THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2003
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: February 25, 1965
• Content Type: OPEN

FEB 2 5 1965
Ap 9ded For Release 2004/01/1fObTIA 0 S 4 1 32t ffrlI
February 25
. - t TILE SITUATION IN VIETNAM
Mr. MORSE. Mr. President, I ask
unanimous consent that there be printed
at this point in the RECORD certain edi-
torials and communications which I have
!received expressing opposition to a con-
tinuation of the U.S. undeclared, war in
'Asia.
There being no objection, the editorl-
als and communications were ordered to
be printed in the RECORD as foiiows?.
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-T
 pftproved For Release 2004(titc6;1!W R hPYS-Otti(409dbo5dda 6M-7 3475
[From the Dally Courier, Grants Foss, Oreg.] "War, of course, rune it all, and I really Include Communist China as one of the prln-
ButaneR Sass VIETNAM WAR As FOOLISH, believe that that is what the man who Sold cipally Interested powers.
USxLSSS _ 'war is hell' actually meant. Someday I shall Under President Lyndon Johnson. U.B. pol-
tell you about the war, when we can talk for ley shows no signs of abandoning Its refusal
We read, well day. about what Is going on hours. to recognize the existence of China. The
in Vietnam, periodically, we are given some "The chief points are: 1954 Geneva conference could be held with-
correspondent's version of just what it In all "(a) This is a war, despite whet news- out direct U.S. participation, because France
about, papers may call it, and (b) war Is useless, was the Western Power mainly involved.
But what are the actual observations of pointless, and ridiculous. This time It is the V.S. responsibility, and
the country, Its people, and the fighting that 'At first it was (and I hate to admit 1t)I Washington's stubborn refusal to deal with
go on In the heads of our servicemen eta- exciting: getting shot at, always Worried Peiping is one of the major reasons why war
tioned there? Only they can say, about mines on the roads or mortars at night, continues and threatens to expand in south-
We have been allowed to peck into one of and the sounds of artillery at night (it is a east Asia, Korea, the Formosa Straits, and
these soldiers' minds via a letter he wrote to wonderful sound, you know), but then after now Vietnam; crisis after crisis, and still the
local kin and the view is rather startling. It a while, the foolishness and waste of it Just United States will not face the realities of
also Is eloquent and enlightening. gets downright tiresome. power in the Far East. Mr. Johnson has re-
The writer is a captain In the U.S. Army, "Useless, ridiculous, pointless, foolish, jected out of hand the International appeal
Is a medical doctor, end is assi9'led to one of wasteful, tiresome, That's what were are to for a new Geneva-style conference.
our advisory teams in South Vietnam. What the men who fight them. But so long as Yet, as the events of this week have shown,
he writes Is this, in part: tyranny and jealousy and greed exist between the only likely alternative to negotiation 18
"You asked about the advisory team. As nations, I Imagine we can expect more use. escalating warfare. The Chinese-American
far as I know, this 1s unclassified Informa- less, ridiculous, pointless, foolish, wasteful war Mr. Pearson warned of is only part way
tion. Incidentally, from occasional Infor- and tiresome wars, and more men will fight, up the escalator; at the top is a world hold-
mation which we get from our enemy, the and die, and learn the truth about the whole caust. The whole world erefo efts vitally ly
Vietcong, they know each of us, our arrival process."-H.L.G. concerned Vietnam, and with the the a world immedite
a right future din
dates, our ranks, serial numbers, and our -
jobs, so advisers are not too secret. [From the Toronto Globe and Mail] mand more from V.S. leadership than the
"Well, America was more or lets 'Invited' SEEKING A WAY To SETTLE AN EXPANDING WAR present static policy of retaliatory or "deter..
to help in this war many years agd,and we prime Minister Lester Pearson no rent" reactions to Vietcong attacks.
are, therefore, 'guests' of the country. proposed The air strikes on North Vietnam bases
e solutions to. the Vietnam dilemma In his may be justified as an Interim measure to
y.
th
-We supposedly do not actually
speech this week, and he is undoubtedly Steve off complete defeat for the United
war, an It is a trifle different than your Korea. right to insist, at this critical stage, that any States-sponsored South Vietnam Govern-
Someone said the other day, however, that, specific views the Canadian Government has ment. But only If there is also a real effort
'yes, we are advisers In the war. We drop should be expressed privately in Washington. to find a formula for peace.
several thousands of pounds of "advice" every The United states carries a heavy and dan-
dy.' , gerous burden In Vietnam, and this is no time
[From the New York Times]
everything except oeggars, Due alley ..ev..t make out fairly well anyway.
"My particular role is somewhat nebulous,
I'm afraid, but It deals with helping Viet-
namese Army doctors take care of civilians
in their particular areas. I work in two dif-
ferent Provinces which lie erectly north and
directly south of Saigon. There are about 3
million people in the two States and about six
fully trained doctors, co we have meaty to do
usually. I am the leader of three grizzly
sergeants, and we just travel around training
Vietnamese Army medics in the treatment of
however, It Is fairly plain that the Govern-
ment sees a negotiated settlement leading to
the withdrawal of all foreign forces, as the
only way to peace and stability in Southeast
Asia.
Mr. Pearson sees no hope of mastering the
Vietcong guerrilla forces In a continuing war
confined to South Vietnam and only a faint
hope that air attacks on North Vietnam
might bring the Communist leadership to
the conference table; in fact, such an en-
largement of the war could well succeed in
"We call It 'The Traveling Medicine Show' the United States and Communist China.
and the amount of actual good which we do The Prime Minister endorses the appeal
{ is questionable. But you know the Army- this week by the Government of India for
'it is not for us to question why " "an immediate suspension of all provocative
"Saigon is a fantastic city. It Is oriental action In South Vietnam as well as North
enough to be full of intrigue and danger, and Vietnam by all sides," and an International
{ French enough to be beautiful and exciting. conference to settle the future of the area.
The city sprawls out like a big woman curled This is substantially the way out urged re-
along the Saigon River, Saigon 1s the heart, peatedly by President Charles de Gaulle of
the pride and the joy of all South Vietnam. France. In the French view, no amount of
She is the biggest center of industry, culture force would be sufficient to defeat the Viet-
and population of the entire nation. I am, tong.
afraid that I love her, Mr. Pearson also drew attention to the es-
But the people are the real reason for my sential weakness of the United States poll-'
existence. They are a beautiful, curious, In- tion In South Vietnam, In that the "free"
dustrious and active group. They are not as Vietnamese Government it to supposed to be
artistic or original as their Chinese antes- helping has no basis of popular support in
tore, nor are they as aggressive as their Jap- the country,
anew neighbors. They are small, affection- Ideally, he said, there should be "a unified.
ate, beautiful, simple (superficially) and, independent, neutral Vietnam," ending both
mystic. They have never really known peace, foreign intervention and the partition im-
end their attitude In war 1s one of tom-, posed by the 1954 Geneva agreement. But
placency and patience, almost indifference, how to prevent a unified Vietnam from turn-
"They are good people. They havefed me Ing Inevitably Communist under Chinese
new stage. The war will not be the Same
since the Vietcong attack on Pleiku and the
reprisals against North Vietnam which con-
' tined yesterday. It seems axiomatic of this
type of warfare that it either escalates or
it stops. For the present, it Is escalating and
becoming more expensive In new and more
perilous every day.
Pleiku has once again proved, as Secretary
McNarama said, that the American forces
cannot protect themselves against this type
of "sneak attack." Its Sequel served notice
on Hanoi-and indirectly on Peiping and
Moscow-that the United States will retaliate
when Americans are attacked. The whole
affair indictees forcibly that the long-recog-
nized dynamism of the Vietnamese conflict
has risen to a dangerous level.
Secretary McNamara says that the situa-
tion has not reached a criels; but It has done
so in the sense that the United States is be-
coming less and less able to restrict the con.
Met to minor proportions. The possible
choices of action or function are being stead-
11y whittled down. The United States is
gradually approaching a point where It either
goes on to a major engagement Involving
North Vietnam and Communist China, or
it actively seeks a diplomatic solution, which
amounts to a disengagement on reasonable
and. honorable terms.
President Johnson has In the. post denied
that the United States has any intention of
carrying the war to North Vietnam. Yet he
considered It necessary In the past few days
to help the South Vietnamese raid North
Vietnam twice. Since it is not to be expected
that the Vietcong In South Vietnam will
when I was tired and given metheir friend- The answer to Mr. Pearson's question is cease their attacks on their tactics, and since
ship and trust when I was a stranger. Some- probably that no stable Vietnamese Govern- Pelping and Moscow are committed to help
day I hope that I can return something to ment, North, South, or unified, can now be Hanoi, the dangers of the future are only
them. - - formed without Vietcong participation, If too obvious
"For It is a fabulous country, this Vietnam, not dominance. The one realistic hope 1s, - The Americans working on the Vietnamese
High rugged mountains with their tops by International guarantees emerging from problem in Washington and Saigon must
poked through the mlet clouds, rushing white a news conference, to prevent Southeast Asia often feel as if the problems have a night-
water and deep mountain pools, a beach of from falling under the dominion of the Chi- mortals or fourth dimensional quality. Weet-
white-tan sand which stretches for 1,200 nese Government. ern Ideas, modes of thought and methods do
miles, Islands that would give Howell In the present climate of American opln- not function as it seems that they logically
jealousy, a Juggle with all the color and dan- ion, this is a difficult outlook for the U.S. should. Mortars and bombs do speak a un1-
ger and life of Africa, all superimposed upon Government to accept. A-still greater ob+ versal language; but they may -ultimately
a Culture as old and' as deep as the earth steele to negotiation over southeast Asia Is lead to the. unthinkable conclusions of a
I If. - the fact that any conference would have to nuclear war.
pr
proved For Release 2004/01/16 :.CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7'
 App ed For Release 2004101/160'6W 4?A32HNkTE
The only sane way out Is diplomatic, inter- States to the entrance of a one-way street. try wants no wider war, yet his statement
national, political, economlc-not military. If followed to the bitter end, this road could surrenders all Initiative to the Viel Cong and
A solution will not be found by exchanging' lead to a major war Involving Communist their external allies. "Our conthuing nc-
harder and harder blows. Surrender is out China and probably the Soviet Union. But dons will be those that are justified and
of the question and "victory" for either side there Is still time to stop, made necessary by the continuing aggression
Is Impossible. A great power can demonstrate Its great- of others," Mr. Johnson says. He stresses
.Perhaps a new start can be made from ness by its restraint. The United States has that the. United States seeks no conquest and
an untried base-that Americans, Viet- the air and naval power to destroy everything that Its sole aim is to "Join in the defense and
namese, Chinese, and Russians are all sen- of importance in North Vietnam; but this protection of the freedom of a brave people."
sible human beings who are ready for peace country would show itself to be far wiser and All this Is admirable as a reaffirmation of
in southeast Asia, or at least willing to con- far stronger by refraining from doing so the consistent American position on. the
alder It. There would be prices to pay, but than by pursuing a policy of repetitive Vietnamese conflict, but It provides no an-
there would be gains as well as losses. Dlplo- retaliation, which is at once so seductive and ewer to two factors that have emerged with
macy to surely not yet a lost art or a dead so dangerous. Despite the administration's overwhelming force in recent weeks. One Is
language. oft-restated desire "to avoid spreading the that the South Vietnamese, ruled by it sue-
conflict," this present policy of reprisals is cession of fragile governments under the
[From the New York Times] Inexorably carrying the United States Into a domination of bickering warlords, are ahow-
BLAcB DAY IN VIETNAM major armed struggle in southeast Asia- Ing little appetite for doing any fighting In
The slugging match in Vietnam contin- unless a halt is called, and soon, their own defense or even for helping to
ues; the war escalates; the danger grows; the When President Johnson ordered last Sun- guard our troops against sneak attack. The
goal of peace recedes. Just in I day-yes- day's retaliatory strike after the Vietcong second Is that the nature of the Vietcong
terday-many Americans were killed when attack on Plelku, there was understanding guerrilla tactics makes it almost impossible
an enlisted men's barracks was blown up by and support for his action. Yet, It was re- to hit back at the Communist forces without
Vietcong terrorists, while In the north, In a cognized that the two actions--the assault carrying the attack into North Vietnam and
pitched battle that began on Monday, Viet- ? on a U.S. military Installation in thus creating the wider war the President
cong guerrillas wiped out five companies of South Vietnam and the American decision to wants to avoid.
