Motion For S.E.A.T.O.

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31645, 3 April 1968, Page 26

Motion For S.E.A.T.O.

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 2.

It was the beginning of the end of the Vietnam war, Dr Conor Cruise O’Brien said today.

The former United Nations representative for Ireland and now professor of humanities at New York University was commenting on yesterday's announcement that President Johnson would not seek re-election and that bombardment of North Vietnam would cease. “When a statement of deescalation comes together with Mr Johnson’s statement that he will not accept nomination, it is the recognition of the bankruptcy of a policy,” Dr O’Brien said. “It makes it easier for Mr

Johnson’s successor to end the war by withdrawing from Vietnam,” he said. Speaking to about 1200 delegates to the “Peace, Power and Politics in Asia” conference this afternoon, Dr O’Brien said: “It is customary to say that we meet in the shadow of momentous events, but there is another conference in the city that is meeting in the shadow of those events.” Motion Debated Referring to a statement by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) on the announcement from Washington, Dr O’Brien said: “Mr Holyoake has endorsed again Mr Johnson’s San Antonio formula and at the same time expressed joy at the abandonment of this policy." Dr O’Brien proposed sending a message to the S.E.A.T.O. meeting suggesting that the council adjourn in view of yesterday’s developments in Washington. The motion debated by the conference said: “That the conference extend to the council of S.E.A.T.O. an invitation to reconsider the basis of its existence in the light of the recent demise of its policy as announced in Washington, D.C. “It also invites the council to recognise the fact that the announcements in Washington, made on the eve of the S.E.A.T.O. meeting and without notification to its members, reveals the emptiness of the claim that S.E.A.T.O. is a policy-making body.

before the United States became deeply involved in Asia again, said Dr O’Brien. “We are in an undeclared war against the poor,” he said.

There was no doubt that Marxism had a great appeal for those who were bitter about their lot, Dr O’Brien said.

There had to be recognition of the appeal of Marxism and of those to whom it appealed. Only then would the West have a better relationship with the poor.

“It is a mistake and a myth that diplomats are better informed than we citizens,” said Dr O’Brien.

“Democratic opinion should be quick to challenge and provoke. "I hope that we are beginning to enter an era when the private citizen will make democracy work in international affairs,” he said.