Gulf Of Tonkin Incident
Sir, —On September 18, while in the international waters of the Gulf of Tonkin, two United States destroyers observed unidentifiable “radar spots.” All that is factual is that, according to officials, “the radar definitely locked on to solid objects.” The identification is taken no further. The “hostile intent” of these unidentified objects was, according to Mr McNamara, indicated by their “disposition, courses and speed.” The destroyers "then properly opened fire.” How could the destroyers judge the threat posed by unidentified objects on a radar screen? If . America is to expect other countries to respect the integrity of internatioral waters, then it must do so itself. Opening fire on radar spots does not seem to be respecting such integrity, to put it mildly. Rather it seems possible, as the Chinese claim, that the United States “was seeking a pretext for an aggression.” Rather than Mr Rusk’s “Communist lake,” the Gulf of Tonkin seems to be an American lake.—Yours, etc., A.N.Z.U.S.? September 23, 1964.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 14
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166Gulf Of Tonkin Incident Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 14
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