Issues Newsletter of • CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions October 18, 1968 3 VIETNAM SUNDAY S November 3, 1968

The war in Vietnam continues unabated. Since President Johnson's announced "peace plan" of March 31, 1968, more than 30,000 Americans have been killed or wounded in Vietnam. Paris talks have been unproductive. Negotiations have not begun. V At home the American people have met with a series of frustrations on the political front. CP The three major presidential candidates offer little hope that the next administration will come to terms with the fact that:

- the war in Vietnam is immoral - the war in Vietnam is wasteful of our most precious resource people - continuation of the war daily deepens our domestic crisis It is with this background in mind, with this perspective, that we call upon clergy and laymen throughout the country to participate in Vietnam Sunday on November 3. What is Vietnam Sunday?

• It is an opportunity for clergymen, preaching on this particular weekend and utilizing the resources of their particular tradition, to open up for their con­ gregations such subjects as Vietnam, the plight of young men of draft age, the crisis between large and small nations, or the war and domestic priorities. • We would also ask that on Sunday afternoon or evening of November 3 — or both - clergy and laymen meet in communities across the country -- in ecumenical group­ ings if possible -- and concern themselves with such subjects as:

- how the United States can end the war in Vietnam - the responsibility of the religious community vis-a-vis young men who have either refused military service or, once in the armed forces, have taken a stand in opposition to the war - the relevance of the war to our domestic crisis, the question of law and order, and alienated youth (We are sure you can think of other topics!) • Our National Committee has prepared a short statement which is enclosed, called "An Open Letter to the Religious Community." This could be read from pulpits and/or handed out in churches on the weekend of November 3. The statement is short (six minutes reading time) and a clergyman could offer comment on the letter after having read it. • Finally each local group participating in Vietnam Sunday should seek ways to build into their program an action component. People in local communities will be able to arrive at the most appropriate kinds of action components for their own locale. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE IN A SHORT TIME. HERE IS HOW WE CAN HELP YOU: If you want speakers for Vietnam Sunday, call our office collect. If you want a film for Vietnam Sunday, call our office collect. If you want additional copies of "An Open Letter to the Religious Community" — free -- call our office collect. If you want a special literature packet that we have prepared on Vietnam, the draft, and national priorities @ 15C per packet, including postage, call our office collect. r~ When calling regarding Vietnam Sunday, please use one of these numbers: 212 - 870-2174 or 212 - 870-2032.

CATONSVILLE NINE

On Friday, October 3, in Baltimore the Catonsville Nine were found guilty of all three counts with which they were charged by the United States government and on November 8 will be sentenced. The maximum sentence that any of the persons involved could receive would be eighteen years in jail and a $22,000 finel Many members of our National Committee partici­ pated in the three-day celebration and rally held in Baltimore preceding the conviction. Dr. Harvey Cox, Mr. Michael Novak, Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, Rabbi Abraham Heschel, and Rev. Richard Fernandez were among those who participated in various aspects of the programs that were held in Baltimore. One evening in St. Ignatius Church, while different people were speaking, more than thirty-eight draft cards were burned! Following the final court room session Dr. Cox reported that the leading of all the persons in the court room in the Lord's Prayer by Father Philip Berrigan and the warmth displayed among the convicted and the persons in the court room at the conclusion of the trial were, for him, experiences not unlike "Pentecost" must have been for the early Christians. Our National Committee, through a designated gift, was able to contribute $500 toward the expenses of the Catonsville Nine.

MILWAUKEE FOURTEEN

Several days before the trial of the Catonsville Nine began in Baltimore, fourteen persons entered the Selective Service offices in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, seized I-A files and burned them outside. The Milwaukee Fourteen, seven of whom are clergymen, included James H. Forest, co-chairman of the Catholic Peace Fellowship, and Father Robert Cunnane, active with the local Clergy and Laymen Concerned in Boston and co-director of Packard Manse Ecumenical Center in Stoughton, Mass. In a statement released while awaiting arrest beside the burning files, the Fourteen declared, in part: "Generation after generation religious values have summoned men to undertake the works of mercy and peace. In times of crisis these values have further required men to cry out in protest against institutions and systems destructive of man and his immense potential. "We declare today that we are one with that history of mercy and protest. In destroying with napalm part of our nation's bureaucratic machinery of conscription we declare that the service of life no longer provides any options other than positive, concrete action against what can only be called the American way of death: a way of death which gives property a greater value than life, a way of death sustained not by invitation and hope but by coercion and fear. "We confess we were not easily awakened to the need for such action as we carry out today. In order for communities of resistance to come into being, millions had to die at America's hands, while in the process millions of America's sons were torn from family, friends, health, sanity and often life itself. Victim and executioner have been trapped in the same dragnet of death." * * * "Today we destroy Selective Service System files because men need to be reminded that property is not sacred. Property belongs to the human scene only if man does. If anything tangible is sacred, it is the gift of life and flesh, flesh which is daily burned, made homeless, butchered -- without tears or clamor from most Americans -- in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Peru, Guatemala, Bolivia, Colombia, Nigeria, South Africa, Harlem, Delano, Watts, and wherever the poor live and die, forgotten people, the anonymous majority. So property is repeatedly made enemy of life:- gas ovens in Germany, concentration camps in Russia, occupation tanks in Czechoslovakia, pieces of paper in draft offices, slum holdings, factories of death machines, germs and nerve gas. Indeed our nation has seen, with such isolated exceptions as the Boston Tea Party, devotion to property take ever greater prece­ dence over devotion to life. So we today, in the face of such a history, proclaim that property has sanction only insofar as it serves man's need and the common good." -3- CITY FORUMS

Early in 1969 we plan to hold Forums in various cities across the country. These would take the form of two- or three-day conferences. The program would center around the theme of "Your Children, the War, and the Question of Change." The hope with this theme is to get at the issue of the war in Vietnam from a slightly different angle. The national of­ fice of Clergy and Laymen Concerned will, in a sense, package these Forums. There would be speakers, readings, informational literature, films, etc., put together in a package and then, so to speak, plugged into a particular community. An effort would be made during the Forums to maximize the news media facilities of that particular city.

