LABOR PROBLEMS IN VIET NAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400150040-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 27, 2004
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: February 14, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

VIRGINIA SUN
F B 1 1966
Approved For 61eA4JIO 5/01/12: CIA-RDP88,4'-
'[here is no brass curlain
stretching from the Pcnfagcil to
Viet Nam's ports regardless of
hh h,ft has appeared in this col-
umn. I get this from time other
:han Assistant Sr.,-retary of De-
fvvnse Arthur Sylvester, who be-
mw lie became a bureaucrat was
a mighty fine ire spapei'nlan.
Ile scolds ma quite indignantly
for reporting that the Port of Sai-
~,hn is clogged; that there is in-
'e ffteiency; that there is connip-
tion; that there is red-tape, rule-
b.> k creakiness delaying the 11ow .
of crucial foci and supplies to
U. S. troops and to the Vietll-
namese people.
Mr. Sylvester's loyally to his
chief is admirable. fits indite ia-
lioll is understtuulable. What gets
into the public print gets into
the White house and to tlh ePres-
iclent's attention.
It is, therefore, quite respect-
fully suggested here - and I do
so not ally as a columnist, but
as chairman of the Freedom of
file Press .Colanlittce._ of We
Overseas Press Club - that Ass't
Secy. Sylvester talk to the skilled
union ghat who have just returned
from self-sacrificing nlissiolls to
Viet Nam.
Loni,shoralell's chief' Ted
Gleason would tell him. as he did
nu, that there are still horren-
dous aunt unnecessary delays in
unloading scores of idle freighters
anlollgst which arc sonic of
America's finest and swiftest ves-
sels. The International Long-
shoremen'spresident reports that
his recommendatiais made oil
Oct. 21, after his first survey
Thus, freighters carrying ues-
perately needed materiel have
been worked only f,!) per cent of
c;-.pacity at any time, 'Mr. Glea-
a halt times slower than what
son has charged. This is two and
coulld be accomplished.
But Mr. Sylvester, who is chief
Public Affairs Officer for the De-
fense Dept., tells nhe in some
.parts of Viet Nam cargo is being
discharged "at rates comparable
to major ports throughout the
world."
Air. Sylvester also objects to
reports of lack of piatinulg. How-
ever, he does admit that at the
end of November 1O'65, far more
than a year after the U. S. began
bombing the enemy, there were
122 ships awaiting discharge of
cargo. This, the says, was re-
duccd to 81 by Jan. 7, "and the
downward trend has continued
so that we are not at a level
which is necessary to maintain
an efficient operation at the
various South Viet Nam ports."
I am delighted to obtain Mr.
Sylvester's analysis, though it
wile only after a full year of
futile telepllcnulg.
However, '.% Ir. Sylvester is
at odds with the public and pri-
vate ix-ports of three American
wa''. gal labor delegations
whi:1 have spent some time in
These labor nisi havo been
Viet Nanl.
warned - quite explicitly - not
to talk publicly of what they
found.
And it is repeated here again:
Tincy found corruption. They
found ineptitude. They found, for
example, that one Saigon water-
front facility was owned by a
Frnlch company. This dock com-
plex waS not being 'used to its
full capacity. Yet it was not
until eight weeks ago that thyi
military took it over to got "th
stuff" to American GIs and Viet-
namese soldiers and c :'liana.
For four months now - ever
since Ted Gleason reported :..
presence of labor brokers - Jesa
peddlers - there has been little
change ill the hiring practices
on the Viet Nam docks. Tiny
wolllel, weighh.ng 100 pounds,
still work as cargo slingers - ,
and carry 2d0-(found bags.
If there is no brass curtain, why -
not permit the w"::, -.-It
Furciernlorc, most Of the leaders to tell the fait sto:r
equipment which Mr. Gleason, the American people.
Approvedm2'&10iff1fl': I-?J?150040-1
side. experience, . said was vital lore are n 1G.
is in Yokohama harbor. jungle hills.
trip to Saigon, have been virtual-
:]y ignored.
lie states that practically naic
of the unloading "gear" which he
advised be hushed to the choked
port has been dispatched. Instead
he . has been told that there are
no funds available, though the
uclloadilhg equipment would cost
only $5 million. This money would
merely be advanced. The stove-
rloring camptul:es would rent
the niaclhuxsy fi'om the U. S.
ho ?ernment on a per ? .: basis
Talus it is simply a ma.er of the
government adva=ncing the funds.
..__. Gleason, had -