Cabot Lodge

I became involved in it unwillingly, almost by accident, I had noticed the radio and press announcement that the Presidential envoy. Mr. Cabot Lodge, was coming to Wellington to consult with Cabinet on Vietnam. The attempts to recall Cabinet from its Easter holiday underlined the importance of the visit. Then came a 'phone call from Paul Melser, a University student whom I'd met some weeks previously, at an exhibition of his pottery. He asked if I would be willing to picket the airport entrance or to stage a sit-down in front of Cabot Lodge's car, anything to show that this emissary of war was not welcome, or this country not entirely comfortable about what was happening in Vietnam.

Cabot Lodge's visit seemed more important to the small group who met at Melser's place that Sunday afternoon, than the rise in fees which had sent two thousand students marching on Parliament the week before. It was fortunate that it was Easter, for the annual CND rally was on, and many of their members were able to join us. Cunning but foolish, the NZ advisers led the Presidential envoy in cavalcade of cars across the aerodrome away from the gate where we had lined the roadside.

We naturally followed and found ourselves, sixty or seventy strong, waiting outside the Mutual Motel. Most of us, I imagine, felt rather awkward, standing there, figuratively nailed to our placards, wondering what next? Then Mr. Powell, the USA ambassador to New Zealand, an ex-general from the Korean War, came out, climbed into his car, and it drove directly at the picketeers who had moved across the driveway. The car approached them slowly, then accelerated, knocking two men and a woman aside. One demonstrator thumped on the roof of the car; there was a shout of horror as the others went flying, and he was gone. A reporter yelled at him, then came hurrying up, but nobody was badly hurt, only bruised.