THERE evidently lurks in the soul of every American an intense yearning to see China. Beginning in the fall of 1971 down to the time in which I write, a week does not pass without my receiving a letter, phone call, or personal query, in varying styles, the essence of which is "How can I get a visa to China?"
The variations on the theme are many. Many are straightforward travel enthusiasts who have been everywhere and are accustomed to the habit that an American tourist is surely welcome everywhere, and now want to add China to their travel list.
Other queries fall into the category of "I was there in 1941 and I cannot believe that the flies, beggars, famine, etc, have stopped. I want to go look again."
Still others have varied reasons:
"I collect porcelains and..."
"I have to give a report for my book club about