Ho Gives Interview To Western Journalist

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30939, 21 December 1965, Page 10

Ho Gives Interview To Western Journalist

(N Z. Press Auociation—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 19. “They say that we want this war to go bn. How can they say that?” said the North Vietnamese President Ho Chi-Minh to a British journalist, Felix Greene.

Greene interviewed President Ho for 2| hours on November 24 during a visit to North Vietnam. Greene said President Ho added: “You have been to the countryside. You have seen the suffering that the bombing is causing our people. Why would anyone want this hideous war to continue?" He made a small gesture that seemed to convey both pain and determination. “No Alternative” “They give us no alternative but to go on ... we will never give up our independence." The interview was the first of this kind President Ho has given to a Western correspondent for a long time. Greene reported: I saw him at the Presidential Palace, built many years ago by the French as a governor-general's residence.

He came in rather casually dressed in a tan, button-up jacket and trousers—a little rumpled—and wearing sandals. he seemed altogether out of place in the glittering salon. He is 75 and his form is slight His hands, as he held a cup of coffee, were delicate and finely kept His thinning hair and his wispy white beard gave him the look of a Chinese ivory carving. President Johnson’s offer of “unconditional discussions" he dismissed as insincere. What President Johnson was really after was the continuation of American control of South Vietnam, he said. “U.S. Conditions'* He added: “In essence, President Johnson's so-called offer of unconditional discussions means that the Vietnamese people must accept United States conditions. "These are: United States imperialism will cling to South Vietnam, carry on the policy of aggression and refuse to recognise the N.F.L.S.V. (National Front of Liberation of South Vietnam, the Viet Cong political arm) as the sole genuine represen-

tative of the people of South Vietnam. . . . “The Vietnamese people eagerly want peace to build up their country, but genuine independence must be achieved if there is to be real peace. “The question is very dear United States imperialism . . must stop its air attacks on the North, put an end to its aggression in the South, withdraw its troops from South Vietnam and let the Vietnamese people settle their own affairs." President Ho went on: “The truth is that President Johnson wants neither peace nor peace negotiations. “As a matter of fact, at the very moment when he talks a lot about peace discussions, the United States Imperialists are expanding further the war of aggression in South Vietnam.” He said the American President's offer of discussions was intended to make it appear that the Vietnamese—and not the United States—want a con-

tinuation of the war. But he did not think the people of the world believed this. Speke Bitterly President Ho spoke bitterly of America’s “savage air attacks on the territory of an independent and sovereign state.” By so doing the United States had grossly trampled underfoot International law, most seriously violated the 1954 Geneva Agreements on Vietnam and flouted humanity and justice. He ridiculed the contention that the North was guilty of aggression against the South. “Vietnam is one," he repeated with emphasis. “The ■Vietnamese people are one, children of the same fatherland.” To contend that the southern part was a "neighbour country" was as absurd as to say that America’s Southern States constituted a country separate from the Northern States, he said.

I asked how much aid he was sending to the South—and about the North Vietnam forces that the United States claimed to have identified in the South. His answer was ambiguous. He said the United States was fabricating false evidence as

a way to "cover up their aggression." By implication be denied that North Vietnam was controlling the Viet Cong—as often charged by the United States Government and which is, indeed, one of thq reasons why North Vietnam is being bombbd. "The present struggle in South Vietnam,” be said, “is being waged by the people and liberation forces of South Vietnam under the leadership of the National Front of Liberation.

“Our people in the North are bound to extend wholehearted support to the patriotic struggle waged by the people of the South against United States aggression, just as the South would help the North." The nature and amount of help extended to forces in the South he did not disclose. In discussing China, he rejected United States statements that South Vietnam would fall under the Influence of China. He also denied that North Vietnam would be ready to come to the conference table if it were not for "pressure from China.” Relation to China He said: “The Vietnamese people and the Chinese people have fraternal relations as close as the relations between lips and teeth. China’s sympathy, support and assistance to Vietnam are most valuable and effective. „ . “China, like the Soviet Union and other Socialist countries fully agrees with the line of struggle of the D.R.V. (North Vietnam) Government and the N.F.L.S.V. ... all U.S. attempts to divide Vietnam and China and to divide the Socialist countries are doomed to failure.” My question showed, he said, how little people in the West understand the relationship of socialist countries. ‘The Vietnamese people are strong because of their just cause,” he said, “and because they enjoy the support of all peace-loving peoples in the world— including the American people. "It is because of their love of justice and humanity that many progressive Americans from all walks of lifeyouths, students, professors, scientists, lawyers, writers, artists, clergymen and working people—have courageously raised their voices and staged huge demonstrations against the Johnson policy of aggression in Vietnam.” I mentioned an old Chinese saying—“always leave a door open through which your enemy can escape.” T know, I know,” President Ho said. America’s Face “It’s the old question of saving America’s face . but you know, the door is quite open. They can leave at any time . . . once, they decide to go, we will do all we can to help them ... we will even lay out the red carpet” I questioned him about various efforts by neutral, or so-called neutral, countries to find a way to end the war. On this President Ho was precise and dear, saying: “We cannot consider any intervention by anyone unless they accept an absolute clear distinction between the ag-gressor-the U.S.—and the victim of aggression—ourselves. How could we do otherwise? “Would the United States

ever agree to hold discussions with a country that was bombing its cities?’* He brought up the names of Norman Morrison and others who he said had as a sacrificial act set fire to themselves in protest against United States’ acts. "We would not encourage these acts, but for us they have a high symbolic significance," he said. He considered these people as heroes who represented the true spirit of America, the America of Washington and Lincoln. “Will Beat U.S.” From President Ho to the most simple peasant in his grass-roofed hut, the North Vietnamese I talked with seemed utterly certain that in the end they will beat the United States. This confidence is the most striking single impression 1 had. The bombing of North Vietnam has been far more widespread, far more intense, far more destructive than I had expected. Bridges, roads and railway stations are liable to attack at any time. Inevitably, perhaps, schools, hospitals and kindergartens have been smashed as well. Sometimes the targets seem quite trivial. I remember a small bridge across a stream along a country road. Around the bridge were a dozen bomb craters.

Many bombs and much ammunition had been expended to knock out a bridge that the local people rebuilt in a couple of nights. I (Greene, a freelance journalist, is a cousin of the novelist, Graham Greene. He was making his first visit to North Vietnam.)