Canadian Criticism

Sirs:

I would not like to think that you would take too seriously the statement of Conservative Leader Hanson. . . . I have read the article in question, as I have all your leading articles almost since your very first number, and there is nothing in it which need disturb one's equilibrium.

That this is the first issue of TIME which Mr. Hanson has read is truly his great misfortune. I read it from cover to cover, and sometimes 1) I agree with you, 2) I disagree, 3) you make me fighting mad, 4) I want to stand up and cheer--and I doubt if there exists in this whole Dominion a more patriotic Canadian or a more fanatical "Britisher" than I am.

Honest criticism is O. K. with most Canadians and, as a matter of fact, I have a shrewd suspicion that Mr. Hanson was just being a bit subtle in taking this method of drawing the attention of the Government of Mr. King to its shortcomings. . . .

J. WALTON Toronto, Ont.

Sirs:

Your article in reference to Canada, July 8, p. 28, is just another illustration that still waters run deep. It is surprising that your neutral observers can only see the froth on the surface kicked up by a numerically weak but very windy opposition.

Canada was just as unprepared for modern war as the U. S. is at the present time. The progress made by a Government elected on a landslide since war was declared is simply

"I hold in my hand a copy of the magazine called TIME. Let me say at once that I never before read this magazine, and judging by the number of inaccuracies it contains--that is all I am going to call them at the moment--inaccuracies which to me at least are apparent, I do not think I shall want to peruse it very often.

"In its issue of July 8, under the caption--'Canada, There Will Always Be An England,' appears an article, which, if true, is a terrible reflection on this country. . . .

"I do not know whether the Prime Minister or the Minister of National Defense have seen this article, but there is a whole staff of press agents and propagandists attached to the Ministry and I do not know any better purpose to which they could be put than to refute some of the statements that are in this article, because it is a direct reflection, not only on the Ministry, but on the people of Canada as well.

"It is almost in the category with some of the stuff that is being published by Saturday Evening Post. If I wanted to go after this Government and embarrass it, I could do nothing better than to read this article, but I am not going to read it. . . ." prodigious. Canada is doing her bit in a most efficient and effective manner both at home and abroad. There'll always be an England, the champion of the liberty of subjected peoples.

J. E. GRIERSON Winnipeg, Manitoba

Sirs:

Your recent issue of your usually fair newsmagazine contained a dirty crack at Canada and her dawdling & diddling war effort. . . .

Re the war effort of the U. S. A. in the World War: 1) after being in the World War for twelve months, the U. S. A. had not one active division in the front line in France; 2) after being in the war 18 months the U. S. A. had over 1,000,000 men in the front line in France but not one single American airplane ever flew over the German lines--you were equipped by the British & French. Also not one single large gun of American manufacture was supplied to your Army. They were all supplied by the French & British. Also not one single tank was produced in America for your troops. They were supplied by the British. This was your effort after 18 months. . . .

E. A. McCULLOCH, M.D. Toronto, Ont.

Sirs:

Your very timely coverage of Canada's war effort apparently met with a frigid reception at Ottawa, as the latest issue of TIME has not reached this part of the Dominion as yet. We may be in a minority, but our reaction was that a true report of the activities of our Government was long overdue. There has been a feeling for some time that all was not well in Ottawa despite the fact that the vast majority of Canadians are willing to make any sacrifice to aid the mother country and the Empire.

At the risk of being jailed for subversive activities and being sued by TIME for infringement of copyright, we made editorial comment on your article and lifted paragraphs from it. ...

ARCHIBALD F. KEY Managing Editor The Plaindealer Press Ltd. Drumheller, Alberta

P: TIME's story provoked several editorials and letters in the Canadian press, demanding to know whether its statements were true, and making several general but, (so far as TIME knows) no detailed charges of inaccuracy. Every effort was made to check the facts officially before they were printed. If any errors were made TIME is anxious to know them. Far from being unfriendly, TIME feels that the greatest service it can do the public, both in Canada and the U. S., is to make known the truth about their production of needed war materials.--ED.

