Calwell's Vietnam Speech Assailed

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31057, 12 May 1966, Page 23

Calwell's Vietnam Speech Assailed

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) CANBERRA, May 11. Government supporters shouted wild abuse at the leader of the Opposition, Mr A. A. Calwell, throughout his 30-minute speech on Vietnam last night. “Scandalous . . . disgraceful . . . rubbish . . . cheat”, they roared across the chamber.

The Speaker, Si r John McLeay, pleaded for Mr Calwell to be heard in silence—but he was unheeded.

Mr Calwell said the Government’s policy on Vietnam could lead to World War 111. He said the Vietnam conflict was “wicked, senseless and lunatic.”

He said that ever since Australia had had the “misfortune” to become involved in Vietnam, Australians had been told with “nauseating continuity” that Australia was involved because of its treaty obligations under S.E.A.T.O. The Opposition claimed that Australia was not involved under S.E.A.T.O. because South Vietnam was not a member of S.E.A.T.O. He said South Vietnam was merely a Protocol State under 5.E.A.T.0., and there was no obligation for any member State to go to war in defence of a Protocol State, unless all member States approved that course. “We are taking part in an undeclared war in Vietnam because our Government has involved us under the plea that it is necessary to thwart the ambitions of Communist China,” he said. “Its action lacks both moral and legal justification.” MOVING TOGETHER Mr Calwell said those who talked of 20-year wars in Asia to stop communism never seemed to realise that the ideological battle was more or less finished in Europe. Russia and its European satellites were moving nearer to the West, and the West was reciprocating by moving farther towards the Russian bloc. The basis of this association was the need for peaceful co-existence. “I think it is true to say that there is no convinced Communist under 50 years of age anywhere in Europe,” he said.

“People everywhere are interested in progress and in a better society, and this is true whether they are Communists or Conservatives or Democratic Socialists. “Democratic socialism is the answer to both communism and conservatism. It is the only hope left for mankind.

“And because of this we of the Opposition feel we have done the right thing in opposing Australia’s participation in the Vietnamese war from the beginning. “We are working, and will continue to work, to reverse the Government’s decision to send troops to Vietnam, ostensibly to fight communism. “What has still to be borne into Government thinking is that Chinese communism is almost as much opposed to Russian communism as it is every other political and social and economic system. Poll Results

“Despite the expenditure of large sums of the people’s money seeking to popularise the Vietnam war, the people remain unconvinced and hostile, and Gallup poll after

Gallup poll proves this.” The Government relied on cliches and platitudes, as substitutes for logical argument, to support its indefensible and un-Australian actions in pledging Australia to defend “any and every rotten, corrupt. tyranical collection of gangsters that seize and hold power in unhappy Vietnam.” “In its desperation, the Government and its backers, wherever and whoever they are, use a strange system of reasoning,” Mr Calwell said. “They all say communism is an evil, the people of North Vietnam and the Viet Cong are Communists and so, therefore, our duty is to kill off everybody who is a Communist in Vietnam.

“Now, this is the sort of argument that has held sway in Indonesia recently and 200,000 people there have been done to death because of it.

“It is all so fatuous and wrong. The war in Vietnam is an undeclared, unwinnable, civil war, and no amount of casuistry can alter the position. . . .”