South Vietnamese troops. Everybody con- respond by striking at staging arena In North Each northward strike enlarges the peril
cerned Is braced for Washington's response, Vietnam-vastly Increased the perils to of active intervention by Communist China
In accordance with the new policy of world peace that have always been inherent and increases the pressure on Soviet Russia to
reprisals. In the Vietnamese conflict. abandon the withdrawn position It so plainly
There is a frightening "normality" about Now each side feels obliged to match a prefers. What is still lacking in the Proof-
the situation. Events are occurring with the show of power by the other with an even dent's formulation Is any hint of the chcum-
Inexorability of a Greek tragedy. President greater response-a course that can only in. stances under which a negotiated settlement,
de Gaulle, who yesterday returned to his, vlte holocaust, For the United Staten the of the type proposed by Secretary General
suggestion of another Geneva Conference problem Is made severer by the impossibility Thant of the United Nations, might be ap-
and a negotiated settlement, was right in of striking effectively at the Vietcong with- proached. Without such a move, the poten-
saying that the war cannot be won no mat- out carrying the war Into North Vietnam tiality of a vastly expanded war Increases
ter how much air and naval power the and thus intensifying the pressure on each day.
United States commits or what reprisals Peiping and Moscow to become actively in. China may take. It cannot be won by any volved. [From the New York Times
ou sder
American or Chinese President Johnson is nn against his oust. ]
,
-_-
_
t
,
., .
_'_. --_- ------
the
Vietnam le threatened enough or punished complex problems of Vietnam and south-
enough It will agree to a truce, Korean style; east Asia cannot be settled by arms alone.
and then the United States will be in a post- An Infinity of social, political, economic, roll,
tion to negotiate peace or a controlled an. gious, tribal, nationalistic, historic and tradi-
tralization from a position of strength. The tional factors are at work in Vietnam. This
greatest weakness of this reprisal policy country can best demonstrate Its wisdom and
against North Vietnam is that while it is true responsibility by keeping Its powder dry and
the Vietcong gets orders, advice, some arms meanwhile trying patience, diplomacy and
and some men from North Vietnam, the war negotiation.
is being fought In South Vietnam. That Is History, good Intentions and a concatena.
Where American liveg were lost yesterday and tion of events have led the United States
where American-trained and armed Vietnam- into a morass where we sink deeper each
ese soldiers were defeated, day. The Vietnamese conflict should not be
The Vietcong live and operate in South almost exclusively a U.S. burden. The Rue
Vietnam, using American arms captured alone have good reasons to want pence in
from the Vietnamese. The peasants either Vietnam, The French want to bring about
help them, or accept them, or are cowed into an International conference. So does United
submission by them. The guerrillas, as Nations Secretary General Thant. The Chi-
Vietminh against the French a few years ago, neap would probably refuse to attend one or
or as Vietcong today, have been fighting for even to compromise; but nobody will know
two decades. They are tough, dedicated, unless a conference 1s tried.
fanatical, well trained. Perhaps they are not What the United States is now doing in
winning, but certainly they are not losing. Vietnam is playing directly into the hands of.
Meanwhile, each day that passes gives fur- Communist China by taking actions that-
ther evidence of the relentless escalation of however defensive in Intent-lead to a stead-
the conflict. fly escalating, and hence more dangerous,
This Is what gives special point to Presi. conflict. This, surely, is the last thing In the
dent de Gaulle's renewed suggestion to recall world that the Johnson administration and
the 14-nation Geneva Conference to seek an the American people want. Therefore Rome
"International accord excluding all foreign thing else should be tried, and this something
Intervention" In southeast Asia. The key has to be negotiation with all parties con-
factor In the De Gaulle proposal-and the earned.
main stumbling block for the United The United States has made its point very
States-is that no conference and no settle- forcefully with bombs during the loot week.
meat is possible In that region without the Its power is Indisputable. In the light of the
participation of Communist China. Whether strength this country has shown, It can now
we like it or not-and we do not like it- offer to continuo the argument over a con-
Communist China Is an Interested party; ference table where Its power will be un-
and the United States knows of course that diminished. But the outcome might then
North Vietnam cannot be bombed as if Corn- be peace instead of war.
munist China did not exist.
There may still be a choice: talk or Ilght. [From the New York Times]
It everybody welts too long, the chance to THE Pax9IDENT ON VIETNAM
talk will be gone. If the United States has a policy In South
(From the New York Times] Vietnam, Its outlines do not emerge with any
GmClthe N BY RsrasmI clarity from, the statement President John-
s-- _ son appended to his speech before the Na-
te. . flea use A4 I
Approved For Release 0 / :
A comparatively small group of Americans,
at this moment predominantly political in
character and predominantly Republican In
politics, 1s doing its best to multiply the
perils and frustrations of the war in southeast
Aela,
This group Ignores the realities of the pros-
ant situation. It ignores the obvious war-
weariness of the people of South Vietnam.
It ignores the steady, stream of desertions
from the Vietnamese Army, It ignores the
difficulty of protecting Isolated American
bases against the surprise attacks of
guerrillas.
It Ignores the possibility of an Invasion
of South Vietnam by the very considerable
North Vietnamese Army. It ignores the
problem of how an aerial counterattack
could cope successfully with a massive ground
attack of this character. It Ignores the pos-
sibility of Chinese intervention, It Ignores
the logistics and belittles the cost In lives
lost, blood spilled and treasure wasted, of
fighting a war on a jungle front 7,000 miles
from the coast of California.
The whole aim of this group is to expand
the Vietnamese war, even if It means draw-
Ing in China and perhaps the Soviet Union
as well. By its lights, President Johnson's
declaration that the United States seeks no
wider war is as much a prescription for
failure as any attempt at a negotiated peace.
It 1s one thing to any, as Secretary McNamara
did in his testimony yesterday, that this
country has "no other alternative than con-
tinuing to support South Vietnam against
the Red guerrilla onslaught." It Is quite an-
other to argue that the road out of the pres-
ent hazardous situation to to invite world
destruction. The American people made it
overwhelmingly clear in the last election that
they do not want to plunge recklessly down
that road.
[From the Now York Times]
NxoOTIATs OR ESCALATZ
It Is time for someone in Washington to
remember John F Kenned
r,-
'. word- i
y
n
 1961Aproved For Release 200 / 6 1:`ijWAb05-W as6RAWfs-7 3177
out of fear. But let us never fear to nego- to urge that they meet as soon as possible wider war,' but widens it anyway by bomb-
tiate." to insure that peace is not disturbed In ing North Vietnam. These bombing ralds,
The pressures on this country to seek a southeast Asia. however, are not usually described an
negotiated settlement of the Vietnamese con- Mr. Shastri spoke upon emerging from two "bombings" or ns "raids," but as "responses!'
fhct are approaching a point where the almost consecutive half-hour meetings with IIY.UCSr9Y UNLnArrgD
United States is being Isolated. In recent Premier. Georges yompidou of France, who At least a debate in the U.N. would expose
days Russia has joined France in appealing arrived today with his wife and Foreign this hypocrisy on all sides, Including the
for talks; the British would like to see ne- Minister Maurice Couve de Murvllle on an hypocrisy of Our allies, who are treaty-bowed
gotiations started; the news from North Viet- 8-day official visit to India. Mr. Pompidou to help us in South Vietnam, but are doing
nam hints at a desire to confer; India had observed that he was glad to say he had nothing of the sort. And while a dehate
previously expressed the same wish, and yes- found the positions of the French and In. would cause us some embarrnhile a In the
terday Secretary General Thant of the United than Governments on Vietnam "very doss." U.N., it would surely make clear the central
Nations disclosed that he has been engaged The External Affairs Ministry's statement fact-namely, that Washington went Into
In discussions with the United States and said, "There should be an Immediate eve- that country originally to prevent the Coni-
other Involved nations and has made "con- , pension of all provocative action In South munists from overpowering the South Vlet-
crete proposals" for a negotiated settlement. Vietnam as well as in North Vietnam by all namese in violation of specific international
Washington, to be sure, Is not quite alone, sides." agreements.
Communist China has been adamant against India is chairman of all three international The United Nation is Ina Bad plight. It
negotiations and It is quite possible that control commissions set up in Geneva at is broke, but it need not be bankrupt, In
Peiping will refuse to talk. However, Mr. the seven-power conference of 1954 to main- spirit. More than likely it is not going to be
Thant, President de Gaulle and the Russians taln peace In Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. able W take effective military action in the
believe that China can be induced to join a Although not a participant In that con- future to oppose aggression, as it did in the
reconvened meeting of the 14-nation Geneva ference, India was invited to head the control Congo.
conference. - commissions. All it has left, therefore, is the power to
Yesterday it was announced that American talk and clarify, to appeal to the conscience
jet bombers, with Americans manning the [From the New York Times] of the peoples, and if It is going to give tip
weapons as well as the controls, are now UNITED NATIONS: THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THE this responsibility it will have little or notli-
fighting in Vietnam, Their involvement U.N. ing left in the field of international politics.
makes Americans open combatants In the The Secretar
war, not just "advisers": thus the conflict has (By James Reston) y General of the United Na-
February 10.-The tions has tried to get the antagonists in
Y
ondents In UNITED NATIONS
N
res
C
d
.,
.
,
or
p
.
agmn been escalate
Washington are being Informed that United weakness of the United Nations Was never Vietnam into negotiations, but both he and
its ks on North more obvious than in its present paralysis the Pope have been brushed aside-even In
a c
l'
s
States policy now peta
Washington. '
Vietnam- even without further provocations. over the Vietnamese crisis. It could not hope The main reason for the weakness of the
The point of no return on a wider war may be to settle that conflict, for it was never orga- U.N. today,
at hand. nized to deal with the disputes among the of course, Is that its principles
A State Department spokesman goes on great powers, but at least It was organized have constantly been violated by the Com-
repeating that the United States will reject to talk, and It is not even talking about Viet- muniet nations ever since it was founded 20
negotiations so long as Hanoi supports the nam. years ago. Washington, however, also has
Vietcong guerrillas; Peiping says It will not The excuses for not talking about It are to take a pert of the blame.
talk until all American troops are out of clear enough. Three of the four major an- BLQC votiNG
Vietnam. Both preconditions are utterly tagonists in Vietnam-Communist China, For it was the United States that started
unrealistic. One of the fundamental reasons North Vietnam, and South Vietnam-arc not the practice of bloc voting in the organize.
for negotiations is precisely to arrange for members of the international organization. tion. Now the Communists have taken It
a cease-fire and nonintervention. The Communists regard the Vietnamese up, and with all the new nations from
Unquestionably, President Johnson worries struggle as an internal war of national lib- Africa and Asia, they have a bloc tdtat threat..
about the effect on South Vietnamese morale eration, and therefore deny the competence ene to overwhelm, not only the American
of any move toward negotiations, but the of the U.N. to deal with It. The Soviet Union bloc, but the principles of the charter as
recent upheavals In Saigon have Indicated would veto any action on the question by the well.
that the will to resist the Vietcong, even Security Council, and the General Assembly The U.N. cannot be revived, however, by
among the commanders of the armed forces, is now so dominated by the new nations of silence and capitulation. - It has to speak
is already new the vanishing point. Asia and Africa that even the Johnson ad- out for Its Principles In the Vietnamese
Time Is working against the United States. ministration 1s not sure it would be sup-, crisis, even if It cannot make them prevail.
