Socialist President Condemns Vietnam

"A Report from South Vietnam last month indicated that the USA 'advisers' in that area are meeting an unexpected obstacle in their self-imposed crusade against Communism. The Vietnamese do not want to fight for their own freedom!" claims G. W. Hawke, president of Socialist Club.

"The report speaks of Vietnamese officers' 'refusal to heed recommendations' and reveals that Vietnamese and American officers at division headquarters ordered and pleaded for hours.

"An article in the National Geographic of November, 1962, is even more explicit and speaks of a US Marine 'Intelligence Officer' giving orders to Vietnamese field troops. The sphere of a military adviser seems to be very wide."

These items clearly revealed two major points: firstly, that in the war in Vietnam the southern side was led by American officers and, secondly, that there was a lack of interest on the part of the South Vietnamese troops and presumably of the people from whom the troops were drawn.

While the National Geographic may gayly write of a war against 'man's ever-threatened right to freedom' (which it may be noted means that military photographers such as the writer will always be needed), it appeared that the South Vietnamese regarded it as an American war and disliked being pawns in that battle, said Hawke.

But the government of South Vietnam was decadent.

Reports in the past have indicated that this has filtered to Washington and that even the gentlemen of that elect place have been dissatisfied with it.