PRISON VISITS

In the national office at the moment, a list is being prepared of draft resisters, con­ scientious objectors, and military resisters who are for one reason or another in jail. Also being prepared are guidelines for visiting these men in the prisons around the country. This is an important pastoral activity with which clergy and laymen who are concerned about the war and its ramifications should be involved. If you should wish information regarding such prison visits, please write to this office for the listing and guidelines.

GI COFFEE HOUSES

Clergy and Laymen Concerned is at the moment involved in tentative negotiations to take over a number of coffee houses that presently exist near army bases around the country. As with the prison visits mentioned above, this is an important activity with which the re­ ligious community should be involved. Very often there are virtually no available areas for a man in the armed forces to meet with others to discuss things of great importance to him particularly. The coffee houses where they now exist have helped to meet this need considerably. If Clergy Concerned would take them over, it is likely that the number would be expanded. The responsibility for these coffee houses would be shared with Resist, whose main office is in Cambridge, Mass. Resist is an organization brought into being to support draft resisters.

FIELD STAFF

There are presently field staff in the following cities: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; Wilmette, Illinois; Detroit, Michigan; Indi­ anapolis, Indiana; Kansas City, Missouri; Los Angeles, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; New Haven, Connecticut; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, Cali­ fornia; St. Paul, Minnesota; Seattle, Washington; San Jose, California; and Buffalo, New York. It is hoped in the near future to expand this to include five to ten more cities. These field staff persons are responsible for coordinating local Clergy and Laymen Concerned activities in their respective communities. In most cases these clergy and lay groups were started by a few individuals. The groups have grown to such an extent that they are able to take on a full-time staff person. A National Conference for these field staff persons will be held in November.

WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS YOU WILL BE RECEIVING A REQUEST FOR FUNDS FROM OUR NATIONAL OFFICE. WITH THE BLEAK POLITICAL FUTURE WHICH WE FACE WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BECOME LAX. WE HOPE YOU WILL SEND A GENEROUS GIFT.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

The Secret Search for Peace in Vietnam — by David Krad low and Stuart H. Loory, two members of the Washington Bureau of the Los Angeles Times -- deals with the secret negotiations that have gone on to bring the war in Vietnam to its end. The reasons for their failure uoÀuny w aueyv jagjag jajod 'Ja siNvnnsNOD UOSU40I M ajopoam 'JV\ I |ZSI3J pJEA\p3 V 'JW siNvisissv aAiivaisiNiwav zapueujaj y pjeipiy Aaa aoiDaaia sijodeauui^i—/m?j jç 40 asaDO/pipjy aj/oi/jej) ueujoy uouueqs d saoïef Aay jsow ou/ 'pJEA1 y paaijî 'juap/saJj-aD;/\ Z200I AN >(JOAM8N jadieips d,l'Hd 'JW 8AÜaAua0 apisjaAj9P!SJ9A!yy g£g^ff E/SjoaQ 'eiue/jy Suix »ODS Ejjaj03 SJVV a9H!LUUiooÄou8§J9LU3 |euo!;eNV e3/jauiy /o AjeuiLuaç IAIVN13IA inoav a3NH30N00 xJ^KÄT1 ' —- ')UdpiS3Jd N3IAIÀV1 ONV A0d3"13 ™»** o UM°I ->a suojiJV^sanssj N3V\alVHD-OD

-4- are well documented in this $1.95 Vintage paperback. It is NOT available from our office. Clergy and Laymen Concerned has assisted American Documentary Films in producing a new film by David Schoenbrun, noted lecturer, authority on Vietnam and former CBS correspondent. The black and white film is called "Vietnam Dialogue," and runs for 45 minutes. The film can be ordered from American Documentary Films, 333 West 86th Street, New York, N.Ï. (Room 1607) It is available for $50 rental (negotiable) and purchase price is $200. The National Council of Churches through their Broadcasting and Film Commission has pro­ duced an extremely sensitive and provocative film called "Where the People Are." We sug­ gest that you approach a religious film distributor near you to inquire as to whether they carry it. The film may be purchased for $155 from the Broadcasting and Film Commission of the National Councilof Churches, Room 861, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027. The film is black and white and runs 35 minutes. Another film available from American Documentary Films (see address above) is "Land Without Joy." This film was made in Saigon during the Tet offensive of this year. It is extremely forceful. This film and Schoenbrun1s "Vietnam Dialogue" would be paired well for an evening program. 30 minutes, black and white; rental $65 (negotiable), purchase $200.

