Editor, The Times:

Why? In God’s name, Why? How can we just stand by and let the Soviet Union get away with its most recent atrocity?

 War is out of the question, of course; but there is an effective reaction avail­able to the world community. In our societies, when an incorrigible individual can no longer be tolerated, he is segregated, removed from his fellows—thrown in the can. The nations of the world have the ability to isolate totally the perpetrator of this act. We cannot keep her ships off the high seas nor her planes out of inter-national skies, but we can prohibit their mooring or landing outside the Soviet Union. We can cut off food and materials, stop travelers at the borders, cancel credit, send her diplomats home …..

The world does not need the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, however, can­not survive without the rest of the world. I know the proposed action is unlikely. How unfortunate that is. But the killing of 239 persons, including 8 children and a United States congressman, simply must not be allowed to go away without strong action.

“And speaking for myself, sir, I urge you to keep on trying for another four years; the country still needs you.”

—R.G. Williscroft
7600 Sand Point Way N.E.
Seattle

In response, I received this letter from Mr. & Mrs. John Hanford: Hanford Letter. I also received this letter from Cathy Brooks: Cathy Brooks Letter.