Gas Warfare

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30712, 30 March 1965, Page 12

Gas Warfare

Sir, —“Observer” states that the United States is doing its best to protect the free world. He must be blindfolded not to see that South Vietnam cannot correctly be said to be part of the free world unless the word “freedom” means freedom for puppet rulers and military generals to take turns at being dictator over the unhappy country. The United States, in propping up South Vietnam’s recent unpopular rulers, and in failing to try to bring about general elections as laid down in the 1954 Gene.a agreement, has done a disservice to freedom. Her presence in Vietnam must be doubly condemned when, in addition to this disservice, she uses armed force to bow the Vietnamese people to the will of her puppet rulers, especially when she crowns these misdeeds with the use of horror weapons like napalam, phosphorus bombs, “mincemeat” bombs, and gas.—Yours, etc., R.G.W. March 26, 1965.

Sir,—The events in Vietnam show how dangerous it can be for one nation to act apart from the United Nations, and also how necessary it is for North and South Vietnam to belong to that organisation. The United States first went into South Vietnam in an advisory capacity, as the 1954 agreement stated that no foreign troops should be in either North or South Vietnam. They have now abandoned that role and have emerged as active combatants, using with the South Vietnamese forces such dread weapons as napalm and phosphorus bombs, nausea gas, and the armalite rifle, in spite of President Johnston's statement a short time ago: “We seek no wider war.” If all the billions of dollars expended on South Vietnam in military and had been channelled into the United Nations, that body would now be able to work more effectively to bring peace to this area.—Yours, etc FOR U.N. March 27, 1965. Sir,—Your ultra-reactionary editorial of Saturday suggests that you are either biased or just plain ignorant. The position in South Vietnam is just what any sensible person would expect. The point of climax is due to stupidity on the part of everyone, including us smug New Zealanders.

We all backed Anthony Eden, Pinau, and Ben Gurion in the cowardly attack upon Egypt which was totally unnecessary. Here men, women ,and children were murdered unnecessarily. Egypt’s policy was not only perfectly legal but also honest. Since this episode Egypt has advanced by leaps and bounds. North Vietnam’s Ho Chi-minh should have gone for total independence. Then the French might .have co-operated. The Algerians had more sense. America’s policy is now to promise the whole of Vietnam, both North and South, the Welfare State. If Ho Chi-minh refuses to cooperate, then H-bombs from Americans would be fully justified.—Yours, etc.,

PEACE LOVER, March 27, 1965.