LBJ Blows Up Another Peace Chance - One of the President's closest journalist friends re­ ports from Paris that Mr. Johnson blew up another peace chance in mid-summer. Drew Pearson writes: "Toward the end of last July negotiations were on the verge of agreement. The North Vietnamese had curtailed their ground operations. There was relative quiet in South Vietnam. It was proposed that this be taken as evidence of 'responsible reciprocity' and that the United States suspend all bombing. But at this point President Johnson flew to Hawaii, where he met with President Thieu of South Vietnam. He issued a vigorous state­ ment against any concessions. Once again the precariously negotiated peace proposals went up in smoke." •Pearson adds: "You can write it down as certain that LBJ will never get a truce in Vietnam as long as he keeps his two negotiators in Paris so tightly on the leash." He writes that "friendly Western diplomats ... are amazed at the manner in which "the President of the United States tries to dictate the Paris talks from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue." Keeping the Flag at Half Mast over Vietnam - An Associated Press reporter writes from Blue- field, Virginia: "The students and administration of Bluefield College decided yesterday to keep the school's American flag at half-mast until the end of the war in Vietnam. Dr. Charles L. Harman, president of the Baptist junior college in this Virginia-West Virginia border city, said he approved the idea after the 250-member student body voted unanimously for it Tuesday." These two items from Tristram Coffin s Washington Watch No.33 Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions A National Emergency Committee January 13, 1969

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WASHINGTON MOBILIZATION FEBRUARY 3, 4, 5, 1969 (Beginning at 11 am on the 3rd and ending with a final plenary session in mid-afternoon on the 5th) REGISTRATION COST $12.0C AN EDUCATION-ACTION PROJECT BY CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM "WHY WASHINGTON IN 1969?" The war in Vietnam has not stopped. Americans and Vietnamese continue to get killed, napalm continues to adhere to the skin of civilians, and crop defoliants continue to raise havoc with available food resources in all of Vietnam. Many people, even in the peace movement, seem to want to forget the war, or seem to feel that it is "almost over". From our perspec­ tive, then, we come to Washington first and foremost because the war in Vietnam continues: and young men, civilians, and hundreds of children continue to die in Southeast Asia. We believe it is time for the shooting to stop, for the United States to withdraw from Vietnam, and for all Vietnamese--south and north--to come to terms with one another with respect to defining their future.

Because there has been some positive movement in the Paris talks, and due to our belief that the Nixon Administration will view the Vietnam war as an albatross which it would prefer to be rid of, we feel that in approximately a year the shooting in Vietnam might well cease. We do not say this with any kind of certainty nor with any sense of callousness that would not welcome a much earlier cessation of hostilities. But given this kind of judgment, it is our feeling that Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam needs to begin now to talk about issues which the Vietnam war has put into a much clearer focus--clearer, probably, than would have been the case had the United States not made the number of political and military blun­ ders it has over the past several years in Southeast Asia.

Specifically, we believe that the Washington Mobilization should focus on the whole question of American intervention and "Empire Building" in other parts of the world. JJt will not do, in our view, for the American military machine and foreign policy makers to simply learn how to carry on guerilla wars in other parts of the world in a more efficient way and with less public outcry from home. It_ will not do simply for the military to have perfected its weaponry and guerilla tactics so as to be able to enter into other developing nations in a more for­ midable way. That we have begun to involve American Green Berets in many countries of Latin America as well as to drop napalm there is clearly an indication that the Vietnam war has — to many of our policy makers--not been an object lesson; rather, it has been a source of in­ formation to enable this country to carry on "better" wars of repression against revolutionary forces. £^ O In addition to protesting the continuation of the Vietnam war, and learning more about our IS history of intervention in other countries, we need to take a new step in developing our un- 'A derstanding of an area we have here-to-fore paid little attention. If we are going to be per­ suasive in arguing for new foreign policy, we must be able to discuss with the same degree V of sophistication, what makes our economic military machine go, and what makes our essentially backward priority system function. A new direction in American priorities in the 1970s will *~ not be forthcoming unless we begin to learn now some of the specific theories and facts upon 7~* 2. upon which a new economic understanding can and should be based. If new economic policy is to be effected, it can only be through significant and relentless public pressure.

A final reason for going to Washington is to begin to press for the end of the draft in the United States. Young men are presently in jail in this country, or in self-exile in Canada and in Sweden, as a result of their resistance to conscription or to the Vietnam war after their induction into the Armed Forces. Many clergymen and laymen around the country have identified themselves with those who--for the sake of conscience—have stood their ground against the state and refused to fight in Vietnam. As the war appears to be slowly coming to an end, it seems to us we must press in a more concrete and specific way for the end of the military conscription system itself.

To a growing concern for ending the draft is added the important issue of amnesty. In Washington we will discuss specific proposals to persuade President -elect Nixon to grant an amnesty for all those who have refused to fight in Vietnam. While our National Committee has already put some effort into this issue of amnesty, Washington will be an excellent meeting-ground for bringing about a better general understanding of the history of amnesty in our own country, and will provide opportunity to talk out some detailed strategies that will be most appropriate in the weeks and months ahead to enhance the realization of amnesty for Vietnam war resisters.

This year, unlike the "mobilizations" in previous years, all participants will be involved in seven 1% hour lecture-discussion sessions. These sessions will concentrate on three main areas of concern: I. American Foreign Policy with particular emphasis on the processes of American intervention in developing nations. II. The American economy with particular emphasis on the cost and development of the American military machine. III. The Selective Service System, with particular emphasis on the feasibility of ending the draft and securing amnesty for American war resisters. Lecture-discussions, particularly in areas I & II, will be led by University professors (in small classroom situations) who will bring to their subject matter a reasoned expertise. There will be two or three major addresses by persons from the "Third World" on the "re­ ceiving end" of the American Empire.

The National office of Clergy and Laymen Connerned is arranging all appointments with Senators (for Tues, afternoon, Feb. 4). Persons coming from various communities should make their own arrangements to see their own Representative.

