Vietnam

Inevitably the interview drifted around to Vietnam. Rossitter admitted that Johnson's lack of tact had the unfortunate consequence of tending to alienate world opinion. Throughout, Johnson appears to have steered a kind of middle course, a policy which Professor Rossitter said was one of "non-escalation and non-withdrawal."

Professor Rossitter adamantly stated that withdrawal "would have disastrous consequences for South-East Asia, the Philippines, and eventually Australia and New Zealand."

Asked to explain the present unrest among intellectuals in USA foreign policy, Professor Rossitter said: "The natural posture of the intellectual was to oppose those in power. However, at present all contentious internal issues, such as civil rights and medicare, are more than adequately being attended to.

"The intellectual therefore looks around for some issue. Vietnam is the obvious one — a war-torn country, whites fighting Asians, and worst of all, the troops do not seem to be getting anywhere."