOS (SGT.) THOMAS J. RYAN (SP/2) DONALD E. SEIDEL U.S. Army c/o Postmaster San Francisco
Sir:
For two disgusting years (1952-54) I was ... on Okinawa . . . Gentlemen, I assure you, I would suffer the loss of my right arm to keep from returning there ... If the Okinawa economy has boomed, chances are that this has more to do with more troops, more prostitutes, more saki and beer than it has "military bustle." This was the basis of the Okinawa economy during my tour there, and nothing short of a miracle could change it ...
JAMES A. CARSON Austin, Texas
The British Press
Sir:
Re your outspoken Aug. 22 commentary on what is seen in Britain's newspapers: don't blame the newspapermen. You indict the British people, and they deserve it. The Daily Sketch did not recognize changing times so it was sold to someone who knew that the people do want "cheesecake, sex and crime" . . . You are misleading on one point. True that Britain has had compulsory education up to 15 only since 1947; misleading, because we have had compulsory education up to 14 for at least 50 years. Not that that means very much. English primary education doesn't teach you how to think; for that you have to go to Scotland or some other place.
H. A. HARTLEY London
Sir:
TIME'S pious criticism of the British national press is hard to take. As a newspaperman who has worked on both sides of the Atlantic, I can only say, "Who are you kidding?" The wildest excesses of London's tabloids are as the cooing of innocent babes compared with the obscene and inept muckraking of their New York contemporaries (GIN CRAZED,
SLAYS FOUR. BARE COMMIE PLOT). I Work for the ''irrepressible" London Daily Mirror, and I'm not ashamed of it.
JOHN BIERMAN
London
Sir:
The Fleet Street national dailies—which naturally range from the "stuffy" to the "sensational"—are merely morning newspapers and have to compete with local and regional papers throughout the country. Evening papers are locally and regionally produced and give worldwide news coverage in a sober and responsible manner. Contrary to your conclusion, the British newspaper reader is probably the best-informed layman in the world today.
THOS. M. WILSON Detroit
Sir:
. . . Why, then, if Britain has three quality dailies, has America none at all?
BRUCE CUNNINGHAM
New York City
Sir:
An Englishman, I ashamedly agree with every word of your damning indictment of the so-called popular British press. At the same time, nationwide, also with notable exceptions, isn't this veritably a case of the pot calling the kettle black?
ALAN NEAVE DODD Palo Alto, Calif.
Sir:
You pick out the London Times, Daily Telegraph and Manchester Guardian as representing the highest level in British daily newspapers. I think you are right. But, although not strictly a British journal, I think you should have mentioned the Irish Times . . .
ASHLEY BROWN Ashford, Wicklow, Eire
Ire v. Eire
Sir: