Evasion

Students were subjected to an example of the MRA tactics we outlined in Salient 6 with the visit of Mr. K. E. Beazley.

About 100 people attended the meeting. Fully half of these were not students, and it was noticeable that their applause was prolonged and loud when all but a handful of students had long ceased clapping.

Considerable care was taken to ensure that students attending the meeting did not know that it was MRA-sponsored. When the letters MRA were added to a blackboard advertising the meeting, they did not stay there long.

Students attending the meeting could have understandably expected some treatment of Australian foreign policy. Apart from the information that the ALP didn't support the decision to send troops to Vietnam, but wouldn't attempt to undermine a constitutional decision, the talk was confined to weighted generalities.

Questions were efficiently sidestepped, yet the questions (which all came from students) were fair and relevant.

Pressure has been put on the Students' Association to permit lectures and an MRA play here. This lecture was hardly an auspicious Start.—H.B.R.