30 MAY 1970, Page 27

Prometheus bound

Sir: Surely Mr Gale is wrong when he says (9 May) that President Roosevelt declared war 'not only against Japan but also against the Third Reich'. My recollection is that Hitler declared war on the United States, within a few hours of the Pearl Harbour disaster.

I believe there are many Americans who (quite wrongly) think the same as Mr Gale.

W. S. Howard Barford, Warwick

Sir Walter is correct in his recollections.—

Editor, SPECTATOR