Stewart Remark Upsets U.S.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30709, 26 March 1965, Page 9

Stewart Remark Upsets U.S.

(N.Z.P.A.- Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, March 25.

President Johnson’s Administration is irritated by a remark made here by Mr Michael Stewart, the British Foreign Secretary, before he left after two days of top-level talks.

What nettled the United States Government was Mr Stewart’s reply to a question at a National Press' Club luncheon dealing with the controversial use of tear gas in Vietnam.

After reporting that he had expressed to Mr Dean Rusk, the Secretary of State, the “very grave concern” felt in Britain and elsewhere over the use of the gas, Mr Stewart went on.

“I would say that in the choice of measures, everyone who is responsible should concern himself not only what may be militarily appropriate for the job in hand, but with the effect on the peoples of the world of any particular form of action.

“RESPECT OPINIONS” "I am, In fact, asking the United States to display what your Declaration of Independence calls: ‘A decent respect. for the opinions of mankind’.” Official sources said that Mr Stewart’s answer was per-

fectly satisfactory until he came to the comment about the Declaration of Independence.

They left no doubt that in their view the remark was unnecessary in view of official explanations that there was no question of any new policy of “gas warfare" being involved and that the employment by South Vietnam of the tear-gas was analogous to its use .by police forces all over the world in suppression riot situations.

The “Daily Mail” said President Johnson reacted with sharp anger to Mr Stewart’s remark.

Its Washington correspondent said the President’s mood became “sulphurous” as he read the first account of Mr Stewart’s statement.

Apart from the annoyance reported by officials over Mr Stewart’s remark, the Administration was obviously concerned today at the adverse comments coming in from many parts of the world over the use of tear-gas. President Johnson was understood to share this concern.

In Washington, Mr Rusk has vigorously denied America is embarking on gas warfare in Vietnam. He did so at a news conference called at short notice following adverse foreign reaction to the use of American-supplied gas. Mr Rusk told the conference that the gas which South Vietnamese forces were using was a traditional riot control agent employed by police forces in a number of countries.

Replying to a question, Mr Rusk said the United States had issued no new directives on the use of non-lethal gas. But he said it was anticipated the gas would be used “only in those situations involving riot control or situations analagous to riot control.”