Labour’s Views On Vietnam Fighting

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30737, 29 April 1965, Page 24

Labour’s Views On Vietnam Fighting

A call for a cease-fire and negotiations in Vietnam was made by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nordmeyer) when he spoke in Christchurch on Tuesday evening. President Johnson’s recent statement would have been immensely strengthened if there had been a cease-fire by the Americans, and. if possible, by the other side. “I believe it is not too late for that,” Mr Nordmeyer said. Mr Nordmeyer had been

asked by Mr L. F. J. Ross, who said he represented the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, where the Labour Party stood on United States “escalation towards nuclear war” in Vietnam.

Mr Nordmeyer said it was never intended that Vietnam be permanently divided. The Government of South Vietnam had asked the Americans to “go in” and help them. “That decision has resulted in open fighting between north and south,” he said. The position in recent months had deteriorated because the Americans had decided to cut off the supplies of the Viet Cong from the north.

“Very Close To War” “That amounts very close to open warfare,” said Mr Nordmeyer. “That is why we say the parties have got to get round the conference table and reach a decision —and we say better that conference take place before hostilities widen than after the loss of millions, or thousands of millions, of lives.

“We are very much in favour of negotiation, and we press for the reconvening of the powers originally responsible for the set-up in Vietnam,” he said. Mr Nordmeyer said he welcomed President Johnson’s statement on Vietnam—his willingness to start negotiations without any tags. “I believe that gesture would have been strengthened immensely, and the Americans’ moral position increased enormously, if simultaneously there had been a cease-fire by the Americans, and, if possible, by the other side —because it is difficult to cease fire when another party continues hostilities,” said Mr Nordmeyer. “I believe it is not too late for that, so that negotiations can take place in a more peaceful atmosphere. “I believe this whole matter should be referred to, and taken over by, the United Nations,” he said. “It should not be the responsibility of any one nation, however powerful, to become the arbiter of the domestic affairs of another nation.” Anzus Pact

Mr Ross then attempted to speak again, but the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), who was chairman, said that he had already prefaced his question with a statement, and the floor must be taken by another questioner. However, he was allowed “two or three minutes” at the end of the meeting,’ and asked whether New Zealand would have to go along with the United States in nuclear war, under the Anzus Pact Mr Nordmeyer said that that under the treaty the United States could request New Zealand to go along, but the decision to do so was for the Government of New Zealand to make.