Editor, Gazette-Journal:

The caravan trekking north from Central America is composed of the grandchildren of small farmers who lost control of their land to Big U.S. Banana Businesses in the 1920s, sometimes aided by the U.S. Army and Marines, back in the time of Dr. Walter Reed and Gen. Chesty Puller.

Since that time, the United States has spent billions on foreign wars and foreign aid, but it has not offered effective aid to the citizens of Central America. In fact, one could say that the U.S. has supported the financial interests of the Banana Industry rather than the growth of solid societies in countries like Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

It is in our long-term interest to help put societies on a sound basis in Central America. These poor, unlucky people cannot go away; they will remain a painful reminder of our past policies gone wrong.

John C. Partin, M.D.

Gloucester, Va. ...