The Myth of Munich

Sir:

In your review of the fourth volume of the History of the Times in your issue of May 19, you refer to "Britain's ally, Czechoslovakia." The myth that Britain was the ally of Czechoslovakia at the time of Munich has long been fostered in the United States, and it is regrettable that it should gain new currency in your own authoritative columns. Though some of us thought at the time of Munich that it was in Britain's interest to fight in defence of Czechoslovakia's freedom, our country had no more moral or legal obligation to do so than had the United States. The "holier than thou" attitude adopted by some Americans towards the English in regard to Munich is wholly unwarranted, the more so since--a fact seldom adverted to in the United States--President Roosevelt was among those who sent a telegram to Signor Mussolini congratulating him on the calling of the Munich Conference.

RANDOLPH S. CHURCHILL

London

Baptist, to Episcopal, to Catholic

SIR:

PRIESTS LIKE THE REV. WILLIAM C. KERNAN [TIME, MAY 26], WHO SEEK AN ULTIMATE AUTHORITARIANISM WHICH THEY CAN EXERCISE IN THE CHURCH, WILL ALWAYS FIND THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH UNCONGENIAL TO THEIR MINISTRIES. HE HAS CONFUSED AUTHORITY WITH REGIMENTATION, AND RELIGIOUS CERTAINTY WITH ECCLESIASTICAL COERCION. NOTHING WOULD SIMPLIFY THE TASK OF THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH AS MUCH AS A GRANT OF THE KIND OF AUTHORITARIANISM MR. KERNAN SEEMS TO SEEK. FEW THINGS WOULD SO EFFECTIVELY OBSCURE AND CORRUPT THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH AS THE NEW TESTAMENT REVEALS IT . . . THE THING THAT MAKES THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH A FAITHFUL WITNESS TO THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS ITS AUDACIOUS BUT NECESSARY ATTEMPT TO HOLD FREEDOM AND ORDER IN BALANCE . . . THE EFFORT SOMETIMES FAILS, ISSUING IN AGONIZING PERIODS OF FRUSTRATION AND DEFEAT. IN SUCH TIMES FAINTHEARTED MEN SURRENDER TO THE ILLUSORY COMFORT OF THE STRONG ARM, EVEN IF CLAD IN ALB AND CHASUBLE. THE REV. MR. KERNAN'S SURRENDER AFTER 26 YEARS IS SYMBOLIC OF A TRUTH WHICH PROPONENTS OF FREEDOM HAVE ALWAYS KNOWN--NAMELY THIS: IT IS EASIER TO THINK AND WORSHIP FOR PEOPLE THAN IT IS WITH THEM. MR. KERNAN'S NEAR CONTEMPT ' FOR THE LAITY INDICATES QUITE CLEARLY THAT HIS OWN PRIESTHOOD IS LACKING IN THOSE VIRTUES FOR WHICH HIS ORDINATION VOWS CALLED 26 YEARS AGO. HIS PLACE AMONG THE DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM UNDER LAW WILL BE VACANT, BUT HE WILL NOT BE MISSED.

THE RT. REV. JOHN E. HINES BISHOP COADJUTOR OF THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TEXAS

AUSTIN, TEXAS

Sir:

Regarding the Rev. W. C. Kernan and his meanderings from the Baptist Church, through the Episcopal to Roman Catholicism, permit me to make this comment: I rejoice in the freedom of my particular denomination (Methodist) in that, in obedience to Our Lord's words, it refuses "binding pronouncements" on matters wherein our own intelligence should enlighten and lead; and therefore, I have no desire to flee from this freedom into any system of theological or intellectual bondage . . .

ERNEST K. EMURIAN Minister

Elm Avenue Methodist Church Portsmouth, Va.

SIR:

BILL KERNAN'S CURIOUS CAREER SHOWS HIM EVEN ILL FITTED FOR HIS AUTHORITARIAN CHOICE. HE WILL LEARN TO ACCEPT DISCIPLINE AS WELL AS DEMAND IT. WHATEVER GAVE HIM THE IDEA THAT THE RANK & FILE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LAITY DON'T OFTEN GET "SORE" AT THEIR SPIRITUAL PASTORS?

HAROLD W. URQUHART EDITOR

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH WATERTOWN, S.DAK.

Sir:

As a Protestant Christian, I wish to salute-Father Kernan for holding to those principles which . . . are an important phase of the Christian life. It is difficult to be indifferent to these issues, and it is because of them that many Protestants look with respect at their Catholic brothers.

KATHERINE STRATIS

Detroit

Four Million Dimwits?

Sir:

It was a shock to read that four million people in our supposedly enlightened society listen to the drivel produced by soap opera [TIME, May 19 ] The characters, the conversation, the overall idiocy of these shows appall me! Are we a nation of dimwits? . . .

JEAN C. FELTMAN

Playa Del Rey, Calif.

Southern Donkey

Sir:

I have yet to see a more trenchant and cogent treatment of Southern politics and the American party system than that which appeared in your cover story on Dick Russell [TIME, May 19]. A first-rate piece of political analysis.

FRED DAVIS

Montgomery, Ala.

Sir:

Your article on Senator Russell was . . . biased and unfair . . .

The statement that he is a sectional candidate is without truth. As a Northerner who is fed up with the blundering and recklessness of the Truman Administration, I believe we need a man of Dick Russell's ability, fairness, and good judgment in the White House . . .

ROGER LEEMHUIS

Erie, Pa.

Sir:

Why can't the North get over the Civil War as the South has? Why is it that every time a Southerner tries to do something for the good of the nation, you Yankees have to ram the Civil War down his throat? The South has been exploited by Yankee interests long enough. We are.now coming into our own, and the bloody flag has lost its political power . . .

JAMES C. FLOYD

Mount Berry, Ga.

Off to the Races

Sir:

If Senator Taft is as smart as he thinks he is, he must know that General Eisenhower can get a larger popular vote. If Senator Taft were as patriotic as he should be, he would withdraw in favor of Eisenhower, to make certain a Republican victory in November. Senator Taft should not be allowed to forget that hundreds of thousands of independents eager to vote for Eisenhower do not vote in Republican primaries.

CHARLES H. PORTER

Tamworth, N.H.

Sir:

I am very happy to note in TIME, May 26, that you have finally served General MacArthur his just desserts on a silver platter--a bowl of sour grapes!

SAM ROSEY

San Francisco

Sir:

I have been eagerly following your presidential nominations, and . . . may I make an unorthodox suggestion? . . . The men have not succeeded in making this beautiful world a safe and happy place to live in. The world is sick and bordering on insanity. Only with gentle nursing will this world survive. And, therefore, the time has come for woman leadership.

Eleanor Roosevelt is the obvious choice.

FLORENCE BROWN

Johannesburg, South Africa

Lenin in His Showcase

Sir:

Concerning your note, "Kremlin Waxworks" [TIME, May 19], I have long been an admirer of Robert Service. My admiration has now increased. The reason is to be found in a poem, The Ballad of Lenin's Tomb, which contains the following lines:

"Yet if you pass that frame of glass,

peer closely at his phiz, So stern and firm it mocks the worm, it looks like wax . . . and is. They tell you he's a mummy--don't you

make that bright mistake: I tell you--he's a dummy: aye, a fiction and a fake."

WILLIAM R. KELL

New Harmony, Ind.

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