WASHINGTON GETS READY

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31504, 19 October 1967, Page 17

WASHINGTON GETS READY

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Oct 18. The capital of the United States is preparing for what is advertised as the biggest anti-war rally in the history of the nation, James Reston, of the “New York Times,” reports. Reston says: The guess is that between 20,000 and 70,000 people will participate this week-end in a protest meeting at the Lincoln Memorial, a march to the Pentagon, and picketing and demonstrations

there Saturday night and, throughout Sunday. In the emotional mood of the moment, the possibilities of some ugly scuffling and even bloodshed in these 48 hours are recognised both by Government officials and the organisers of the protest. The latter, representing all kinds of student political, religious, racial, and pacifist organisations, have emphasised that “this is a peaceful demonstration . . . our purpose is to protest the violence of the Administration’s policies in Vietnam, not to contribute to more violence.” But there are two important problems. First, the National Mobilisation Committee to end the war in Vietnam, is only a co-ordinatine committee with

Ino control over the members of many organisations who will attend the rally and march to the Pentagon. Second, the leaders of the rally are not prepared to accept the principle on which permits for the rally are being granted: namely, that the Government has the right and duty to set reasonable limits on where the demonstrations can take place and for how long. David Dellinger, chairman of the National Mobilisation Committee, says he is willing to accept limits of space and time on the demonstrations, but that he is not prepared, and is obviously not able, to bind others to exercise their rights of speeech and protest within limited periods and areas defined by the Government. Areas Defined This is the difficult point On Dellinger’s own testimony, the Government has withdrawn from its original position that there could be no march or rally or provision for transporting such a vast crowd unless the committee repudiated any intention of civil disobedience.

Beyond that, he agrees that the General Services Administration, which is representing the Government, has made ample provision in time and space for the use of the Lincoln Memorial, the mall, and

the north parking lot at the Pentagon for the transportation, the demonstrations, and the conveniences of the crowd.

There are elements coming, however, who are not prepared to abide by the Government’s limitations on the areas of protest, and some who are not even willing to follow Dellinger’s pronouncement that “this is a peaceful demonstration.” Even the official programme makes provsions for “direct action” and “sit-ins,” so there will undoubtedly be trouble. The Johnson Administration, however, has approached this awkward problem in a reasonable spirit.. It regrets the whole thing. It knows that the photographs against the background of the Lincoln Memorial, and the Pentagon, will be used against its Vietnam policy all over the world. It is convinced that the Communists will exploit the rally and even that some of them have helped organise it —though it will not make available its evidence for this last point. But it has cooperated in the arrangements, within constitutional bounds, and though it has insisted on order and security, and will have 2700 district of Columbia national guardsmen on hand, it obviously has the sanction of the Supreme Court for these limitations.