R.S.A. Team Reports On Vietnam Visit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31121, 26 July 1966, Page 1

R.S.A. Team Reports On Vietnam Visit

Economic development of South Vietnam could be achieved only when there was security, and for that military action was necessary, said Brigadier C. L. Pleasants, a retired Army officer, in an address in the Jellicoe Hall last evening.

Just back from seven weeks in South-east Asia with LieutenantColonel J. R. Spence on a tour sponsored by the New Zealand Returned Services’ Association, Brigadier Pleasants said he was sure New Zealand’s policy in South Vietnam was on the right lines—military’ action to help to achieve security, and surgical teams to render civil aid.

The two recently retired officers are making a lecture tour of R.S.A. branches throughout New Zealand. They have visited Malaya, Thailand, Laos, and South Vietnam.

Brigadier Pleasants said that Thailand, Laos, and South Vietnam were all involved in the problem of pressure for Communist forms of government. Cambodia was a socialistic country, and was at present sitting on the fence. He said there was a situation of invasion of South Viet-

nam from the North just as surely as Germany had invaded Poland in 1939 and North Korea had invaded South Korea. There was need for a great deal of aid if South Vietnam was to stand on its own, and resist the imposition of a form of government which its people did not want. But security had to come before development was possible. The Australians had tried to establish a dairy farm in one area, but the Viet Cong guerrillas had shot all the cows. Aid could be provided only for secure areas. Brigadier Pleasants said infiltration from North Vietnam along the Ho Chi Minh trail through Laos had now built

up to 7000 troops a month. Whole regiments were coming through, although it took them three months to make the journey. He said the success of action against the Viet Cong, who had been living in South Vietnam ever since Vietnam was divided in 1954 depended a great deal on the information that could be obtained from the villagers. This would not be given unless they could be sure of subsequent security. Now that there were more troops in the country and wider secure areas, more information was being volunteered. The success of the operation was expanding because of the feeling of the people that they could speak without fear of reprisals.

There were two sides to the battle, said Brigadier Pleasants. There was the problem of getting rid of the VietCong in populated areas, and the problem of fighting the North Vietnamese regular units, which were wellequipped, good fighters. They were by no means a peasant army equipped with bows and arrows.

Lieutenant-Colonel Spence said the economic aid programme involved 37 countries and ran into trillions of dollars for education, medicine, and agriculture. BUDDHIST INFLUENCE Brigadier Pleasants discounted the influence of the Buddhists in South Vietnam. There were two million Buddhists, he said, in a population of 44 million, and General Ky, by opposing them firmly, had si lit them to the point where they had ceased to be such £ vocal minority.

One of the audience of about 150 asked whether it was true that a military victory was not possible, and if so, why the Americans, who had been able to bring the Japanese to their knees, could not do the same to a “bunch of back-bush bandits.” Brigadier Pleasants replied that there was no doubt in his mind that if the maximum effort was put into the war the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese could be defeated in a short time. But for humane reasons this had not been done.

Asked what the effect of an American withdrawal would be, he said it would result in a take-over by North Vietnam. But a complete withdrawal by both sides would allow South Vietnam to get on with its job.