Secretary Thant is right in saying that the ported in that body. _
situation is going "from bad to worse." The SECUarY AND MONEY [From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
notion that to negotiate would be a defeat Beyond all that, U.N. officials are so worried ILLUSIONS Arm FALSE ANALOGIZE
for the United States has become one of about the security problems that would arise
the most pernicious misapprehensions of the In New York if the Chinese Communists were Assuming that there is still time to think
man-that of mil
conflict. The United States is amply proving to come here to discuss the Vietnamese ques- teary sc here to d
isc
examine isnot the yet irreversible deadly cycle A real-
-
its military strength and its determination tion that they are not eager to get Into the team -should validity of the
to stay In South Vietnam In present ctrcum controversy. And they are so concerned ac should
for r the the the m salalib reprisal bombings of
stances. An agreement to negotiate sur- about the financial bankruptcy of the U.N. North hl Vietnam.
renders nothing; It opens up the possibility that they are talking more about money and No The rationale Ss that attacks on South
for determining whether the goals of effec- voting than they are about their principal e and d American bases are planned
,
tive neutralization now being sought mill- responsibility, which is the maintenance of armed and supplied predominantly ly from the
tarty can be achieved at the conference eace. armed and
P north, n. p If we
the attacks will ll The stop
table. Nevertheless, there are at least three argu- hit h, hit the and that
north hard the
fatal flaw
enough.
The most significant thing that Secretary manta for having a U.N. debate on the ss-
portion of
Thant said yesterday was this: "I am sure ject of Vietnam or any other threat to the the In this theory that the major
are Area.
the Vietcong
that the great American people, If It only peace. First, the principles and spirit of the Than weapons captured and turned against
knows the true facts, will agree with me U.N. Charter require it. Second, the U.N. While wweapons, ons, used the
north doubt- us. that further bloodshed 1s unnecessary and will be weakened even more than it now Is if edly help the supplies lies ies from
Vietcong, rom te there Is s little basis
that political and diplomatic negotiations it Ignores Vietnam. And third, a U.N. debate for help they alone can create conditions that will enable might have a restraining effect on the mill- for supposing that they are Indispensable, or
the United States to withdraw gracefully tary operations In Vietnam and would prob- that the Vietcong would fade away if supply
from that part of the world." ably end with a resolution that would. put lines could be aut--even if the lines could
be cut by air action alone, which Is most
President Johnson 1s the man to whom the pressure on both sides to negotiate an honor- Improbable.
American people look for the true facts, able settlement. Should It not be clear by now that we
What is going on now over Vietnam is an are not dealing with a simple case. of ex-
[From the New York Times] Increasingly dangerous military struggle ternal aggression, an the official policy of our
INDIA URGES CONFERENCE ON VIETNAM amidst a tangle of verbal obscurities and Government assumes? If after 10 years of
New i February B .-India's External misleading propaganda. steadily increasing m the South
than it
Affairs Ministry called today for for a Geneva- The Communists are engaged there I. VSatnammese Government ernmeent nt Is aid American
weaker than it
1 -
type conference for Vietnam and said it was what they call a "war of national libera- was before, then something other than ex-
"essential for a peaceful and enduring solu- tton," which any careful debate in the U.N, ternally supported subversion must be in-
tlon to the problem." would expose as nothing more than an Inter- volved.
Shortly after this statement was Issued, national war for Communist domination of All the evidence points to a high degree
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shaetri said he the whole country and peninsula, of local sympathy or outright support for
was writing to President Johnson and Pre- Washington to also playing the obscurantist the Vietcong as a major element in Its sue-
mier Aleksel N. Sosygin of the Soviet Union game. The President mays he "wants no case. The bom?ing of North Vietnam does
Approved For Release 2004/01/16: CIA-RD P75-00149R000500320026-7
 The course of the war is equally plain. We
were getting licked In South Vietnam. The
Communists were steadily defeating the
South Vietnamese armed forces, terrorizing
a war-weary and Indifferent population, and
taking advantage of a divided and quarrel-
some South Vietnamese Government.
More than that, the Communists Were
stepping up their attacks on the bases and
barracks which serve the 23,000 American
troops In South Vietnam, and It was In re-
sponse to this that President Johnson or-
dered the bombing attacks on the Commu-
nist military Installations In the south of
North Vietnamese territory.
Ve#y.few people here question the neces-
sity for a limited expansion of the war by
U.S. bombers Into Communist territory.
The American and South Vietnamese posi-
tion was crumbling fast, and the political
and strategic consequences of defeat would
have been serious for the free world all
over Asia.
There Is a point, however, where this ex-
ercise will become critical. As the military
'targets In the southern part of Communist
Vietnam are knocked out, and our bombers
move northward, they will soon come within
the range of the North Vietnamese and Red
Chinese Mfg fighters, and if we get into that
situation, the pressure for attacks on the air
bases In North Vietnam and South China
will steeply increase.
The immediate problem, therefore, 1s how
to put enough pressure on the North Viet-
namese to bring them into negotiations for
a settlement of the war, without provoking
a mass Communist counterattack we are
In no position to meet.
This is a delicate and highly dangerous
situation. The United States has the air
and naval power to wipe out North Vietnam
and the Chinese Air Force, if it comes Into
the battle. But the North Vietnamese have
a quarter of a million men under arm, who
have never been committed to the battle at
all, and few observers In Washington believe
this force could be stopped without the in-
tervention of a very large American army
on the ground.
THE S1.ENT WHITE HOUSE
Nobody has made all this clear to the
American people. President Johnson has not
made a major spedch on the details of this
war since he entered the White House.
Neither did President Kennedy. We have
had one long speech on the subject by Sec-
retary of Defense McNamara on March 26 of
last year, and a lot of statements here and in
Saigon, many of them highly optimistic and
misleading. But the fact is that we are 1,
and avoid a ground war on the continent of
Asia., but the future is not wholly in his
control. He may be bombing merely to force
a negotiated settlement, but the Chinese and
the North Vietnamese don't know that. In
fact neither do the American people, whose
airmen are carrying out the President's
orders.
Nor, for that matter, do the allies, who are
trea.ty..bound to support us If we get into a
larger war In southeast Asia. They will un-
doubteily support a policy of limited re-
inflation in North Vietnam if it is for the
purpose of negotiating,p settlement, but they
will not support us for long unless we define
and limit our aims.
The Implications of this war, then, extend
far beyond Vietnam. President Johnson's
hopes of building a strong alliance with Japan
and the other free nations of Asia are not
likely to be promoted by replaying the old
Script of American planes once more bomb-
ing Asians.
He has started on a massive program of
reconstruction and development at home, but
he can forget about his Great Society if he
gets bogged down in a major land war In Asia on territory favorable to the enemy.
Freedom, expands in peace and authoritarian
government in war, and this is precisely the
danger now, for the Communists have the
manpower to cause us an almost u.nmanage-
able situation not only in Vietnam, but In
Korea, and force us Into a war that could
divert our energies from the lat>:;er con-
structive purposes of the Nation.
In this Situation It Is difficult to under-
stand why the problem Is not discussed more
openly by the President, why the terms of
an honorable settlement are not defined,
and why the negotiating efforts of the Sec-
retary General of the United Nations and
other world statesmen are so blithely brushed
aside.
It Is true that the instability, weakness and
sensitivities of the South Vietnamese Gov-
ernment have to be kept In mind, but no-
body is suggesting a sellout at their expense.
The talk here is not about a Munich agree-
ment but a Korean agreement in, Which
South Vietnam, like South Korea, would be
in a better position to order its own life. ,
This would not be Ideal, but It would
be better for the South Vietnamese and for
the United States than what we have now,
and it would be better for North Vietnam
and China than a larger war,
CHINA'S DANGER
For if this dangerous game gets out of
hand, it is not likely that China's new indus-
tries, Including her atomic Installations at
Takla.makalr Desert in Central Sinkiang, will
be spared, What her manpower call grab
beyond her borders would be worth far lees
than what she would lose at home.
Somebody, however, has to make a move
to reverse the trend and stop the present
crooked course. For the moment, we seem
to be standing mute in Washington, para-
lyzed before a great Issue, and merely dig-
ging our thought deeper Into the accustomed
military rut.
SYRACUSE, N.Y.
DEng SENATOR MoasE: I send you this let-
ter to indicate my appreciation of your
article in the January 17 issue of the New
York Times magazine, and my support of
~- to find that the two greater menaces of nam conflict. My opinion that victory is
]From the New York Times] Communism and Nazism took his place. One impossible In Vietnam, and that the United
WAenhNeroN: THE UNnzcI.AREO All of the main objectives of the two World States has no right to sponsor mindless
UNExel.AmNEO WAR Were was the freedom of Eastern Europe, fratricide there IS Shared by many of my
(By James Reston) which ended up with less freedom under the professors and fellow students hero at Syrai.
WASHnrerora, February 18.-The time has Communists than it had before.. CURB University. Please continue to protest
some to call a B Current U.S. policy, and present In your do-
pade a bloody shovel This nrMlTnrc THE WAR mans for negotiations.
country is in an undeclared and unex- Few people here question that President Youre'truly,
plalned War In Vietnam, Our masters have Johnson wants to limit the war in Vietnam Mies DALE BsssANr,
Approved For Release 2004/01/16: CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7
Ap d For Release 2004/01/1 W IA-4&~W~4 1 X32( *
not touch this source of conflict and prob- a lot of long and fancy names for It, like
ably strengthens it. Escalation and retaliation, but It is war just
The false assumption of external aggres- the same.
slon as the essential element In the situation The cause of the war is plain enough. The
Is strategic as well as tactical. It Is one of North Vietnamese Communists, with the aid
the major reasons our forces are in Vietnam. of Red China and to a lesser extent the Soviet
Apologists for official policy are fond of Union, have sent their guerillas Into South
quoting Churchill's warning after the par- Vietnam In violation of the 1964 and 1962
tition of Czechoslovakia in 1930-"The belief Geneva agreements, for the express purpose
that security can be obtained by throwing a of taking over the government and territory
small state to the wolves Is a fatal delusion." of South Vietnam.
Czechoslovakia, however, was a victim of AMERTCA'S RESPONSE
direct external aggression. What we face in
Vietnam Is the quite different problem of an
Indigenous revolution, 25 yours in the mak-
ing, which has succeeded In ending French
colonialism and withstanding 10 years of
American intervention.
In such a situation even our great military
strength does not give us power to decide,
by a simple decision to fight, that a small
state shall be "saved." It is one thing to
go to the aid of a nation under overt attack,
and another to interfere inn local revolu-
tion, in which the essential element is not
external aid but the people themselves..
Only they can "win the war," and after 10
years of not winning, South Vietnam's will
and capacity to do BE must now be doubted.
