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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 27, No. 13. 1964.

Students will Fight if Conscripted—

Students will Fight if Conscripted

A Martin Dawson survey made at the opening of the Vietnam Crisis.

Student Opinion was wide-ranging on the question of participation in the Vietnamese War, and it was difficult to indicate a dominant trend. Many of the views, however, were typical of a particular school of thought.

As One Student put it, the "Chinese had nothing to lose in Vietnam, and the fulfilment of Lenin's policy to gain." It was felt here that it would be preferable to stop the Chinese menace before it achieved nuclear status and altered the balance of power. "The farther from New Zealand's shores the peril is brought to a halt, the better." was another, similar view.

A Fairly large number of students would accept conscription but would not go otherwise, for a variety of reasons. Some confessed to an inborn cowardice, many felt that "it's none of our business. It's the Americans' affair, and they should sort it out themselves."

This attitude was criticised by others as "insular." "Anything to do with South-East Asia is New Zealand's concern," they said.

A surprising proportion of the "yes" students were prepared to go "for the hell of it." or would "do anything to get out of this place." Many were motivated by the desire for adventure, or to avoid the prospect of a life lacking a basic conflict.

A strong body of opinion was against resistance to Chinese aggression until New Zealand herself was actually set upon. It was thought that any resistance before this point was reached could start a thermonuclear exchange, and that it was clearly and unequivocally not worth the risk of total destruction.

Another student felt that we had an obligation to America because she "saved New Zealand during the last war." The same student considered that the country was too vulnerable to be defended unless well in advance. This view was qualified thus: "I would only go if my participation in the war would help prevent a Communist advance to Australasia."

One student said, "I would not be forced into Vietnam." Asked why not, he replied. "Why?" The opinion was held by another that USA interference infringed the interests of international justice.

Asked to comment on these opinions, a veteran of the last war said. "They'll all be going when war is declared because all the decent guys will go, irrespective of any soul-searching they may have indulged beforehand, and they wouldn't like to stay home with what's left."