‘Paranoia' On Vietnam

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31084, 13 June 1966, Page 3

‘Paranoia ' On Vietnam

(N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, June 12. New Zealanders were helping to kill, maim and torture Asians in Vietnam today on the ground that “we must get in first to prevent other Asians doing the same thing to us some day,” Dr. Z. During, of Waikato University, told a discussion group at the university on Satday. “This, I feel, is a paranoic argument arising from the hat-

red of communism which has sprung up in the United States,” Dr. During said. “The United States sees communism as a complete evil which must be stopped at any cost and by sending our token military force we have shown Asia that we support American foreign policy.” Other members of the panel, which discussed New Zealand's future policy in Vietnam, were Dr. A. M. Finlay, Opposition member for Waitakere, and the Rev. A. O. Jones, of Hamilton. The chairman was Mr S. R. Morrison, director of adult education at Auckland University, who has done social research in Vietnam. Asked if the Labour Party,

if it became the Government, would table a motion before the United Nations condemning American action in Vietnam, Dr. Finlay said he could not answer this question at present

“We disapprove of American action and I see no reason why we should not do so publicly,” he said. “We could not take action of this sort, of course, until our military forces are withdrawn.” The panel agreed that the Vietnam conflict could be settled only by negotiation and that New Zealand could play no significant role in bringing the parties to the conference table while it was engaged as a combatant