Some Americans, of course, believe that
It is our national mission to police the
world, particularly to police It against rev-
olution. That belief, in our view, is as
immature as Isolationism was, and Indeed
may well be an over-reaction to Isolationism.
The United States tried to turn its back
on the world, and failed; participation in the
Second World War established. firmly the
commonsense proposition that for America
Involvement In International affairs is un-
avoidable. But what is involvement? Some
Americans evidently swung so far from their
isolationist past that they regard involve-
ment as deciding everything for everybody,
and particularly deciding the nature and
Scope of social revolution anywhere. A role
In world leadership certainly 1s the Ameri-
can mission, but we need a more sensible
view of what world leadership really Is. -
The truth to that Vietnam does not pre-
Bent a simple Can of external aggression,
direct or indirect, and a policy based on that
false assumption Is bound to fail, as ours
- has failed for 10-years. No matter how
strenuously we may justify the bombing
of North Vietnam to ourselves, and no mat-
ter how well It might be defended as pure
reprisal or revenge, the fact remains that
there Is no military solution to the problem
eo far as the United States 1s concerned.
If we step up our attacks and the degree
of our Involvement, and even If we do not
provoke Chinese or Russian Intervention, all
we can really expect Is to take over the whole
war from the South Vietnamese-in other
words, to occupy and govern South Vietnam
Indefinitely.
What would such an occupation gain for
us? It would not serve our true national
Interests, it would poison our relations with.
half the world, and It would hamper our
- freedom of maneuver In more important
areas of conflict.
Our Vietnam policy is at a dead end. Our
Interests can now be served only by a polltl-
Cal rather than a military solution, one that a war that is not only undeclared and unex
will enable us ultimately to end a profitless plained, but that has not even been widely
Involvement in a profitless Asian land war. debated in the Congress or the country.
Unless President Johnson Is seeking a politl- The whole history of this century testifies'
cal solution, he is not only risking nuclear to the difficulty of predicting the conse-
war but basing national policy on dangerous quences of war. We Imposed a policy of
Illusions.
 CLEvscsNe, Oslo. hope that Congress would pressure them to
senator Warns Moses, phase out the domlcillarles over a period of
T.S. Senate, time--so that individual planning for the
Washington. D.O. provision of alternative services could be
DEAR SawATOs Mogsx: You have restored provided for some of these veterans--rather
again my faith In democracy. Enclosed is a than shipping them an masse from their own
copy of my letter to the President In Support communities to distant parts of the coun-
of your position on South Vietnam. try.
Sincerely yours, Yours truly,
' R. DmCSLENKO.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.
Mr. LYNDON B. JOHNSON,
President of the United States,
White House, Washington, D.C.
Ma. PaESmENT: I take It upon myself, as
a concerned citizen and your supporter, to
urge you that you heed the warnings of
Senator Moser and others regarding our
policies in South Vietnam.
The honor of a great nation does not re-
quire from her leaders to Sacrifice the lives
of her people rather than admit a past nits.
take In policy. Our involvement in South
Vietnam was a mistake. Let us have Wis-
dom and courage to admit It.
Respectfully yours,
R. DwcuENKO, Ph. D.
Senator WAYNE L. MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.O.
DEAR SENATOR Moses: For several months
I have been intending to write and thank
you for your stand on one great, current Is-
sue-our Involvement In Vietnam. I thank
you. I admire you for your suggestion that
we submit the Issue to the United Nations.
I want to add my bit of support for your
efforts,
Of course, I have excuses for not writing
you before this. But they are not good ex-
cuses. With the current escalation of our
military actions in Vietnam and the ever.
Increasing visibility of our Government's
untruthful news releases and stubborn per-
sistence In the Same shameful rut. I could
no longer delay writing you without violat-
ing my conscience further.
I wish sincerely that the current adminis.
tration would struggle to come up with as
visionary Ideas for our responsibilities to
the poverty stricken and politically repressed
people of Vietnam and other nations BE they
have for such people In our own country.
As long BE I have pen In hand I do want
to relate another somewhat narrower but, I
believe, Important concern. That is the VA
intention to close a number of their hos-
pital and domlclllarles Including the near-
by one at White City. If one grants the
VA's apparently clear assumption that their
{ responsibility is only for acute medical treat-
ment for veterans it is difficult to refute
the logic of their action. Even It one agrees
with that assumption, however, I think that
one could argue that building now and
larger hospitals In the big cities In conjunc-
tion with medical schools sometimes results
In admissions being based on what do we
want to teach the medical student next,
rather than on what medical services do the
veterans need. In any event I see reasons
to argue with their basic assumptions. To
point out only one-the domiciliaries were
sot up as homes, not as hospitals. They
were set up to meet a social need of disabled
and underprivileged veterans. The Great
Society has not yet arrived-there are in-
adequate economic and sociel supports for
these veterans and the domlclllarles are still
providing an essential service to this seg-
ment of our poverty stricken society.
Whether or not hospitals are associated with
these domlclllarles is therefore beside the
point.
H the VA Is bound and determined to get
out of the homes service, I would at least
ROBERT R. GOHRKE.
PRINCETON, N.J.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR Sat: I wish to commend your opposi-
tion to our policy In Vietnam. It takes a
great deal of courage to stand against such
emotion-laden policies. Yod have my ad-
miration and -unqualified support In your
efforts to do SO.
The basic trouble in our foreign policy is
that it is a holding action designed to pre-
serve the world status quo. But the status
quo Is an abominable mesa, We need a
positive policy aimed at accelerating politi-
cal, economic, and social reforms.
If you will excuse me for departing from
the realm of the practical, for my own satis-
faction I would like to suggest that the basic
planks In one foreign policy should, be the
following:
1. A massive worldwide program for birth
control.
2. The establishment or Improvement of
public health programs. Most people live at
the mercy of disease.
3. A program of agricultural reform and
Industrial expansion, backed by the kind of
money we put into war.
4. The development of education on a
worldwide basis. Only In education can we
hope to Improve men's thinking.
5. Forceful support of movements to
establish Social Justice, Which we too often
oppose.
"The encouragement of democratic in-
stitutions. Only on this point Is even our
thinking straight. But I do not think we do
much to Implement It.
Sincerely yours,-
JoHN C. BowEN.
ELSINORE. CAIAF.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.O.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: Please permit me to
tell you that my family and I fully support
3479
filet. For tills reason we strongly protest
the recent air strikes against North Vietnam.
Further, we believe that:
1. D.S. attacks on North Vietnam not only
violate international law but also increase
the possibility, of Chinese Intervention In
the undeclared war,
1 D.S. support of the Khanh regime in
South Vietnam is unwarranted on our Gov
ernment's stated grounds of Support for tree-
dom and democracy. It Is apparent to all
that the Ehanh regime lacks thCbacking of
the South Vietnamese people.
3. Military tactics used by the United
States in South Vietnam such as defoliation
(which destroys crops Be well as revealing
guerrilla hideouts) and strategic hamlets
(which involve the forced eviction of fain..
flies from their villagep) have not been ef-
fective and are deplorable on humanitarian
grounds.
4. Our Government has failed in Its duty
to supply the American people with full In-
formation on its policies and actions In Vlot
nam,
We conclude that the use of brinkmanship
policies in the grave situation in Vietnam
Could escalate the War from an Internal con-
filet to a broader Struggle. We therefore sup-
port a negotiated peace settlement and with-
drawal of American military forces from
South Vietnam,
NORTH BEND, Oasa.
Hen. WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
Dsaa Sm: Get us out of Vietnam. Let's
not worry about dignity-just get out.
We never should have been there, and It
won't hurt us as a nation, to admit a mistake,
With your position In the Senate, your
knowledge, and, your following, you should
be able to throw a lot of weight around.
Sincerely yours,
Roscoe B. HAZER.
SAN DIEGO, CALIF.
Senator WAYNE 1ltoass,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR MnnsE: May I express my ap-
preciation for your position regarding our
country's illegal and dangerous intervention
in Vietnam? Your Denver speech was a
masterpiece of logic and Intelligent patriot-
lam. Most people seem to be either con-
fused or to feel that It Is useless for a citi-
?.ua I heard part of a quotation from your re-
of this useless terrible war. it can only end marks regarding our recent bombing of North
in a holocaust for the world and what will Vietnam on the radio during the night, but
remain will not be democracy, therefore it
Wishing yougood health and happiness
and thank you for your fine leadership.
Respectfully yours,
Mrs. NINA HAMMER.
DEAR SIR: In light of the recent events in
Vietnam; the Swarthmore Student Council
presented the enclosed resolution to referen.
dum to the Swarthmore student body on
February 18, 1985. The resolution passed by
a vote of 370 to 255, with about 80 percent of
the Student body voting.
Sincerely yours,
ANN B. MOSELY,
President, Swarthmore Student Council.
RESOLUTION ON VIETNAM
e
s
e
ove
nment
matien concerning the situation In Vietnam, point of view, in the Sunday Times, which
we believe that with each passing week, the must be answered point by point. I do hope
situation there poses an Increasing threat to you will do this.
world peace. We view with great fear any I am so grateful to you and the other Seu-
new military action which would further store-GRUENmo, Canon, and eo on-for
heighten the danger of escalating the con your positions on this dangerous Situation.
able to find any mention of it in the daily
press.
speeches or remarks since your Denver ad-
dress on December 11, 1984. If possible, I
would like to receive any of your future re- i. _..
MARK FISHER.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: I am so appalled at
the undoubted signs our Goverpment has
chosen war. Is there nothing to be done}
Who is advising the President In such a die-
_VI have just read a dreadful article by Han-
son Baldwin which I f
el i
th
G
r
Xep'iTov d For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7 ,
 AppPJ Dd For Release 2004/01/16C I 1k9ROMPSZ0OMVI'13
It would be possibly of great Importance
for you all to answer Hanson Baldwin's
shocking article.
Very gratefully,
PHYLLIS BYRNE Cox.
ST. HELENS, OREG.
DEAR SENATOR: Planes use your influence
and vote to get a social security medicare
bill.
We would like repeal of section 14B, Taft-
Hartley Act.
We like your stand on the Vietnamese
question.
Keep up the good work.
Sincerely yours,
Mr. and Mrs. CARL HOHLSTRAND.
NEW YOM, N.Y.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.:
Deep gratitude to you for standing firm for
negotiations. Steep up the fight.
ELIZABETH MOOs.
Hon. WAYNE B. MORSE,
Senator from Oregon,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D. C.
DEAR MR. MORSE: This Is to let you know
the thoughts and wishes of Mrs. Burris and
myself relative to the handling of this coun-
try's foreign affairs.
We agree with you that the United States
should get out of South Vietnam at once and
quit this foolish waste of American lives and
resources. France saw the futility of the
situation and wisely went home. Such a
withdrawal at this time would not mean
defeat but if we continue on our present
course It can lead only to total war on the
Chinese mainland.
We also heartily agree with Dan Smoot
that we should abandon Africa completely
and withdraw all forms of aid from coun-
tries that don't want or don't appreciate it.
This country has been dissipating its re-
sources all over the world for many years,
surely to the delight of the Communists,
while our national debt continues to grow
out of control. It is not enough to simply
balance the budget, which this country has
not done for a long time. It is mandatory
that we start to reduce the national debt at
once. If we are unable to do so now, when
the President reports our national economy is
at an all-time high, then we had better give
up. We cannot spend our way Into pros-
perity at home, or in city, State or Federal
governments.
