An Open Letter To The Minister Of Defence

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31225, 24 November 1966, Page 11

An Open Letter To The Minister Of Defence

Sir, I attended the meeting you addressed at Mosgiel recently. I was surprised at your unwillingness to answer questions; your sarcasm towards interjectors who were bright and informed; and your ignorance of important matters concerning the war in Vietnam. For about an hour you read a carefully prepared speech, allowing no interjections or questions, but promising to answer questions afterwards. Questions were permitted from 10.10 p.m. to 10.35 p.m., and in only 10 minutes of this time were questions possible concerning Vietnam.

This is the way to kill political meetings and to suppress discussions of vital national issues.

When I asked you to comment on the widespread criticisms of America’s role in Vietnam by the National Council of Churches in New Zealand, the New Zealand Methodist Conference, the World Council of Churches, U Thant, and by the governments of many countries in the world* you only answered, “The New Zealand Government is doing what it believes to be right.” When I asked you if it was correct that about 9 out of 10 casualties in Vietnam were civilians, you said you had no idea, yet Mr “Peter” Gordon, M.P., told us at Green Island that this may be so. When I asked if the New Zealand Government was protesting about atrocities by both sides in the Vietnam war and torture of prisoners, you said categorically that the South Vietnamese and American combatants were innocent of such offences. Yet they are reported in newspapers and magazines the world over, not least in U.S.A, itself. After the meeting you gave me a copy of the Government publication of October, 1966, entitled “Vietnam —Questions and Answers.” I asked where further copies could be obtained. You said you would post me some, but I wanted to know their source and you said that you thought they could be bought for Is 6d each. But the Government Bookshop does not stock them. It seems they are printed at the taxpayers’ expense for free distribution to support the National Party’s election policy. This is grossly unfair and denies the hardwon principle of free elections.

Mr Eyre, you presented the issues in Vietnam as if they were black and white; but except in the minds of people like yourself, the tragic war in Vietnam is a complex and dirty affair where the issues can only be seen in various shades of grey. If you are influenced by the Moral Rearmament movement, I can understand your dangerous over-simplification of the situation in S.E. Asia, but such attitudes at government level are alarming in this world of H-bombs, guided missiles, and other instruments of destruction. “Blessed are the peacemakers.” So with other people of goodwill, I appeal to you to stand for reconciliation, patient negotiation, and generous friendship to people of all nations. —Yours, sincerely, A. J. HANDYSIDE, Methodist Minister. Dunedin, 21st November, 1966, Advt.