Bush and Gorbachev’s Malta Summit

The well-kept secret of the Bush bombshell dropped at the very first session of the historic summit--that the 20th summer Olympics be held in Berlin--had little connection to the weighty work at hand (Part A, Dec. 3). It was no great appetizer for the momentous menu of world alignment lying ahead. It demonstrated Bush’s unawareness of the sensitivity, both East and West Europe have to the German problem. He likes throwing a wild card in the deck, as in Danforth (Quayle).

Did Bush try to preempt the usual Gorbachev by a bold announcement of worldwide significance? It fell as flat as the Russian ruble, with the thud of silence.

LOUIS E. HYMAN

Los Angeles