It is our hope that you use your full power
toward getting this country out of all its
foolish commitments around the world. Let
us discontinue all of our silly giveaway pro-
grams and adopt a get-tough policy. Con-
serve our resources, strengthen our country
and reduce our national debt, and all coun-
tries will have to respect us. There is no rea-
son why we Should be openly insulted and
scorned by such petty nations Be Cuba,
Panama, Africa, and others too numerous
to mention, while we continue to pour more
money Into those same countries than they
ever saw. We should take every penny away
from them and see how much the Com-
munists want them then, Then get us out
of the United Nations, We are footing prac-
tically the entire bill and it is unable to
accomplish a thing. Their Intentions were of
the beet but they just won't work.
We thank you for the fine stand you are
taking In these matters, and also for your
kindness in looking out for the welfare of
retired Federal civil service employees. May
we be fortunate in having you as our Senator
for many years. -
Respectfully yours,
HMOLD T. Drfisrs.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office, Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR: In reference to the Vietnam
situation, I would appreciate If I could be
advised on what particular legislation the
President is carrying on the so-called house-
keeping operations In South Vietnam. I am
particularly interested in the matter since
the Constitution of the United States de-
clares that Congress has the responsibility of
declaring war. Is there any particular legis-
lation which has delegated' this respon-
sibility to the President under certain condi-
tions of limited warfare. It Is a distressing
situation. Our failure to adhere to our own
Constitution and also fundamental principles
of international law is keeping us In a state
of turmoil. I would like more enlightment
on the subject.
Sincerely,
DONALD C. WALKER.
Senator WAYNE MORSE.
DEAR Sm: This letter that I am writing
may not do much good, for perhaps I am
one In a million that would attempt to write
their opinion of the things that are prevail-
ing of today which are very wrong, and to
my way of thinking, could be curtailed if
the heads of our Government would really
try to solve these problems now. They say
what they will do, but I fail to see action.
Perhaps the medicare will not go through
for some time, maybe never, but if they
would increase the lower bracket social secu-
rity, people then could perhaps afford their
own medical aid. But, how could I as one
of many situated the same as I. and I am
widowed with $85 coming In a month, Im-
possible to do anything with that amount,
and this excise tax was to be taken off too-I
fail to see that In effect, I think It wrong
that social security people should have to pay
It. Many people think as I do and I think
you will approve too, that Robert S. Mc-
Namara, Secretary of Defense said, and I
quote-that: "The Vietnam crisis is grave,
but by no means hopeless," and expressed
doubt the Chinese would step in with a
major attack. It's obvious they would. I
think he should be removed and many more
think the same for if he Is left in charge we
will surely be involved. We're sitting on a
bomb right now, and I don't think the people
realize the grave situation we are in, I have
a son that was in the World War and a
Pearl Harbor survivor, and I have four grand-
sons and I'm certainly sure I wouldn't like to
see them and many more of our young men
Involved In another war, So I think they
had better get busy and down to earth with
some way of solving this serious situation
that Is hanging over us. I know you have
great Influence and on these people the
masses of people are surely depending for
peace and prosperity and to help our own
people first.
Sincerely,
Mrs. BEATRICE GERRANS.
BEAvERTON, OREG.
Ron. WAYNE MORRIS,
U.S. Senate,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR: This letter Is written to let
you know what my opinions and feelings are
concerning some of the matters which are
before Congress at the present time.
First, may I Bay that I'm in agreement with
you in regards to the Vietnam problem.
Second, my opinion on Federal aid to
schools; well and good If confined to pub-
lic schools. Private schools and Institutions
receive enough aid as it Is by being tax ex-
empt in many ways. As a church member I
believe their business property, investments,
and holdings should be taxed. It people
think enough of their churches they will
February 25
support them. Let church acid state remain
separated as our wise forefathers Intended.
Third, that of foreign aid: It seems to me
that a lot of our money has been wasted on
those countries that show no appreciation,
Why keep trying to buy friendship and re-
spect? We've given away billions-in return
for what? Those countries that received
meat-Egypt, Prance, eto-.where's the ap-
precdation? They speak for themselves--
"Go jump In the ocean," and even now
France wants our gold, why can't she apply
some of those dollars she has to repay our
loan. Yet we still believe that we can buy
friendship? Let us cut down on foreign aid
and use some of that money in our own
country and loan only to those countries
that appreciate our aid like little Finland.
Please tell Congress to -use discretion with
our (tax) dollars.
Thank you for listening.
Yours truly,
N. C. THOMPsON.
EUGENE, OREG.
DEAR SENATOR MoasE: I am a Reed College
graduate (1661) and a gradute student at
the School of Music at the University of
Oregon. You have my constant support and
affection for your work In the Senate. I
consider your stand on Vietnam. a really
courageous act. Is there any chance we can
get, out of there?
I feel so terribly uninformed about Viet-
nam--where can I find out what Is really
going on?
With respect,
JON APPLETON.
New YORK, N.Y.
Senator WAYNE MCRAE,
Senate of the United States
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: This Is just a short
note to voice my admiration of your long
and hard battle against our involvement in
South Vietnam. Developments in that area
of the world certainly point to the correct.
ness of your views. I hope you will continue
your light for reason-particularly for the
involvement of the U,N,-in the Vietnam
problem.
Sincerely yours,
WILLIAM WOLPERT.
LANDENDERG, PA.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: This 18 Just to let
you know that I am fully in agreement with
your Opposition to our further involvement
in Vietnam.
Why not let the U.N. give it a try as U
Thant has suggested?
Sincerely yours,
V. WRmlMAYR,
OLMSTEAD FALLS, OHIO,
Hon. WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
MY DEAR SENATOR MORSE: I beard over the
radio the talk you gave at the City Club in
Cleveland, Friday, February 19.
We thought your talk an excellent one
and wished every city in our country could
have heard the talk and the questions after
your speech which you answered very well.
If the people of our country could hear
the truth about Vietnam AS you gave it in
your talk to the City Club, the adsninigtra-
tion's actions In Vietnam would be ended
soon; Immediately.
I would like to have s copy of this talk.
If you have many copies, please sead me
several. We can get it reproduced In Cleves.
land and distribute several hundred copies.
Thank you very much for giving the truth
to the American people. .
Sincerely yours, -
 19654pproved For Release 2ac00mT[i1SP~kee6F~A26-7 3481
senator WAYNE MORSE,
mate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR Sm: As I read Hanson Baldwln's artl-
cle in the New York Times Magazine section
yesterday, I became filled with terror. Can
our country be so arrogant, so reckless OR
to risk total war over Vietnam, an area in
which we have no business entrenching our-
selves, and where we are hated by the over-
whelming majority of the people?
I applaud your courage In speaking out,
almost alone in the Senate, and I want you
to know that many people are behind you.
Sincerely Yours,
Mrs. CLAUDIA ZA5LAV5KY.
OAKLAND, N.J.
DEAR SENATOR. MORSE: I support you 100
percent in your opposition to our presence
in Vietnam. Please keep up the good work.
Sincerely yours,
NELLE K. MORAN.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Senator WAYNE MORSE.
DEAR SENATOR: You are fighting for all the
men in U.S. forces In Southeast Asia and for
the people there and for us here.
We believe that you will not give up no
matter what the administration may do.
Thanking you very truly,
ARTHUR and HELEN BERTHOLF.
VENICE, CALM.
Hon. WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: Your courage and
integrity in becoming the spokesman for an
unpopular view regarding our policy in Viet-
nam is sincerely appreciated.
We strongly oppose bombing of North
Vietnamese supply lines or extending the war
in Vietnam.
We urge you to continue to do all in your
power to bring about immediate negotiation.
Yours truly.
Mrs. MARILYN HORN.
PALO ALTO, CALM.
Hon. WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: We commend you on
your forthright position in demanding U.S.
withdrawal and negotiations in South Viet.
nam. We have written letters to President
Johnson and to our congressional delegation
to do likewise.
We need more representatives like you in
Congress.
Sincerely,
SARA ALcEERMES.
ERNEST J. ALCHERMES.
SALEM, GREG.
Hon, WAYNE MORSE,
Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.O.
MY DEAR SENATOR MORSE: I Rm writing in
regard to the situation in Vietnam. I under-
stand how you feel in regard to this. Before
more pressure builds up to attack the North,
vigorous efforts should be made to negotiate
an end to the war. The U.N. should have a
vital role In this. What South Vietnam needs
Is an Internationally supported. program, to
establish stable government. We all know
this, but how to accomplish It Is the problem.
Sincerely,
ELLA B. BRADFORD.
NARRAGANSITT, RS.
DEAF SENATOR MORSE: Keep up the good
work re South Vietnam,
FRANX G. WIENER.
SANTA CRUZ, CALIF.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
Washington, D.O.
DEAR Bra: We are solidly back, of your ef-
forts to persuade the U.S. Government to
try to negotiate an and to the win In Indo-
China.
If negotiations should fail, we should not
under any circumstances commit a larger
land army to the mainland of Asia. In the
long run It would be a trap and sure suicide
for thousands of our men, if we tried to beat
the unlimited manpower of China on the
ground.
China entered Korea when she was much
weaker, and the present goveriunent had
been in power only 3 years.
If we Invade to the north, I believe China
would enter an unlimited number of soldiers
to atop us, and her millions could not be
stopped.
We are a great sea and air power, and I
believe we could hold the Paetfie and the
islands now in our possession Indefinitely.
Let's withdraw from the mainland now,
while it is possible.
Please continue your efforts.
Yours truly,
GEORGE M.. GATES.
CINCINNATI, OHIO.
Hon. WAYNE L. MORSE,
U.S. Senate Office Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR MORSE: In the last 2 weeks
I have sent a pair of wires to President
Johnson and a letter to each of the Ohio
Senators. in these messages I deplored esca-
lation of the conflict in Vietnam and urged
our immediate withdrawal. In any event, I
want those who have spoken up for disen-
gagement In Vietnam to know that their
views are not without some support among
the citizens of Ohi6.
If it was not apparent previously, the
events of this weekend, which found our
South Vietnamese allies turning the weapons
we supplied them against each other, surely
prove beyond any doubt that defense of
South Vietnam to Impossible (Short of estab-
lishing a government of occupation and com-
mitting all of our resources). And though
loss of South Vietnam would be regrettable,
isn't this Inevitable In any event? We can-
not hope to win a land war in Asia, should
China become a participant, and surely not
even the administration is prepared ta'make
good upon that eventuality. This means
that all of Vietnam must ultimately come
under the Influence of her powerful neigh-
bor. And deplore this as we must, it Is fool-
hardy to commit one prestige and the lives of
our citizens in a quixotic adventure bound to
end In failure.
My main concern, however, is not for our
prestige. What I fear most immediately is
that Increasingly reckless actions growing out
of a hopeless situation will plunge the world
into nuclear war. By our rash attacks of 2
weeks ago we entered upon a course which if
continued can only lead to the entrance of
China and the Soviet Union, and at last-
unless God Should Intervene-the final world
war.
I love my country and I value the peace
of the world too much to keep silent at such
a time. Nothing, no cause, no principle-
certainly nothing so insubstantial as pres-
tige, can ever justify risking the destruction
of Ameripa in nuclear war. And though
tough talk may appeal to some of our coun-
trymen, there will be only curses---and no
tapplauee, on that day of doom that brings
the bomb to the United States,
The President is playing Russian roulette
with American Security. I urge you to do
everything In your power to end this deadly
game, calling for the sane and reasonable
conduct of our foreign policy in a very dan-
gerous world.
Most Sincerely,
PAUL 0, S(mMTT.
BERKELEY, CALM.