NEW DEVELOPMENT IN SPOCK-COFFIN TRIAL.

All through the Boston Trial of Dr. Benjamin Spock, Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., and three others on conspiracy charges relating to the draft last spring, the government made reference in all its charges to the five on trial and "others". The defense lawyers, as well as the press were constantly engaged in asking the government who these others were. The government, however, chose not to make the names public until just several weeks ago. In doing soj the government indicated that they would not be prosecuted. The "others" included: Robert Lowell, Dwight Macdonald, Paul Goldman, and Ashley Montagu.

In a comment on this development the New York Post in its editorial on December 30, 1968 declared, "...in a sense the inclusion of their names illustrates the moral vulnerability of the government's case. For these extra "co-conspirators" were hardly conspiratorial men. They used their pens to cry out against a war that has steadily lost favor with the country. If what they said and wrote influenced some youths to resist service, was this an act of "conspiracy" or an effective challenge to conscience? Indeed, it could be argued that the real problem confronting the government is not the broadening of the blacklist. It is rather the consideration of amnesty for many young men who were, in a man­ ner of speaking, ahead of their time when they questioned at large personal sacrifice the morality and meaning of this dead-end war." -3-

HEADQUARTERS (The location of registration and all plenary sessions) is Metropolitan A. M. Church, 1518 M Street, N. W., Washington, D.C.

AGENDA Monday, February 3

8:00 a.m. - 10:30 Registration 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 Opening Plenary Session 1:15 p.m. - 3:30 First Lecture-Discussion Session 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 Second Lecture-Discussion Session 7:00 p.m. - fl : 15 Third Lecture-Discussion Session 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 Plenary Session

Tuesday, February 4

9:00 a.m. - 10:15 Fourth Lecture-Discussion Session 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 Fifth Lecture-Discussion Session 1:00 p.m. - 1:30 State by State Strategy Sessions to Prepare for Congressional Visits 2:00 p.m. - 5:30 Congressional Visits 7:00 p.m. - 8:15 Workshops on The Draft and Amnesty 8:30 p.m. - 10:00 Plenary Session

Wednesday, February 5

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Workshops, Briefings with various Government Agency and Department heads, and other appoint­ ments in the Capital 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 Closing Session - - - Worship PRESIDENT ASKED TO GRANT AMNESTY TO VIETNAM RESISTERS

President Johnson was challenged on December 19, 1968 to grant amnesty on Christmas Day by his executive action to men of conscience who are unable because of their convictions to participate in the Vietnam War. This plea was made in Washington by a delegation of ten persons represent­ ing Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The delegation attempted to have a meeting with the President at the White House where they had hoped to present the appeal to him, but his hospitilization for flu made such a face-to-face visit impossible. Four representatives of the delegation held a News Conference in Washington to explain to the News Media the plea that was then made to Mr. Johnson by mail. The four were the Rev. Richard R. Fernandez, Director of CALCAV; Mr. Allan Brick, Director of the National Program for the Fo0.R.; Mrs. Anne Harker Winder, a secretary from Baltimore, Md. whose 18 year old brother -- Jay Harker — is in a youth prison for failure to register for the draft; and Mrs. Anne Clark, a secretary from East Aurora, New York, whose husband -- David Clark — is a reservist who refused to put on his uniform when called to active duty because of his failure to attend reserve meetings and is presently in a military stockade having been tried by a special court martial.

CALCAV and F.0.Ro had prepared the appeal to The President which declared, "One of the most im­ portant steps you could take, Mr. President, to heal the division in our country is an amnesty for all those who because of their conscientious opposition to the Vietnam War violated the draft law, during you time in office." The appeal concluded, "we respectfully petition you to declare a Christmas amnesty on your last Christmas in the White House."

The most forceful moment of the News Conference came when Mrs. Clark answered a question from a reporter about why she thought her husband should receive amnesty. She explained that both she and her husband had been doing community organizational work in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia among the poor and that when funds were cut off, they both continued their work without pay. Mrs. Clark asserted that her husband is much more valuable to his country doing work such as that than being in a military stockade. uoAun» >v 3MW jagjag jajaj Ma siNvnnsNOD uosuqoj /v\ ajopoaqx "j^ !|zsjaj pjEMp3 -y -JW S1NV1SISSV aAiivaisiNiwav zapueujaj -y pjeipiy -Aaa aoiDäaia siiodeauufw—/nej JS p asdDoipqjjy D//oi^e3 ueiuoy uouusqs d saiuef Aay )sov\j Z200I AN '>1J0AM3N 3u/ 'pje/w V P334S ')uap/saJd-a3//\ jadieips djuqd -JIA/ 9AUQ 9P!SjaA|y g^t? E/SJOGQ 'ejue/jy 99mUJUJO3Â0U9§J9ai3 |BU0|1BN V gui» H03S ejia-ico SJW eD/jamy /o Ajeu/uyaç jeDiSojOdq± ysiM9[ 'jossapjj |aqasaj-j -f lueqejqy iqqey IAIVN13IA inoav 03NcJ30NOO /Oeu/ujac /ED/So/oat/x uoiup 'juap/sajj tefiiLial^i&i N3IAIAV1 ONV ÀOU330 uauuag 3 uqof Ma suojiJv^sanssi N3WHIVH3-OD

-4- HIBER CONTERIS TO BE AT MOBILIZATION

As this newsletter was going to press, word was received from Uruguay that Mr. Hiber Conteris would be one of the chief plenary speakers at the Washington Mobilization in February. He will also be speaking during the week surrounding the Mobilization at other events in the United States.

Mr. Conteris is a graduate of the Union Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires. For the past year and one half he has been in Paris, involved with a program concerning economic develop­ ment in the Third World. During the summer of 1967, he was one of the most challenging spokesmen from the Third World who participated in the World Council of Churches' Church and Society meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.

Mr. Conteris is one of the editors and a frequent contributor to MARCHA, a periodical concern­ ed with Latin America. He has received awards for his published novels and plays.

Leaders for the Mobilization will include Mr. Richard Barnet, Dr. John C. Bennett, Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Dr. Seymour Melman, Dr. Jonathan Mirsky, Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, Dr. Richard Shaull, and Dr. Arthur Waskow. Invitations have also been extended to Representative John Conyers, Senator George McGovern, and Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. (and others).

WE WANT YOU IN WASHINGTON! Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive Please return the coupon at the right to our Na­ New York, New York 10027 tional Office. We have over 90 "contact persons" 1 plan to attend the MOBILIZATION in Washington on February 3-5, in cities across the country. We will put you in touch with the contact person nearest you to ar­ 1969. The nearest major city to my town is range joint transportation and other details for the ——Although unable to come to the MOBILIZATION, I wish to support this mobilization. In addition, pertinent materials re­ and other programs of Clergy and Laymen Concerned. garding housing, meeting places and subject matter will be sent to you. Please send the coupon TODAY. I enclose $ . NAME Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive ADDRESS New York, New York 10027 ZIP 212—870-2020/870-2283 TELEPHONE NUMBER—AREA CODE

DO NOT SEND registration fee. It is payable in Washington on February 3,1969. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions A National Emergency Committee pTt^uit^ March 4, 1969

SAN FRANCISCO MUTINY COURTS-MARTIAL BEGIN

Fifteen years at hard labor is the average sentence imposed upon three men of a group of twenty-seven who are charged with mutiny for holding a sit-down strike which lasted less than an hour last October 14th. All twenty-seven were prisoners in the Presidio Stockade in San Francisco on various charges, most of them for having been AWOL. The men linked arms, sang "We Shall Overcome" and sat down during a morning roll call two days after one of their fellow prisoners was killed with a shot-gun by a guard. They ih<- ... «it th< • army's response to it, the over-crowded, substandard stockade Oi ns and general mis-treatment by the shot-gun carrying guards. Thu courts-mai my will continue through March; one is in progress as this i; «m. Thus far a total of forty-five years imprisonment have been imposed.

The dead man wa« Richard Bunch, a nineteen year old private from Ohio, who had several es tried to end his life. A number of hand-scrawled notes were found among his belongings which clearly indicated his suicidal intentions. On the day he was killed, he had been forced out to work under threat of having his crucifix taken away. He asked a guard what would happen if he ran from the work detail. He was told he would have to try to find out. After instructing the guard to aim for his head, Bunch ran and was felled by the guard's shot-gun when no more than twenty yards away. Other guards could have stopped him physically without a shot being fired; the guard who killed Bunch did not utter an order to halt. The army termed this "justifiable homicide" within the day.

During the sit-down, the prisoners attempted to read a list of grievances to the stockade commander, twenty-five year old Captain Robert S. Lamont. He in turn read to them the section of the Uniform Code of Military Justice pertaining to mutiny. Evidence at the courts-martial indicated that this was not heard by the prisoners, and in fact was vir­ tually inaudible. On this admitted attempt by Captain Lamont to produce a "shock effect" upon the men, the Army has based proceedings without parallel in the history of the United States Armed Forces. Within a week of the event, the Army was preparing the mut­ iny charges, for which preliminary hearings began on November 5th. The officer in charge of these hearings, Captain Richard Millard, reported his findings to superiors, including the Commanding General of the Sixth Army, Lt. General Stanley Larson. They chose to ignore the recommendations. Millard had determined that the mutiny charges were un­ founded and unjust and recommended that they be dropped. He pointed out that five of the six to come before him had been recommended for discharge by Army psychiatrists. A portion of his report follows:

The charge of mutiny under article 94 does not apply to the facts of 14 October 1968. There are 3 elements to the offense of mutiny, one of which is the intent to override lawful military authority. The element is absent in the present case. I find, however, there are facts sufficient to sustain a charge of willful dis­ obedience under article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a lesser inc­ luded offense of mutiny under Article 94.

(continued, page 2) In my opinion, this case has been built up out of all fair proportion. To charge (these men) with mutiny, an offense which has its roots in the harsh admiralty laws of previous centuries, for demonstrating against the conditions which existed in the stockade, is, in my opinion, an overreaction by the Army and a misapplic­ ation of a statute which could lead to a further miscarriage of justice...The two basic reasons for the imposition of punishment are to deter crime and to rehabil­ itate offenders...It is very questionable whether any long term confinement is likely to be effective in rehabilitating (these men)...As far as déterrant to crime is concerned, I feel that a six month sentence, which is the maximum a Special Court-Martial could adjudge, is an adequate déterrant against demonstrations such as the one that occurred on 14 October 1968. If it is not adequate, then the focus of the command should be on those conditions which lead to such demonstrations, for in my opinion, one does not give up six months freedom to participate in a short demonstration unless the conditions leading to the demonstration are compelling.

There is ample testimony in this case to show that the conditions in the stockade prior to 14 October were not up to the standards we should expect...Considering all the facts, including the nature of the disturbance, the conditions which existed in the stockade, the military service of the accused, the mental state and character behavior of the accused...and the unlikelihood that punishment will have any rehab­ ilitative effect, and the established policy that trial by General Court-Martial will be reserved to only when the charges can be disposed of in no ether manner consistent with military discipline, I recommend trial by Special court-martial, or as an alternative, separation under AR 635-212, which would be to the benefit of both the Army and the accused.

