PARTY LINE

Judith Shapiro’s review of “Owen Lattimore and the ‘Loss’ of China” (May 17) falsely claims there was “absolutely no evidence” of Lattimore’s Communist activities.

No fewer than 13 different witnesses testified under oath concerning Lattimore’s Communist membership and pro-Communist activities. Former U.S. Communist Party official Louis Budenz identified Lattimore as a Communist. Alexandre Barmine, a former Soviet Military Intelligence officer, identified Lattimore as a Soviet agent. All of this was documented in detail in Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s 1952 book “The Fight for America.”

Once again, the Los Angeles Times, its writers and the books it reviews simply parrot Soviet disinformation.

WILLIAM H. McILHANY

BEVERLY HILLS