DEAR SErn''rou Moser: I urge you to work
for a peaceful, negotiated settlement in Viet-
nam and to oppose a continuation or an es-
calation of this fruitless conflict. We are
indeed losing this war, not because of inter-
vention by North Vietnam but because the
Vietcong, it basically Indigenous movement,
has the support of the South Vietnamese
people. In it situation which called for po-
litical and economic measures, we chose to
rely on military force.
The disastrous results of this policy are
now obvious. We cannot win this war. Es-
calation only leads to the prospect of a -
larger war in Asia with North Vietnam and
possibly China; this larger conflict In turn
would probably lead to a general nuclear
war. The situation demands a peaceful set-
tlement; tits American people want a peace-
ful settlement, not a larger war. Therefore
I urge you to continue to speak out and to
express your dissatisfaction with our present
policy. We must begin negotiations now with
all interested. parties to work for a peaceful
and neutralized Vietnam. There is no al-
ternative to it negotiated settlement except
a general war.
Sincerely,
WILLIAM B. COST.
DEAR Su: My name, is Mrs. Jo Ann Heltsley
of 496 Brlttaln Road, Akron, Ohio.
I was listening to the news this evening
and heard a portion of the speech you made
concerning the United States and Vietnam;
I have heard many Speeches concerning Viet-
nam but you seemed to be just about the
only one who feels as I do.
I have a special interest in Vietnam due
to losing my husband there.
His name was We, Paul R. Heltsley, III,
BA-10075814, the first Akron area serviceman
to die in Vietnam. He was killed July 17,
1904, while accompanying a patrol as a medic
on a combat mission.
I guess I'll never understand the Vietnam
problem. In the telegram I received from
the War Department it said he was killed by
hostile action while on a combat mission, I
also have received many letters from service-
men in Vietnam concerning my husbands
death, or should I say murder. Even Presi-
dent Johnson wrote me telling me my hus-
band died while performing duties for his.
country.
I wrote President Johnson shortly after
receiving his letter asking him some ques-
tions. As I told him, I have a baby girl who
will never know her father. Some day I'm
going to have to explain his death to her.
How can I possibly explain Something I don't
understand?
Before my husband's death he wrote many
letters concerning Vietnam, How the people
wouldn't fight for themselves, how his bud-
dies were getting killed each day, and how
he wanted to come home safely.
It seems like all President Johnson can.
say is, "Be proms of him, as we are, he died
for something we as Americans believe In."
.
I don't feel Johnson or anyone can know
how helpless we are in Vietnam until you
lose someone there. I'm not only speaking'
for myself, but for the other American people
who have lost sons, husbands, and fathers
In this so-called undeclared war.
Before my husband left the United States
he told me he would receive hazard-duty pay,
also $10,000 Insurance in case of death.
This proved to be untrue. I guess the Gov-'._
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7
 AppPoNd For Release 2004/01/16, I9 l*+491Rg ZU&RwI E
zone. If this Is true I'd like to know why
he was In the combat zone. I've also been
told that there Is no Insurance on the men
unless the United States declares war.
I can't understand why our men are giving
their lives in a war that isn't a war. Maybe
someday I'll be able to explain to my daugh-
ter the truth about Vietnam, if it's ever
brought out in the open. I Just wanted you
to know that there's an awful lot of good
Americans who feel the Came way about
Vietnam as you do.
May God blue you.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Jo ANN HELTSLEY.
WAYNE MORSE,
Oregon State Senator,
Eugene, Oreg.
DEAR Sm: I wish to go on record that I de-
sire a cease fire in Vietnam and a negotiated
settlement.
I know what your personal opinion on this
matter has always been, and I admire you for
Speaking out. Some of the rest of us wish to
speak out also.
On the radio news this morning I heard
this statement made by Senator Clausen, of
Idaho, then the commentator added that
much of the mail voicing this opinion would
be "Communist inspired."
I wish to state that I am most certainly
not "Communist Inspired," and I know many
people who hold this opinion who are not.
Sincerely,
Mrs. HELEN Davis,
[From the New York Times]
AN OTEN.LETTER TO PRESIDENT JOHNSON ON
VIETNAM: LET Us TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Each day we hear fresh news from Viet-
nam, news both strange and grim. We strike
by air in reprisal against North Vietnam be-
cause our soldiers, sent'as armed technicians
and advisers to an army which cannot yet
guard them well, have been attacked In their
barracks in the very heart of South Vietnam.
We have Widened the war-how wide will it
become?
Fear of escalation of this undeclared war
against North Vietnam mounts with' each
sudden report of renewed violence. Unless
the. situation is very different from what it
appears to be, we have lost the political
Initiative in Vietnam and are attempting to
substitute military actions for political ones.
We face grave risks In Vietnam. Americans
have faced even graver risks for good and
high cause, Mr. President, but we must first
understand why we must take such risks.
What are our goals in Vietnam? Are they
Just? Can they be accomplished? Are they
truly worth what they are bound to cost in
dollars and human lives?
With whom are we allied In Vietnam?
Are our soldiers fighting side-by-side with
troops of a representative and legitimate na-
tional government, or are we embroiled in
defense of an unpopular minority in a fierce
and costly civil war? Our representatives
assure us that we and the Saigon government
have the overwhelming support of the Viet-
namese people. How can this be so? On the
same day that Mr. McNamara Said sneak at-
tacks upon our soldiers cannot be prevented,
an American officer on the scene In Vietnam
declared that "any of the people in the ham-
let over there could have warned us that the
Vietcong were around, but they did not warn
ns." The weapons used against us are most
often American weapons, captured from or
surrendered by the South Vietnamese Army
Mr. President, we submit that weak field in-
telligence in South Vietnam and a steady
loss of workable weapons to the enemy, are
deep Symptoms of an unpopular cause.
Why are we fighting in Vietnam? Mr. Fleeing, film: George Hein, chemistry; Care,
President, we think we Understand why we Kaye, psychiatry; Conan Kornetsky, pharma
went into Vietnam after the French with. cology; John H. Lavely, philosophy; Allan I
drew. It was because this Nation hoped to Mlrsky, psychiatry; Bernard S. Phillips, so
encourage the development of a popular, ciology; Freda Rebelsky, psychology; Melvin
stable, and democratic government which Rccenthal, psychiatry; Julius A. Roth, so-
would help to lead all southeast Asia toward ciology; Nancy St. John, basic studies; Ar-
lasting peace, Historical, political, social,
religious and sectional factors have pre-
vented this development. The original as-
sumptions are no longer valid. We have be-
come increasingly unwelcome everywhere In
southeast Asia. Our presence seems to
deepen, rather than to relieve, the bitterness
and hostility of the people. It was only 10
years ago that the Vietnamese defeated a
French army of nearly half a million men.
Will the same battles occur again?
Can we win In Vietnam? Mr. President,
we know that our Nation has sufficient fire-
power to destroy the entire world. We also
know that you do not wish to call upon this
awesome power. How can we possibly win
and yet prevent a widening of this conflict?
How can we win in Vietnam with less than
30,000 "advisers" when the French could not
win with an army of nearly half a million
fighting both north and South of the present
dividing frontier?
Is It worth the coat? The French defeat
In Indochina cost them 1.72,000 casualties.
Yet, before their final bloody defeat at Dien-
bienphu, the French generals and diplomats
Spoke with the same toughness and opti-
mism, the same assurances we now he" from
our leaders,
The French had overwhelming numbers
and firepower but they lost In Vietnam be-
cause they lacked the support of the popu-
lation. Do we face the same prospect, or
are there facts which the public does. not
know which show our situation to be clearly
different?
Mr. President, we are aware that you have
secret information which cannot be shared
With us. But could such Information com-
pletely refute the picture of events and the
political Insights provided to us by serious
newspapermen who have been in the area for
years?
All we can see is a seemingly endless series
of demonstrations and riots In Saigon and
Hue, of military coups, of threats and chal-
lenges to the dignity of our Ambassador and
our other representatives by the very men we
seek to Sustain in power.
We have lost the initiative in Vietnam.
A few guerrillas can trigger American re-
a.ctlons that widen the war. The events of
the past week are leading step by step along
the path to war with China.
Would It not be both prudent and just
to take the Initiative toward peace In Viet-
nam? If we are not to widen the war be-
yond all conscience, as reasonable men we
must initiate negotiations while there is still
time.
Amherst College: Henry Commager, his-
tory; Van R. Halsey, administration; William
M. Herter, biology; Philip T. Ives, biology;
Allen Kropf, chemistry; Edward U. Leadbet-
ter, biology; Leo Marx, English; John Pem-
berton, religion; Oscar E. Schotte, biology;
Marc Silver, chemistry; Henry T. Yost, bi-
ology.
nand Siegel, physics; Robert 11. Sproat, Eng
lisrr, John J. Stachel, physics; Gerald Steclx-
lcr, psychiatry; Max W. Wau'tofaky, philos-
ophy; Charles E. Willis, physics; Alvin D.
Zniinger, sociology; Howard Zinn, govern-
nient.
Bowdoin College: pphllip Al. Brown, eco-
nomics; Thomas Cornnell, art; Luis O. Coxe,
engineering; Clarence Davies, government;
John C. Donovan, government; Reginald
Hanoaford, English; Ernst C.:Holmrolch, his-
tory; Gordon Hlebert, chemistry; John How-
land, biology; Charles E. Huntington, biology;
Gerald Kamber, French; Fritz C. A. Kollin,
Gorman; Albert Nunn, French; Marvin Sadik,
art;, James A. Storer, economics; William B.
Whttesido, history.
Brandeis University: Rose Abendstren, lan-
guagee; Herbert H. Attekar, sociology; Max
Chretlen, physics; Saul Cohen, chemistry;
Lewis A. Coser, sociology; Geroge L. Cowgill,
anthropology; Herman T. Epstein, biology;
Jerrold Fassman, biochemistry; Kenneth B.
Feigenbaum, psychology; Gordon A. Fellman,
sociology; David H. Fischer, history; Lawrence
Fuchs, history; David G. Oil, sociology; Ray
Ginger, history; Jack Goldstein, physics;
Theodore Goodfrlend, biochemistry; Stephen
J. Grcndzier, languages; Mary E, Origin, Eng-
11sh; Eugene Gross, physics; Allan Grossman,
English; Lawrence Grossman, biochemistry;
Lincoln D. Hammond, languages; Thomas C,
Hollocher, biochemistry; Mary ]Silen Jones,
biochemistry; David Kaplan, anthropology;
Nathan Kaplan, biochemistry; Attilla O.
Klein., biology; Laurence Levine, biochem-
istry; Henry Linschitz, biochemistry; Alvin
Lucier, music; Robert Manners, anthropol-
ogy; Herbert Marcuse, philosophy; William
Murakami, biochemistry; Joseph P. Murphy,
politics; Robert 0. Prayer, English; Murray
Sachs, languages; Benson Soler, anthropol-
ogy; Gordon Sato, biochemistry; Sllvan
Schwehor, physics; Philip E. Slater, sociology;
B. Z. Sobel, sociology; Morris Soodak, bio-
chemistry; Mark Spivak, Sociology; Maurice
Stein, Sociology; Maurice Sussman, biology;
Helen Van Vunakis, biochemistry; John
Vickers, philosophy; E. V. Waiter, sociology;
Roland L. Warren, sociology; Alex Weingrod,
anthropology; Harold Weisberg, philosophy;
Robert S. Weiss, sociology; John Wight, en-
gineering; Kurt H. Wolff, sociology; Irving
K. Zola, sociology.
Clerk University: J. Richard Reid, lam.
guages; Morton Wlerner, psychology; Charles
Beinderman, English; Abraham Ilium, pay..
cholcgy; Walter H. Crockett, psychology;
Bernard Kaplan, Psychology, and Philip G.