Knockout

Sirs:

It is not often that busy people can find the time to sit down and write fan letters to their news vendors, but there are occasions (THANK GOD) when one is so impressed, so stirred with a fine piece of reporting that one cannot push aside the desire to say thank you to someone responsible.

I refer to the article called "Campaign" [account of the Republican National Convention] under National Affairs in TIME of July 8. It is a knockout. It is modern literature at its very exciting best. I wish that every man, woman and child in the U. S. would read it. It is more than fine reporting, or perhaps it is reporting as an art, a fine art. It is an American saga.

Thank you for the treat.

DAVID J. MANNERS Hollywood, Calif.

P: It wasn't bad.--ED.

American at Hong Kong

Sirs:

The Japs are not very far from here. The Germans are masters of Europe. At their feet lie the vanquished. Soon there will be another Blitzkrieg and if it succeeds liberty of thought, liberty of action, liberty of religion will have vanished from Europe. The Capones of Europe will be in the saddle and will run things. I fear that my fellow citizens do not realize what this will mean.

With a bloc of nearly 300 million people to work on, the Nazis will teach America a number of things we never knew about mass production. The unit cost of all things manufactured by them will reach a level never dreamed of by us who believe in high wages. These goods will be pushed out in the world until our export figures will dwindle to nothing and we will have to resort to autarchy in order to protect our domestic market from the invasion of these goods.

I have heard morons say that our export is only 10% of our total output of goods and that consequently there is no need to get hot and bothered about that 10%. It is just like saying that the net profit of a firm is only 6% of the gross business done and that there is no use to worry about that. Year in and year out we manage to show a favorable trade balance with the countries with which we do business. That 10% just about represents what we net.

When America became a business concern, it had little or nothing that could be considered current assets, but it did have vast potentialities. American ingenuity has turned these potentialities into wealth--is still doing it. But if we isolate ourselves from the world and begin trading exclusively with ourselves we will stop growing. . .

You will note that I am looking at the matter from a purely business angle. Need I draw anyone's attention to the position of the United States should the British fleet surrender to a victorious Germany? . .

Come on, Isolationists, look up at the sky, look around you and see if freedom is not worth fighting for. Had we been more conscious of our responsibilities to the world, we would not have been in this predicament. We've chosen to enjoy living while others were planning murder. We've got to get the gangsters now.

[Name omitted by request] Hong Kong

P.S. . . . About this death business, most of my work in the past two years has been in China. I have been bombed in Chungking and in Kwangsi. Believe that I know something about it. I am no missionary. I am in business here.

Can Do, No Can Do

Sirs:

How about a bit of pidgin English? Sometimes it is very expressive, as you well know. When in Yunnan recently, I asked a Chinese what he thought of things generally in the world. Being a businessman rather than a scholar or an official and having come from South China he replied in pidgin English "Belly bad. Can do, no can do, what fashion?" which translated into good Shakespearean English reads "Very bad. To be or not to be. That is the question." In Hong Kong, I asked a Chinese what the Chinese thought of the Japanese. He replied "Chinaman think Japanman no got proper savvy box." I notice the American public has been indulging freely in Confucian sayings. How is this one? Confucius says Chinese read from right to left, while American read from left to right. American say "hell-o," Chinese say "O-hell."

JULEAN ARNOLD U. S. Commercial Attache Peking, China

P.S. Discovered a new, very savory Chinese dish while in Hong Kong. Take six newly born mice, with eyes still closed and nice and pink. Hold each by the tail while stirring in rich batter, then fry. While piping hot dip in cold honey until completely covered, then insert entire morsel in mouth and leisurely devour. It should be preceded by a Mow-tai cocktail and followed by two bai-gars.

P: TIME likes the Chinese better than their appetizers.--ED.

*Said Mr. Hanson in Parliament: -- TIME'S story provoked several editorials and letters in the Canadian

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