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Show Vietnam is still resistant to peace By Peter Scarlet Vietnam, I trust, is still of some importance among students, faculty and others of the university community and nation. After a long, world-wide ' anticipation of an American ' bombing halt, the cessation finally arrived amidst the worlds ; - re j oicing. : Unfortunately, soon after the bombing halt was announced, President Nguyen Van Thieu's Saigon based regime surprised the United States and the world, balked-at the arrangement af the expanded peace talks and refused to send delegate to Paris Conference. President Thieu's, 'motives are apparently twofold. First, by recognizing National 'Liberation Front Tn L-F.) as a legitimate spokesman of many "Vietnamese people, , it d asSally increases the chances of coalgo enjrgin, Sent Thieu has been rather amant in his refusal to recognize NLF If he suddenly changed Ws position, he would lose ace among his henchmen and avid followers. Want NFL Recognition Hanoi, on the other hand has ' iSLpeS It the peace tal.. Hanoi, after fel the Johnson's bomb, ha It cold stare of P"bllhed f0r its world anxious y inting reaction. Hanoi, not disapp the world, quickly agree A expanded negotiations. Nevertheless, Ho Chi Minh's government will not engage in the talks without NLF recognition. It seems to me that, now that the United States has Hanoi's willingness to participate in the Paris talks, the American government should employ some coercion to convince South Vietnam's government ; to attend the talks. The South Vietnamese government has, in many instances, shown its true colors. The man who came in second - place in the South Vietnamese elections earlier-, this year was "-thrown in. prison to serve a long term"' because he reportedly said something of a coalition government. . A Corrupt Institution - Is "this the government - American soldiers are dying to protect and maintain? Should the United States, preaching peace, brotherhood and democracy, support such a corrupt : institution? Most Amencans would answer "no," but the Saigon regime is indeed receiving American support. Surely statesmen such as Utio von Bismarck, Benjamin Disraeli and William E. Gladstone would never put their countries in such a situation as in Vietnam. True, they all made mistakes, but never one so big and ridiculous. Is it asking too much of American statesmen to act in a civilized manner and treat communism as a culture, wav of life, rather than as . a monolithic giant bent -n destroying a!i man has created? ' do not believe I am asking tc much. Vietnam's A Fiasco America's statesmen, for th most part, are an intelligent ar capable lot. If they would on stop and weigh their decisions an policies more intelligently, the would, I believe, come to tli conclusion that Vietnam is fiasco and serves no worthwhil purpose. The United States will gai nothing from the war. Troops wi always remain in Vietnam, eve after "victory," to insure th South Vietnamese government' future existence. South Vietnam will never achieve the strength tc defend itself without outside aid Even if both North and South Vietnam were not receiving foreign assistance and wert militarily equal, the Communist; would probably win because the; are the harbingers of the newe political system and will eagerh take the offensive. Another reaso: is the Communists are eager t "give" their philosophy to other the Vietnamese people are largel; passive in nature and will not ri up against it. Therefore, the I'niled Slat' should either persuade the Saigoi regime to take part in U' 1'an.s talks make their own "non aggressio pact" with the North Viet name-, and pull out of Viet nam enl in I . After all. it doesn't look we' when a country like Ainern appears to be taking order, fro Mr. Thieu in Saigon. |
