Iacocca on Japan

Re: “Their View of the World Is Hard to Take” (Editorial Pages, June 21).

When is Lee Iacocca going to give up on his Japan bashing? To suggest that the Japanese do not understand America or Americans is ridiculous, after all, they didn’t become the No. 2 industrial nation in the world through ignorance of their export markets. They have, conversely, been able to take utmost advantage of our ignorance of Japan and the Japanese. We surrendered our consumer electronics industry completely and nearly sacrificed our automobile industry as a result of that ignorance.

What troubles me the most about Iacocca’s diatribe is that he doesn’t even believe himself on this issue. He has resurrected the Chrysler Corp. not with a narrow view of the world, but with the kind of understanding that recognizes the truly international nature of business, especially the automobile business. Evidence my primary mode of transportation, a Plymouth Voyager--designed in the U.S., built in Canada and powered by Mitsubishi--any questions?

CHARLES WILBERT

Canoga Park