Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The trenchant comment in the Oct. 20 front-page article "Strict Visa Regulations Discourage Visiting Artists" that "the unifying effects of art are needed now more than ever" reminded me of British Foreign Secretary Lord Edward Grey's Aug. 3, 1914, lament when war had become inevitable: "The lamps are going out all over Europe."

Let's hope the State Department can improve visa services and spare us the fate described in the rest of the quote: "We shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

ALAN KRAUSE

Arlington

The writer is a retired Foreign Service officer.