Saigon Government ‘Will Be Exposed’

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32349, 15 July 1970, Page 18

Saigon Government ‘Will Be Exposed’

The day would come, “and it would not be long,” when the Government leaders of South Vietnam would be exposed as deceivers of their people, the general-secretary of the National Council of Churches (the Rev. D. M. Taylor) said last evening during a panel discussion at the University of Canterbury on New Zealand involvement in the Vietnam war.

Mr Taylor said that the party of New Zealanders which returned to New Zealand last evening would bring with them infonnation about the true nature of the situation in South Vietnam. Far too much had been suppressed about what the present Government was being allowed to do in the name of freedom, he said. “I am utterly ashamed that New Zealand is supporting a tyranny in Saigon and doing it in the name of freedom,” he said. The abominable way in which people who did not agree with the Thieu-Ky Government were being treated should and would be revealed, be said. The panel discussion, which ' was conducted in a subdued i manner before a student i audience of more than 150. formed the first part of a twoday protest by students j against New Zealand involve- ( ment in the war. j ( •Two’ Vietnams i All but two of the sevens 1 speakers took the view that! Vietnam could not be divided [ 1 by a decision to adhere to the; 1 17th parallel as a line of[l demarcation between ther “two” Vietnams. [s Mr C. L. Knight, a candi-jl date for the National Party in the last election, and Mri<

t S. Mortlock, deputy chairman . of the University’s National J Club, took the opposite view- * point i Mr Knight said that the r only logical solution to the ’ problem was for an American ! withdrawal and the setting up of a permanent boundary bei tween South and North Vietnam at the 17th parallel. From the floor: Then won’t i this lead to a situation similar i to what developed after the > partition of India in 1948. ! where bitter fighting occurred after the occupying Power : had left? i Mr Mortlock told the ! students that by their protestation for peace in Vietnam they were only supporting the Viet Cong. “I am concerned that most of you here follow the Viet Cong line. Every time that you yell out the symbol of peace you are supporting the Viet Cong. I am tired of nationalism there—we want our troops home,” he said. Trade Unions [ Representing the Trade j Unions, Mr J. G. Locke said that the war was merely a continuation of American 'world aggression since World War H. I “New Zealand is one of the I United States stooges and it is being carried along an Imperialist line which will mean further involvement in aggressive policies in South < East Asia.” Mr L. F. J. Ross, president of the New Zealand Bertram 1

i Russell foundation said that I he agreed with statements • calling the Viet Cong “patriots” suggested recently by the ! Bishop of Christchurch (Rt ■ Rev. W. A. Pyatt). i “The Americans have been i unable to terrorise the Viet- ■ namese—this is incredible ■ when one considers how they have stood 'up against the : fantastic power of the United ■ States.” He said that North Vietnam , had “every legal right” to bomb New Zealand and Aus- ’ tralia because of their involvement in the war. “We are inviting a counterattack should this war become large enough to involve Russia or China," he said. “American Aim” An executive officer of the Canterbury University Students’ Association (Mr F. Baird) said that America had “clambered” all over a nation in Vietnam “killing and plundering.” [ “They are no nearer to a [victory there now than when ithey first .became involved.” The United States aim seemed to be to kill all the North Vietnamese. This he said seemed for them to be the only way to achieve “peace.” He said that if communism was the type of Government that Vietnam wanted then: the Vietnamese should be allowed to have this. “How can we convince the Vietnamese of the right of democracy when we are killing millions in the cause of so-called democracy,” he said. The fear of communism was almost “paranoic,” he said. In answer to a question later, Mr Knight said that the same communism that was making strides in Asia was the cause of trade union discontent in New Zealand “The trade unions are crippling the country—it is the second stage of Communist advances.” he said. No resolution was passed after the discussion which (ended with questioning gen- , erally of a moderate nature.