‘Negotiation Only Way’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30783, 22 June 1965, Page 3

‘Negotiation Only Way’

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 21.

Communist expansion into South Vietnam could not be stopped by force of arms, said the Bishop of Auckland (the Rt. Rev. E. A. Gowing) addressing about 270 members of the first session of the Synod of the Auckland Diocese in St. Mary’s Cathedral tonight.

“The New Zealand battery is due to leave our shores shortly,” the Bishop said, “and so New Zealand will be soon in Asia as a participant—as a country prepared to wage modern war, with all its horrors in an Asian land.

“Most unfortunately,” he said, “America, New Zealand and Australia, in Vietnam to oppose communism, appear to be doing this in a land where very many, perhaps even the vast majority, have no enthusiasm for the conflict.”

In the meantime, he said, their country was becoming a battleground , for mighty foreign powers. “However, is military force the way to meet communism and what is the effect of this

present policy going to be on the rest of South-east Asia? Two ever persistent questions that must be faced.” he said. “I believe the Communist expansion cannot be stopped by arms. The military inter vention by the United States will only intensify the situation by involving more and more innocent people in Vietnam in unbearable suffering and devastation, and by strengthening the guerrilla fighters in their determination against the South Vietnam Government and the United States,” he said.

“The only way, in my view, is for negotiation between the Vietnamese themselves, supervised by representative nations of the world,” Bishop Go wing said.