General Larson, Captain McMahon, the Post Commander, and Col. James Garnett of the Sixth Army Legal Office, rejected this report and recommended General Court-Martial for mutiny. No reason was given for the rejection. In addition, General Larson has repeatedly re­ fused to meet to discuss the case with such prominent figures as Bishop Charles Golden, of the United Methodist Church in San Francisco, the Rt. Rev. C. Kilmer Myers, Episcopal Bishop of the Diocese of San Francisco, and Mr. Josiah Beeman, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Philip Hart.

Almost all reports agree that conditions at the Presidio Stockade are poor. Often there have been as many as one hundred and forty prisoners in space designed for eighty; rations have been short. During the six month period ending November, 1968, there were thirty- one suicide attempts by twenty men, many of which were near fatal. There have since been more. In fact, during the first series of courts-martial, one of the men on trial slashed his wrists. All these have been dismissed as "suicide gestures" by the author­ ities. Army psychiatrists have recommended discharges, but the Army has not acted upon such recommendations.

Shortly before the mutiny courts-martial began on January 28, 1969, forty-five religious leaders issued a statement under the sponsorship of CALVAV that called the mutiny charge "inhumane and intolerable". The signers of the statement protested the Army's behaviour in the case and their refusal to recognize the human and psychological needs of the young men. The religious leaders demanded that "the Army immediately drop the mutiny charge". There has been no response from the Army to this statement.

These are the young men who have been tried so far:

Nisrey Sood, twenty-six years old, father of three, from Oakland, California, in the stockade originally for being AWOL to care for children who were being neglected by his wife; sentenced to fifteen years at hard labor, forfeiture of pay and allowances

(continued on page 3) -3-

THE FOLLOWING NEW ITEMS OF LITERATURE ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE NATIONAL CALCAV OFFICE. Use this order form. Your name and address are already printed on the back of this coupon. Put this coupon in an envelope and send to Clergy and Laymen Concerned; 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10027 Quantity Amount 1969 Position Paper of CALCAV. "The Reconciliation We Seek: Consequences and Lessons of the Vietnam War." l/$.10,20/$l .00 250/$10.00 $ "Vietnam and the Future of the Amer. Empire" Sermons and speeches given at the 1969 Washington Mobilization. (Available after March 15) l/$.25, 10/$1.00, 100/S5.00 | "Letters From A Dead G.I." by Mike Ransom. Reprint from Jan. 1969 WASHINGTONIAN. 1/$.15, 20/$1.50, 100/$5.00 $_ "Deserters In Exile". An anthology of articles in response to con­ versations with deserters abroad. l/$.25, 10/$1.00, 100/$5.00 $ "Amnesty: The Record and the Need". A study guide by Dr. John Swomley. l/$.20, 10/$1.00, 100/$4.00 $ THE ABOVE AMOUNT MUST BE SENT WITH YOUR ORDER OR IT WILL NOT BE FILLED. WE PAY SHIPPING COSTS. TOTAL $

SAN FRANCISCO MUTINY COURTS-MARTIAL', 3 CONTINUED

and dishonorable discharge. Lawrence Reidel, twenty years old, from Northern California, comes from a broken home, recommended for discharge by Army psychiatrists, one of whom stated that he had severe mental problems, sentenced to fourteen years at hard labor, total forfeiture of all pay and allowances and dishonorable discharge. Louis Osczepinski, twenty-one years old, from Florida, NY, one of eleven children, father crippled, family on welfare, recommended for discharge by army psychiatrists, slashed wrists during courtmartial, sentenced to sixteen years at hard labor, forfeit­ ure of pay and allowances and dishonorable discharge.

One man is being court-martialed at Fort Erwin in the middle of the Mojave Desert as this goes to press. Five more will begin their court-martial on March 5th and the remaining sixteen on March 18th. (Two of the original twenty-seven escaped from the Presidio on Christmas Eve and have not been located.) Those sentenced have already begun serving their time at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

The sentences imposed are subject to review by the Army. First, General Larson has the options of increasing or decreasing the sentence or dismissing the charges altogether. Next, Stanley Resor, Secretary of the Army, has the same options available to him. Fin­ ally, there is an appeal process of civilian courts, culminating in the U.S. Supreme Court,

There is every indication that the Army is desperate to make an "example" of these men. Such punitive sentences and vindictive charges can indicate nothing else. Particularly on the West Coast where many men are shipped to Vietnam, the Army has severe problems stemming from dissent within its ranks because of the war. Because of its desperation, the Army is also sensitive to criticism, especially from the Congress, the general public, and the press.

