President Johnson’s Visit

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31196, 21 October 1966, Page 10

President Johnson’s Visit

Sir, —The visit of President Johnson will help to make it clear that a bond of unity exists between the free peoples i of the world. Within the State man is subject to law and order. Internationally, however, a state of apparent lawlessness exists. The United Nations is a snare and a delusion. It paved the way for aggression in the past. It plays the same .ole today. One consideration, however, stands in the way of the potential aggressor. A limited war is being fought in Vietnam. It is sufficient, however, to show that if a smash-and-grab attack were attempted it would be smashed. — Yours, etc'., T. M. SHAW. Westport, October 19, 1966

Sir—ln reply to “Democracy” who says that “considering that there are thousands more Labour supporters in New Zealand than National supporters, the Opposition should be included in the ‘peace’ talks”—if this is so, why is the Labour Party not in power at the moment? —Yours, etc., SHARON G. FORD. October 19, 1966.

Sir, —I read that “the Communists will continue to reject peace proposals for Vietnam because they expect the American voters to repudiate the Johnson Administration's stand at the elections for Congress next month.” The irony of the “peace if the war is against communism” minority, is that they have unwittingly given the Communists false hope that wicked imperialist America is about to collapse and give the O.K. to international barbarism and criminality. The self-styled “peace-makers” are therefore responsible for the prolongation of the Vietnamese people’s agony. The enthusiastic welcome accorded the President was, as expected, significant. The majority of New Zealanders, I am sure, will extend their thanks to | the demonstrators for being I miserably irrelevant. Long live our great and invincible American cousin!—Yours, etc., THE MAJORITY. I October 20, 1966.

Sir. —“Enzedder” eloquently betrays one clue to the mentality of the less genuine among that great minority, the Vietniks. “Many New Zealanders do not relish acting as the fawning jackals to the

belligerent American lion.” He best knows where he got that idea of a New Zealander identifying himself with a jackal, but domestic dogs do exist which bite the hand that feeds them. Some people like help, but resent the helper, a fact appreciated by the Pharisee. The variegated Vietnik bandwaggon probably packs Pharisees as well as politicians and ill-mannered bow-wows. “Enzedder’s” other extraordinary idea is that an expeditionary force setting out to arrest murder is the equivalent of a complacent Maginot Line.—Yours, etc., A. B. CEDARIAN. October 20, 1966.