Sir, - One wonders at Ambassador Raymons Seitz's willingness to destroy his excellent reputation as a career ambassador by allegations of serious impropriety by a government of which he was an esteemed part. It is inconceivable that any of his predecessors, all of whom were political rather than career appointees, would have transgressed the code of conduct of ambassadorial service that Mr Seitz has found it so opportune to override. What Mr Seitz's memoirs admit, of course, is that his advice was captive to a fractious Tory Government indisposed to advancing peace negotiations. His attack on President Clinton for the visa to Gerry Adams and on Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith for advocating that action is made somewhat ludicrous by the fact that in the very week the story about the Seitz memoirs was published the Prime Minister of Great Britain welcomed Gerry Adams for a second time to 10 Downing Street.
Mr Seitz also knows that Ambassador Smith cannot reply to his charges publicly at this point because she is an incumbent. The international praise by objective journalists of Ambassador Smith's tenure is at least a partial answer to the vituperation of Mr Seitz's attack.
Mr Seitz is perhaps dismayed by the progress that has been made in the Northern Ireland peace process. Of course, that process is enormously difficult and success remain tenuous, but we are closer to that possibility than at any time since the Troubles began in 1969. Mr Seitz's bitterness at the failure of his recommendations and his resentment at those who succeeded are a sad memoir of a diplomat's life. He apparently has little regard for the efforts made by Senator Edward Kennedy, Tip O'Neill, Governor Hugh Carey and Senator Moynihan, among others, who fought consistently against the extremists in America who were sending money and arms to enflame the violence in Northern Ireland.
It remains to be seen whether the warring elements in Northern Ireland can find a way to live with one another, but taking a chance on peace has been among the noblest traditions of democracy. It takes vision and courage to make peace, virtues amply available in our Embassy in Dublin. - Yours, etc.,
Fifth Avenue, New York.