Olson, sociology.
Harvard University: Harold Amos, medical
School; French Anderson, medical school;
Ralph Baterlein, physics; Guy O. Barnett,
medicine; Reuben Brower, english; Lawrence
Burkholder, divinity; Ian Cooke, biology;
Frank Moore Cross, Jr., languages; it Derma-
dian, medical school; Bernard D. Davis, med-
ical school; David Denh
dt
b
ar
,
iology; E. S.
Andover-Newton Theological College: Wes- Dethlefsen, biology; Donald T. Dubin, med-
nor Fallow, religion; Weis F. S. Ferre, the. ical school; Michael T. Dubin, medical
ology; Norman K. Gottwald, Old Testament; School; Michael Edidin, medical school; John
John C. Scammon, Old Testament. Edsell, biology; Leon Ehrenprels, mathemat-
Bates College: Leland Bechtel, education; ics; Rupert Emerson, government; Ann Parn-
Walter Boyce, administration; Robert M. ham, medical School; John Feletiner, English;
Chute, biology; Robert Hatch, health; George Donald Fleming, history; A. S. Freedborg,
Healy, Peter Jonitis, sociology; Robert Peck, medical school; Walter Gilbert, physics;
health: Richard Sampson, mathematics; Philip Gold, chemistry; Irving H. Goldberg,
Richard Warye, speech. medical school; Luigi Gorini, medical School;
Boston University: George D. W. Berry, David Covers, law; Howard H. Hiatt, medical
philosophy; Bernard Chaean, physics; Joseph School; H. Stuart Hughes, history; Stanley
Cochin, pharmacology; Robert S. Cohen, Katz, history; Gordon D. Kaufman, thheology;
physics; Paul K. Dente, Jr., theology; Alvin Eugene P. Kennedy, medical school; John
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7
 1965 Approved For Release 26?F1?W P*?--WRRU0 026-7 3483
.aw, chemistry; Jenne Lovinthal, medical Thompson, history; Richard H. Towers, hie- Paul Gross, Brown University: Francis W.
Chool; Bernard Lown, public health; Carlton tory; Ronald D. Ware, history; J. W. Zahrad- Holmes. Bernard Howard, Worcester Poly-
daler. history of science; Jean Mayer, public nik, agricultural engineering; Arthur H. technic Institute; Seymour Ledenberg, Brown
,ealth; Everett Mendelsohn, history of eci- Westing, forestry. University; Raymond T. McNally, Boston
once; Matthew Messelson, biology; John E. Northeastern University: Richard Arno- College; David Todd, Worchester Polytechnic
Murdoch, history of science; Marta Peretz. witt, physics; Philip Backstrom Jr., history; Institute; J. Huston Westover, Acton.
government; Elmer Pfefferkorn, medical Terry Bialor, anthropology; Wallace Bishop, (Institutional affiliation for purposes of
school; Edward P. Radford, Jr., public health; history; Roger Brightbill, psychology; Rose identification only.)
John R. Raper, biology; Herbert Richardson, Laub Coser, sociology; Henry H. Crape, math- If you approve of this statement, reprint
theology, divinity; W. R. Riddington, Jr., Smaller; Alan H. Cromer, physics: linen H. It in other newspapers and write or wire Pres-
anthropology; Paul A. Rlemann, divinity; Dunlap, mathematics; Marvin H. Friedman, ident Lyndon 11. Johnson, White House,
Gerald Rosenthal, economics; Robert Rot- physics, Mitzi Filson, library; Norbert Full- Washington, DC,
berg, history; William M. Sacks, astronomy; ington, history; Michael J. Glaubman, phys- This open letter 1s being published as an
Victor W. Sidel, preventive medicine; Ray- lea; Stephan Golburgh, education; Joseph advertisement paid by the signers. Com-
mond Stever, geology; Steven Smith, philoso- Greaser, chemistry; Barry Karger, chemistry; ments and contributions toward.iiest should
phy; Joseph L. Snider, physics; Rut soelro, Frank Lee, anthropology; Milton Leitenberg, be sent to Ad Hoc Committee for Open Letter
medical school; Max Stackhouse, ethics, dl- biology; Harold Naidue, chemistry; Dolores on Vietnam, Feet Office Box 35, Belmont,
vinity; Edward A. Sweeney, dental medicine; Newton, anthropology: Irene A. Nichols, edu- Mass., Prof. Salvador E. Luria, chairman;
John T. Tate, mathematics; Karl Teeter, lin- cation; J. David Oborholzer, physics; Louts Prof. Cyrus Leventhal, treasurer.
Wilsams;son dical v.o ,,......b .. ........... ... ....,. -.o ____ . - - .,. _..
Wil, medical school: l; Marvin Winkler, bio- Deborah S. Res oseblatt, modern languages;
chemistry, and Daniel Wulff, biology. Norman Rosenblatt, history; Eugene J. Sale-
College of the Holy Cross: William Van Et- tan, physics; George Salzman, physics; Ina
ton Casey, theology; Thomas Coffee, sociol- Samuels, psychology: Burt Scharf, psychol-
ogy; John Dorenkamp, english; James Gross, ogy; Stan Stcnbridge, history; Harold
economics; William Guindon, physics, and L. Stubbs, mathematics: H. T. Tlelr, chem.
Paul Rosenkrantz, psychology. istry; Harold Zamasky, psychology.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology: University of Rochester: Albert B. Craig,
Marcia It. Allen, biology; Maria Bade, biol- Jr., physiology; John A. Ernest, mathematics;
ogy; Eugene Bell, biology; Aron Bernstein. Joseph Frank, English; William D. Lotepelch,
physics; P. Bon, modern languages; Michael physiology; William F. Neuman, radiation bi-
Brower, management; Gene M, Brown, bio- ology; Arnold W. Ravin, biology; Hayden V.
chemistry; Joel E. Brown, biology; Stephen White, history.
L, Chorover, psychology; Charles O. Coryell, Simmons College: Frederick Anderson,
chemistry; Richard M. Douglas, humanities; philosophy; Tilden Edelstein, history; Bruce
Carla Dowben. biology; Robert Dowben, Hawthorne, history; John Hunter, history;
biology; Maurice Fox, biology; Steven Sumner Rosen, economics; James Newman,
Gilborn, humanities: Marvin Goody, ar- French: Georgia Noble, education; Richard
chitecture; Glen Gordon, nuclear Chem- Clark Sterne, English. -
istry; Bernard Gould, biology; Charles Smith College: Gladys Anslow, physics;
Gross. psychology; Theodore Gurney, Jr., bi- Leonard Baskin, art; George Burt, music;
ology: Albert Gurney, humanities; Alan Helm. Eli Chinoy, sociology; Jean Cohen, psychol-
psychology; Richard Held, psychology; ogy; Louis Cohn-Haft, history; Themes S.
Charles Holt, biology; Kerson Huang, Physics; Deer, chaplain; John Duke, music; Robert
Thomas Jackson, humanities; William Jack- Fabian, mathematics; Philip Green, govern-
son, electrical engineering; Elizabeth Jones, ment; Bruce Hawkins, physics: David C.
1111 biology; Karl Kornacker, biology; Edwin Huntington, art; Rita Jules, education; Alice
Kuh, management and economics; Cyrus Lazerowtz, philosophy; Morris Lazerowitz,
Levinthal, biology; S. E. Luria, biology: Kevin philosophy: D. Bruce Marshall, government;
Lynch, city planning; B. McCune, modern Elliott OfIner, art; Patricia Olmsted, adminis.
languages; Boris Magasanik, biology; Diane tration; Harold Poor, history; Michael Rice,
Major, biology; Travis Merritt, humanities; physics; Peter N. Rowe, government; Ramon
France Modigliani, economics: Philip Mor- Eduardo Ruiz, history; Paul H. Solon, pay-
rison, physics; Irwin Oppenheim, chemistry; chology: J. Diedrick Snook, psychology; A. H.
R. B. Pan, modern languages; David Perl. Specs, physics; Melvin Steinberg, physics;
mutter, modern languages; Norman Pettit, Stan Stenson, religion; John Van Doren, Eng-
humanities; Louis Pfeiffer, physchology; lush; Renee Watkins, history.
Helen Revel, biology; P. W. Robbins, bio- Tufts University: Betty Burch, government;
chemistry; Ronald Rolfe. biology; R. H. Ruby, Kalman A. Burnim, drama; Dean Ashley
biology; David Li Schalk, humanities; Robert Campbell, engineering; Ernest Caesars,
Sekuler, psychology; David Shoemaker, theology; John Conwall, economics; Dorothea
chemistry; William Siebert, electrical engi- J. Crook, psychology; Michael Fitter, Eng-
neering; O. R. Simha, administration; Mal- lish; Sanford J. Freedman, psychology; Bern-
colm Skolnick, physics; Cyril Smith, human- and W. Harleston, psychology; Hilde Hein,
Was and metallurgy; Marvin Stodolsky, philosophy; Percy Hill, engineering; Frank-
I biology; N. S. Sutherland, psychology; James lyn D. Holzman, economics; Albert H. Imlah,
Thomson, humanities; Patrick Wall, biology; history; David Isles, mathematics; William
William B. Watson, humanities; John S. S. Jacobson, English; Leonard Kirsch, Coo
Waugh, chemistry; Joseph Welzenbaum, elm- nomics; Mary Jane Kramer, sociology; Zella
trical engineering; Burton White, psychol- Luria, psychology; Bernard McCabe, English;
ogy; Robert Zimmermann, biology; Arnulf Robert L'H Miller, religion; A. William Mille,
Zweig, humanities, and Alexander Rich, bl- psychology: Thornton Roby, psychology;
ology. Nancy L. Roelker, history: Laura M. Roth,
University of Massachusetts: Don E. physics; H'. Ronald Rouse, mathematics; Allen
Abramson, speech; Robert Agard, library; Schick, government; Edwiq Schur, sociology;
Dean A. Allen, health services; Leon Barton, Sylvia Sherwood, sociology; Newlin R. Smith,
English; Phillip R. Biddle, speech; Milton economics; Jack Tessman, physics; Frank W.
Cantor, history; Jules Chametsky, English; Wicker, pschology.
Mario S. DePilis, history; David Clark, Wellesley College: Roberta Blackburn, Eng.
English; T. P. Dikes, history; Louie A. Gel. lish; Thomas Blackburn, chemistry; Walter
hard, history; Arthur Gentile, botany; F. Houghton, English: Clifford Noll, English.
Greeley, forestry; Richard Haven, English;
Joseph Hazen, health Services; Vincent line. Wesleyan University: Samuel W. Anderson,'
elf, history; C. A. Johnson. agricultural on. Psychology; James A. Ciarlo, psychology;
glneering; Joseph Langland, English; David Richard C. DeBold, psychology; David P. Mc.
P. Leonard, history; Guenter Lewy, govern- Allester, anthropology; Norman Rudich, lan-
ment; David Porter, English; William J. Price, guages; Richard Winslow, music.
speech; Howard H. Quint, history; Trevor Others: Edgar D. Bell, Littleton; Arthur W.
