IT is with some pride that we report an exchange of cables across the Pacific last week.

From Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to General William Childs Westmoreland, commander of all U.S. forces in South Viet Nam: "Sincere congratulations on your selection as TIME'S Man of the Year. This is an outstanding recognition which all of us here feel is most richly deserved. It honors all who serve with you in Viet Nam."

From General Westmoreland to Secretary McNamara: "Many thanks for your congratulations. I consider the TIME selection as an award to every soldier, sailor, airman and marine serving in Viet Nam. As their senior representative and on behalf of all the armed forces personnel in the command, I am deeply honored by the distinction given us by TIME."

AS part of a long-range program to decentralize the printing of TIME and, consequently, speed up delivery to subscribers, we were on press with this issue at a sixth plant for the U.S. edition. It is W. R. Bean & Son, Inc., of Atlanta, which has been printing our Latin American edition since 1960, when Castro shut down our operations in Havana.

The Bean plant will be running off about a quarter of a million copies a week for distribution to eight southeastern states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Our other U.S. printing locations are Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington, Albany, N.Y., and Old Saybrook, Conn. Abroad, TIME is printed in Montreal, Paris, Tokyo, Melbourne and Auckland.

THIS week the TIME Current Affairs Test marks its 30th year with the largest distribution of questions-and-answers it has ever made: more than 2,500,000 copies are in the mails to high schools and colleges, clubs, church groups and other organizations in the U.S. and Canada. Prime purpose of the test is to serve as one of the free teaching aids we distribute monthly, from September through May, to the more than 5,000 teachers now enrolled in the TIME Education Program, our classroom service that makes TIME available to high schools and colleges at reduced prices.

Right now, for example, we are distributing a bibliography on Negro Americans; coming soon are background studies--"TIME Guides"--to the U.S. Cabinet, space and Africa. Along with TIME itself, the Current Affairs Test, a Vacation Review Quiz, a Year-End Review in May, plus occasional maps and wall charts, they add up to a comprehensive and stimulating program designed to bring today's world into the classrooms.

Teachers who would like to have additional information about enrolling in the program for the new term may write to the Time Inc. Education Dept., Radio City, P.O. Box 666, New York, N.Y. 10019.

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