Japan and peacekeeping

Regarding the article "Japan's Bid to Dispatch Soldiers Falters," Oct. 8: I am deeply disturbed by Japan's reluctance to send troops to participate in United Nations peacekeeping efforts. The article notes that the Japanese government seems reluctant to take its rightful place with the rest of the world's major powers and assume the responsibility for maintaining world peace.The bill before the Japanese Parliament, which would allow partial participation in UN peacekeeping forces, is an insult not only to all other nations participating in this program but also to the Japanese forces which might participate. Japan's conditions for involving its troops in peacekeeping efforts, such as limiting their forces to small arms which provide insufficient firepower and only joining missions when antagonistic parties have been separated by a cease-fire, are unrealistic and set a danger ous precedent. R. N. Brown III, Florence, Ala. Letters are welcome. Only a selection can be published, subject to condensation, and none acknowledged. Please address them to "Readers Write," One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.