Robinson, chemistry; Ann Sagan, history; Chiokering. Goddard College; Dorothy D. I sincerely believe In working toward pence
Jay Savareld, speech; A. S. W. Srheffey, for- Ciarlo. Yale; Edward J. Collins, Boston Cob= positively. I am very pleased the U.S. Gov-
entry; Richard B. Stein, chemistry; Jack M. loge; Irvin Doren, Cardinal Cushing College; ernment has created and Is Continuing the
Approved For Release 2004/01116 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500320026-7
[From the Sit. Louis Post-Dispatch]
AN leantSDIBLz SITUATION
The Senate Democratic leader, MrxE MANE-
rrELD, of Montana, is putting it mildly whom
he terms conditions in South Vietnam "an
incredible situation." He says the squabbling
generals should take notice that the United
States Is not committed to support the sltu-
atlon that now exists.
South Vietnam Is pretty close to anarchy.
Lt. Gen. Nguyen Khanah, the strong man
for 13 months, was" bounced over the weekend
by a group of quarreling generals. The latest
civilian government installed a few days ago
by General Khanlx Is still nominally in power.
But Khanh is out;. So it seems almost irrele-
vant for Washington officials to say the
United States is continuing full support of
the civilian regime. What Is to be sup-
ported?
The situation In going from worse to worse.
The Communist-led Vietcong have now vir.
tually out South Vietnam in two and con-
tinue to make gains. U.B. troops are keep-
ing the war going, but it is a losing struggle.
The United States might have profited from.
its recent retaliatory air raids on North
Vietnam by maneuvering for negotiations
in the hope that it could sepak from a
strengthened position, but that potential
initiative has been lost.
Instead, Washington dispatches say the
administration Is firmly resisting all efforts
by Allied governments to bring about a nego.
tiated political settlement. If this is so, it
also is an incredible situation. The argu-
ments of French Foreign Minister Maurice
Couve de Murville, General do Gaulle's top
foreign policy export, apparently fell on deaf
ears. Couve de Murville spent an hour with
President Johnson last week; he reportedly
told the Chief Ebiecutlve he thinks North
Vietnam and Red China would be interested
in negotiations. He urged the United States
to seek a political solution immediately.
This may be distasteful, but what Is the
alternative in the absence of a Saigon gov-
ernment ready, willing, and able to carry
on? It would be comforting to think that
the Americans, the Russians, and the Chinese
do not mean precisely what they say, that
somewhere in the diplomatic underground
people are talking privately about public
conferences. That would be a sensible and
statesmanlike procedure; we only hope there
is more to it than the stuff of dreams,
BOSTON UNlvERSTry,
Boston, Mass.
Mr. MORSE,
Senate Building,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR SENATOR: I am a 22-year-old senior at
Boston University. Although I am a New
York State resident voter, I wish to applaud
you for taking a stand In favor of peaceful
 ApROid For Release 2004/01 /1 ~ 9 Ir49 3202 " C~
Peace Corps. I also deeply believe In democ-
racy and defending the United States and
I am anxious to prevent communism from
dominating the world. However, I am aware
of the unique conditions under which the
United States developed its political system.
I am cognizant also of the. fact many of the
underdeveloped countries seem to need a so-
clalistlc form of government to cope with
their basic problems such as hunger and land
distribution. I do not equate socialism with
Russian or Red Chinese communism neces-
sarily, I believe that each country should
develop the type of government which most
successfully helps it grow.
I believe our foreign policy In South Viet-
nam has been and is being mishandled
badly. It Is as much a fault of Americans'
indifference as it is of the Government. Our
policy has been and is immoral. We are sup-
porting a government which is supported by
30 percent of the South Vietnamese at the
,most. Even worse for us, we are working
against a main goal In the cold war. By our
current militant strategy, we are pushing
Russia and Red China closer together and
forcing North Vietnam closer to them.
In view of the rise of nationalism in the
world and the fact the fighting in Vietnam
began as a civil war, I am not certain that
Red China would dare to militarily occupy
Vietnam If we withdrew from South Vlet-
It In basically for these reasons that I am
In favor of peaceful negotiations In Vietnam.
I gravely hope that the Government as a
whole will have your courage and vision to
recognize our errors and turn toward negotia-
tion to settle the Vietnam crisis Instead of
edging the world further toward destruction.
To have any type of successful negotia-
tions, It may well be necessary to Include
Red China. If It is, I would be in favor. of
such action.
I have also written to Senators KENNEDY
and JAvrrs and President Johnson, stating
my beliefs.
Yaws truly,
Mrs. NANCY MOOSE.
CHICAGO, ILL.
Senator WAYNE MORSE,
-Care of Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago, Ill.
DEAR SENATOR: The enclosed article on
Vietnam and our actions there, appeared in
a prominent Canadian magazine this week.
In view of your great Interest In the deplor-
able South Vietnam situation, I deemed it
important enough to place in your hands.
The author, a well-known RCAF officer and
a former member of the International Con-
trol Commission would have little reason to
magnify the situation but apparently has
been able to publish in Canada, views which
w
n t
,
e war 20 times
Whether we should remain in Vietnam or into_Saigon by the thousands?(in"defiance,
not, we are there and apparently making the incidentally, of the Genova trace-agreement).
same mistakes we did in Korea, only this With them came wives, children, PX super.
time, we aren't supposed to be at war. markets, Coca-Cola machines, air condition-
I feel confident that not only will this ere, officers' clubs, station wagons, insurance
article furnish you with material you would salesmen, schoolteachers, public relations
want to have but that you will continue to men-all the equipage of it progressive sub-
force the issue with all the vigor so prevalent urb, without which the American military
In your distinguished career. seems unable to function abroad. Suddenly,
Sincerely, it stopped being a jungle war, with Amerl-
Roy B. NORDHEIMER. cans fighting on the same terms as their
enemies. It became instead a desk-soldiers'
HUGH CAMPBELL SAYS-THE AMERICANS ARE war, with the fatuities of Saigon's brass hats
THEIR OWN WORST ENEMIES IN VIETNAM canceling the efforts of the men In the field.
The United States is now entering Its third A gap appeared between the South Vietna-
year of full-scale war In Vietnam
mere and their American
An
da
rotect
d
h
,
y
y
p
ore, an
t
e Unfortunately, they're only fighting the war,
- now we can expect the customary New Year gap has been widening ever since. not running it. And they're vastly outruns.
pronouncement from the American high There's also a gap between the Pentagon's bored and outranked by the desk-pilots in
command in Saigon to the effect that, while concept of mobility and that of the goer- Saigon,
the situation is serious, it is not hopeless; rillas. Putting troops on wheels or in heli- For this reason, the Communists are al-
and that the war can and will be won, copters has proven unrealistic in a jungle most certain to nibble their way to victory
After nearly 2 years In Vietnam, I've heard war. Disguised as peasants, the Vietcong eventually. When they do, it will be a die-
a good many such assurances. But since, an simply watch the machines charge futilely aster for the West. For all my reservations
a Canadian delegate on the three-nation In- by-perhaps into a mine trap or ambush about life in the Saigon sector of the free
ternatlonal Control Commission, I had a or, it they're detected, simply melt into the world, I'm convinced, after ,weir hamh
unique opportunity to observe the war from
both sides of the firing line, I think the
Americans are talking through their well
padded brass hats. The war, an it's now
being waged, cannot be won by our side-
because the Americans, for all their brave
talk about developing new antiguerrilla tech-
niques, are still using obsolete methods to
fight a new kind of invisible enemy.
Exactly how invisible this enemy-the
Communist Vietcong-can become was forci-
bly demonstrated to me one day on a dusty
gravel road leading through the Jungle in
North Vietnam. It was a routine inspection
patrol for the International Control Com-
mission and, for no apparent reason, the
Communist officer in the lead jeep suddenly
suggested a halt. We plied out of our jeeps
and stretched our legs, apparently in the
middle of nowhere. Just as Inexplicably, he
then suggested we resume the patrol. As the
convoy started off, he beeped his horn and,
somewhere nearby, a whistle shrilled.
Instantly, both sides of the road were lined
with troops, grinning Infantrymen whose
faded khaki uniforms contrasted sharply
with the dark Jungle background. They'd
been there all the while, standing not a dozen
yards from the convoy. But because of the
foliage that covered their backs from helmet
to canvas sneakers, they'd been invisible to
three experienced military officers.
There was nothing threatening about this
mock ambush. The Communist troops were
simply practicing camouflage, and used the
International Control Commission as an un-
witting umpire. And although their camou-
flage was excellent, it was the mobility of the
troops that Impressed me most. They were
many miles from any known base, and they
carried on their backs everything necessary
for living and fighting. They didn't need
roads. Jeeps, helicopters, or mobile kitchens.
They were jungle fighters, as elusive as pcison
gas and twice as deadly--the kind of guer-
rillas who wore down the French masters of
Indochina, and finished them off at Dlen-
bienphu in 1964.
The Pentagon, naturally, has been deter-
mined not to repeat France's mistake,. In
the past 3 years they've poured In aid and
advisers at the rate of more than a million
dollars a day. So generous, so overwhelm-
Ing has been this avalanche of Resistance, that
It's aided South Vietnam almost to death.
In 1962. there were fewer than 300 U.S.
military advisers In the country-and they
were making noticeable headway against the
Vietcong. The advisers were scattered In
tiny detachments around the country. They
were.tough, highly trained men, and they
were revered by the Vietnamese,
But the Pentagon apparently reasoned that
000 advisers could
i
20
h
jungle. Pursuit on foot is fruitless; the Souti
Vietnamese troops, carrying enough Ameri..
can-made equipment to fight the Battle o;
the Bulge, would be ineffective even if they
were as hardy as their enemy. But of course
they aren't, since they're now accustomed to
riding to work.
But all the mistakes haven't been com-
mitted by the military. There are a host of
the U.S. Imormation Ay. They fre-
quently operate at cross-purposes and, lit
general, it may be Sad that they do not
enhance America's image abroad.
Take, for instance, the unimportant but
revealing case of the American pro football
player who arrived In Saigon under State
Department auspices to set up an athletic
program for the Vietnamese. "Gonna teach
these gooks football," he announced to all
within earshot. Several days later, he an-
nounced a change In policy: the gooks, he'd
decided, were too small for football-so he
was going to tench them soccer, a game he'd
never played himself.
Or take the average American service wife
in Saigon: for boorishness, offensiveness and
condescension toward her Inferiors, she
taken the fur-lined mug. Tito generous at..
lowliness, PX privileges, villa, chauffeur and
servants are all new to her--and with rare
exceptions, It shows. Her kids are no better,
The spectacle of a bunch of crew-tutted,
grmr-chewing teenagers lording It over the
natives In the streets of Saigon is a lesson
in. how not to conduct foreign relations.
Or, finally, take the matter of Saigon's
,Justly famous night life, which consists of
scores of saloons, each equipped with a bevy
of the prettiest little bar girls ht Southeast
Asia. The patrons are almost exclusively
American; and one South Vietnamese wo-
man, who owns a string of such establish-
ments, told me she estimates that half her
girls are actively pro-Vietcong, while the
rest maintain a profitable neutrality by spy-
ing Impartially for both sides. Multiply this
example by a hundred, and you have an ef-
fective intelligence network-and an ex.
planation for the failure of so many well-
planned, secret sorties against the Vietcong.
The result of all this ugly Americanism
has been exactly what you'd expect: the
South Vietnamese is starting to wonder If his
Communist enemies might not be preferable
to his American friends. Once he publicly
mourned the loss of American lives. Now,
the nearly 300 Americans killed. In Vietnam
seem meaningless compared with his own
terrible losses-morn than 160,000 dead.
Ones he believed that his Government, good
or bad, would be free of foreign :Interference.
Nov, he's convinced that his Government-
whichever assortment of generals happens
to be In power at the moment-is a puppet
of the Pentagon. And every time a big
American car zips by him on the streets of
8aig