26 APRIL 1940, Page 15

Sta,—Having been a reader of your journal for the last

halt- century and more, I confess to being astonished that you printed in your issue of April 19th a letter occupying a column and a half signed J. Radinsky, dating from Seattle, U.S.A. In my humble opinion, that letter would properly have made a small contribution to your waste paper basket.

The writer states that we are fighting for "democracy," and builds on that statement an attack on us and our institutions. He apparently does not understand that we are fighting a "man-eating tiger" who has got loose and has slaughtered his thousands, laid waste peaceful and happy countries, and is the avowed enemy of the race to which he claims to belong.

He also claims to be the spokesman of the 132,000,000 people of the U.S.A., but does not indicate on what this claim is based. Whether America comes into this war or not, or whether she comes in only at the last moment, is not a question which will weigh with the Allies, who are fighting a war, supported with an enthusiasm never before exceeded, by the whole might of the British Empire and its Allies.

[The letter was printed for the benefit of the large number of our readers who prefer to have facts put before them—in this case the facts as to what a considerable section of Americans is saying and thinking—whether they are agreeable or not. Readers who prefer to ignore such facts are under no obligation to read letters containing them. We are printing this week only a very small selection from the large corre- spondence evoked by the letter in question.—En. The Spectator.]