CLOUD OF DISLOYALTY

My co-author, Peter Wright, and I just received from friends in Los Angeles a copy of the review of our book “Manzanar” (Book Review, Jan. 1).

We agree with reviewer David Kishiyama’s conclusion that some of the photographs are too small. For example, the photograph entitled “Pictures and Mememtos,” on Page 165, should have been printed full-page. This is one of the few still-lifes that Adams ever took, and printed large, the viewer would see the return addresses on the letters. They were written to this young man’s sister, Lucy. The first two are from an overseas military address, but the last three are from a military hospital in the United States. Therefore, if the detail was visible, by itself this photo would tell the entire story--a young Catholic boy who fought for his country and was seriously wounded in Italy, while his family was held in prison by guards who wore the same uniform as he.

Peter and I made our recommendations on the size of the photographs, but had no control over the final decisions.

We take exception to only one comment in the review, the distinction between John Hersey’s writing and ours. When Hersey was brought into the project, we had already completed the book. He asked for permission from us, which was granted, to use five of our chapters as the basis for his essay. Included in our original text, and quoted by you from Hersey’s essay, is the absurd assumption shared by Gen. DeWitt and Atty. Gen. Earl Warren (then runing a racist campaign for governor of California) that the absence of sabotage proved that concerted sabotage was planned in the future.

We did not know that some Japanese-Americans had attacked Adams’ photographs as “ ‘prettifying’ ” the harsh camp experience . . . “ which is why we did not mention it.

Many people have commented to us that it is unusual that so many of the subjects are smiling. We believe that it is due in large measure to the reaction to Ansel Adams himself.

The point that 60,000 people have gone to their graves bearing a cloud of disloyalty, even though none was ever charged, tried, or convicted of any crime, is not neglected in the book. It is central to all parts of the text, but especially the section entitled “Enemies of the Nation?”

We are glad that the Los Angeles Times concluded that “Manzanar” tells a powerful story that remains important today.

JOHN C. ARMOR

WASHINGTON D.C.