President Johnson’s Visit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31188, 12 October 1966, Page 16

President Johnson’s Visit

Sir. —Doubly welcome to you, Mr President! The hearts of the New Zealand people are with you. Had it not been for your great American naval fleet led by your Admirals Halsey and Nimitz, the people of the Land of the Long White Cloud could today have been serfs to the Japanese. Your young airmen who flew out from Midway and disposed of the five or six Japanese aircraft-carriers earned our undying gratitude. Few of the Vietnam protesters were even bom at that time, and probably know little of,

or care, about the deeds of Anzac in two wars. Like Nelson, just cast a blind eye on their feeble demonstrations.— Yours, etc.,

CORAL SEA. October 10, 1966.

Sir, —“The Majority” is in error when he states that the Government was elected by a majority of New Zealand citizens, for the Government’s share of the total vote was under 50 per cent. Moreover, Cabinet decided to send troops and “show the flag” before Parliament was in session. In using the above American term and not a New Zealand expression, the Prime Minister revealed much more than he intended. Any group is entitled to demonstrate peacefully, during President Johnson’s visit, against our questionable and undemocratic involvement in a war which has been described by U. Thant as one of the most barbarous in history.—Yours, etc., DEMOCRACY. October 10, 1966. LEADER—