—fc WHAT CAN BE DONE? ACTION IS DEMANDED'. +-

This sensitivity to pressure indicates that the most meaningful protest will take the form of letter, telegram, telephone calls and visits to persons in authority. We suggest and strongly urge that the following be done:

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CONGRESS: Write, telephone, or telegraph your representative and senators; call the situation to their attention; suggest that they make official inquiry to the Départi; of the Army; suggest that they begin an immediate congressional investigation of the Army's role; demand that they do all in their power to stop the mutiny proceedings and dismiss the sentences imposed as well as the charges; urge that the recommendations Captain Millard be followed. Indicate your outrage at the Lnhumanil injustice of the charges and sentences. Special suggestion: Determi u your representative will ne be in your district, make an appointment and discuss this matter in person with I If possible, the same could be done with a. ADDRESSES: Senator Congressman U.S. Senate U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20 telephone: 202-224-3121 THE ARMY: Write, telephone or telegraph the two men who have review power over the martial proceedings. Urge them to exercise this power, noting the appropriate points a- bove. Particularly emphasize that the recommendations of Captain Millard be followed. Protest strongly the role of the Army in these affairs. Note: of these two m «or is the more important. ADDRESSES: Stanley Resor Lt. General Stanley Larson Secretary of the Army Commanding General, The Sixth A. The Pentagon The Presidio Washington, D.C. San Francisco, California (202) LI 5-6700 OTHERS : Appeals to the Secretary of the Army and to the President will ten help, Write, emphasizing the appropriate points above, ADDRESSES: Secretary Melvin Laird President Richard M. Ni Secretary of Defense The White House The Pentagon 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W, Washington, D.C. Washington, D.

Please write to all or as many of the above as possible. Please urge others to do like­ wise. This is surely one of those cases in which the investment of the ho take to write five or more letter has the potential of significant effec Is pressure, however, must be massive in numbers and strong in substance. Please send a c your letters or verification of action taken to the national CALCAV office s< may publicize the extent of protest. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN . CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions A National Emergency Committee April 1, 1969

THOMAS LEE HAYES GOES TO SWEDEN •s/

One of the highlights of the recent Washington Mobilization of Clergy and Laymen I Concerned About Vietnam (CALCAV) was the installation of the Rev. Thomas Lee Hayes as the organization's worker among deserters exiled in Sweden. In a short ceremony on the steps of the Justice Department, Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Rabbi Abraham Heschel. both Co-Chairmen of CALCAV and the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, a member of its Steering Committee, placed their hands on Father Hayes and commissioned him for his work. Following this, Father Hayes led the more than 1,200 participants in repeating a pledge dedicating themselves to this "ministry of reconciliation". In this way, broad- based support for what Father Hayes will be doing in Sweden was dramatically symbolized. In addition, amnesty for all Vietnam war resisters was made an integral part of this same "ministry of reconciliation".

On March 20th, Father Hayes, his wife Janet, and their two children Sharon and Jenifer, left New York City for Stockholm. Since his first several days in Sweden were spent in getting his family settled and arranging for housing, he did not begin his actual work among the more than 225 deserters until April 1st.

The 36 year old Episcopal minister was educated at Oberlin College where he earned an A.B. degree in psychology. He studied theology at the Episcopal Theological School and Harvard Divinity School, receiving the S.T.B. degree in 1957. In addition, he did graduate work in Psychology at the University of Iowa and theological studies at Bexley Hall, Kenyon College. Since 1966, Father Hayes has been Executive Director of the Ep­ iscopal Peace Fellowship, a national organization based in New York City. Previously, he had been a parish minister in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Elyria, Ohio. While in Pittsburgh, he directed Social Action for the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh and helped found the local organization of CALCAV.

Father Hayes sees his work having three related functions. First he will serve as a "bridge" between the deserters and their families in the United States. He will assist with communication across the Atlantic and attempt to interpret the deserters' situation to their families and to American society in general. In addition, he will interpret the reactions of families and American society to the deserters themselves. Second, he will assist the deserters with the problems of day-to-day living in Sweden. The men have difficulties with housing, money, work, and language as well as with Swedish government agencies and representatives of the U.S. Government. Because of the fact that he will hold a valid passport and not merely the temporary pass which the deserters obtain, he will be in a better position be of considerable assistance to the men. Further, he will surely develop positive relations with the Church of Sweden and other religious bodies which will add to his ability to negotiate problems that arise. Third, he will serve as a pastoral counsellor to the deserters, helping with the personal problems of the individual men. In addition, he will endeavor to build a sense of community among the deserters who at present are considerably divided by political factions.

It is interesting to note that Father Hayes' work will be somewhat the reverse So (continued on page 2) 3g (2)

Thomas Lee Hayes Goes To Sweden, continued of the more avant-garde understanding of ministry prevelant in American Protestantism, which places a high priority on structural change as distinguished from a more individ­ ualistic ministry. Father Hayes will be working directly with people and will, on a daily basis, be giving of himself primarily as an individual in being a pastor to the deserters.

The decision to place Father Hayes in Sweden grew directly out of the fact-finding trip to Stockholm and Paris in October, 1968, by several members of CALCAV's National Com­ mittee. Their primary recommendation, based on the express desire of some of the deserters themselves, was that a worker be sent to Sweden as soon as possible. The work of Father Hayes is viewed by the Steering Committee as part of the task of the religious community as well as that of the peace movement generally. It would be misleading if the work among deserters were seen in isolation from the other interests of CALCAV. For this reason, Father Hayes' presence in Stockholm will be of significant value as CALCAV, other peace groups, and individuals not heretofore identified with the peace movement press for amnesty for all those who have resisted the draft and are imprisoned or in self-imposed exile and those who have been forced to desert the Armed Forces because of the war in Vietnam. To care for deserters while the war continues and then to forget them when the shooting stops would create a significant human casualty which would be unfortunate. For this reason, the work for amnesty is only just beginning.

The Hayes' address in Stockholm is:The Rev. and Mrs. Thomas Lee Hayes, Hasselstigen 6, Solna, Stockholm, Sweden. May we suggest that families of deserters in particular con­ tact Father Hayes for this will assist him considerably in his work. In future editions of ISSUES AND ACTIONS we will print portions of Father Hayes' monthly reports so that all will be able to share in the work he is doing.

"IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG" RELEASED

A hard-hitting documentary film titled, "In The Year Of The Pig" is now available. The film, which is 1 hour 45 minutes in length, was produced and directed by Emile de Antonio. He has previously done other noteworthy documentaries, including "Point of Order" and "Rush to Judgement". The new film has received very favorable reviews everywhere it has been screened.

Kenneth Paul, in reviewing the film for the Washington Post, called it "a savage nauseating movie against American involvement in Vietnam..." It is, Mr. Paul contin­ ued, "a documentary polemic, a brilliantly put together film 'made primarily' 'in anger not meant to be objective.' It is an eloquent and exhausing act of protest...while it is devoted solely to Vietnam, it presages the fall of 'the American colossus.' 'In The Year Of The Pig' will be worth seeing 'after Vietnam' for it raises questions about Am­ ericans that will be asked as long as we are a superpower. Little gore is indulged in: most of the movie is devoted to a rational discussion of Vietnam and our activity there. The unmitigated grief produced, terror more than pity, is the absence of escapes, to humor or even to melancholy. The unrelenting, grainy movement of the film, its stark grayness, is a formal renunciation of the American Dream.

This documentary could properly be called the definitive work in the field. For further information on the film and for rental details contact:

American Documentary Films 336 West 84 Street New York, New York 10024 (212) 799-7440

Inquiries regarding the rental of the film are invited. (3)

TAPE OF WASHINGTON MOBILIZATION AVAILABLE

A tape containing most of the major addresses of the recent Washington Mobilization of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam is now available. This 1,800 foot tape is recorded at 3 3/4 speed, dual track. It contains the speeches by Senator George McGovern, Dr. Seymour Melman, Father Robert Cunnane, and Mr. David Harris, as well as the sermon of the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus and the complete proceedings at the Justice Department, including remarks by Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Rabbi Abraham Heschel, and Mrs. Evelyn Whitehorn. The tape can be obtained from:

World Peace Broadcasting Foundation Post Office Box 96 West Des Moines, Iowa 50265

The tape is available on a free loan basis. If one should wish to keep it rather than return it, a donation of $5.00 is suggested. Complete information is available from the above address. DO NOT PLACE ORDERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF CALCAV.

MILWAUKEE 14 TRIAL BEGINS The Milwaukee 14, a group consisting mainly of Roman Catholic Priests who burned draft files in Milwaukee Wisconsin, last September , will go on trial in that city on May 5th. The Federal Government as well as the state of Wisconsin have indicted the 14 on sim­ ilar charges. The May 5th trial will be on state charges only. The legal proceedings against these men are likely to be long and complicated. The fact that the state will be prosecuting its case first is unfortunate and assures more complication than would otherwise ensue. The Milwaukee 14 has formed a support group to assist with legal expenses. This group is desperately in need of funds. Contributions may be sent to:

THE MILWAUKEE 14 DEFENSE COMMITTEE 661 EAST 219th STREET BRONX, NEW YORK 10466

All contributions will be most welcome and appreciated. We urge you to do what you can to help.

PRESIDIO 27 DEVELOPMENTS

Since the last issue of ISSUES AND ACTIONS there have been several developments in the court-martial proceedings against 27 prisoners at the Presidio Stockade in San Francisco. Most important is that the first man to be tried and sentenced, Private Nesrey Sood, found his sentence of 15 years at hard labor reduced to 7 years by Lt. Gen. Stanley Larson, the Commander of the Sixth Army. Shortly thereafter, Major Gen. Kenneth J. Hodson, Judge Advocate General of the Army at the Pentagon, reduced the sentence to two years. This movement through Army channels is extremely fast by normal standards. Moreover, there is remaining another level of review by the Army which could result in a still lower sentence. Surely, the public outrage at the charge of mutiny and extremely harsh sentences meted out played a large part in the reduction of this sentence.

Another man, John Colip, has been convicted and sentenced to four years at hard labor. This is, in any case, a strong sentence, but appears relatively mild when compared to the previous sentences of an average 15 years. There are several possible reasons for this lesser sentence. One, most obvious, is that the Army is responding to public pressure and outrage. Second is the possibility that the court-martial panel, sitting away from the Presidio itself, was more prone to be lenient. The third possibility is that the Army found in Mr. Colip an opportunity to focus attention away from itself. Some of Mr. Colip's testimony indicated that he had been led into the sit-down strike last October 14th, •noÄ 02 paqsnji aq -[TT» ^ooq aq^ go Ädoo B pu? pTBdaad aorjjo sjq^ 03 31 uannaa sseaid; *raj;oi aapao ÜB ST p9so-[oug • SB^Snoa -Q UIBTTTTM aornsnf pun 'aeusofM auioaaf • XR 'aa^gaqft A3/YJBH ' JR 'UEUijxupg ZUBJJ ' • jo^ 'xqBy uoÄuny VN 3!JEW jaSjag jajaj 'ja 'I'I 'JR 'Ädaaj 'H'M '-IW 'ai^ag 'V 31°PV 'JR 'ajoinqsy 'S ^JJBH ' XR siNvnnsNOD 'ua9Aooow 9§ao93 aoiBuas :SUTWOTTOJ aqa Kq passnosxp A^Tnj aaB pus uosuqof 7v\ ajopoaqi "JV\ Ijzsiaj pjeA\p3 -y 'JW paauasaad aie uofasanb oq:j 30 sapis qrjog • suoinna-psui ox^BaoouiaQ 30 S1NV1SISSV 3AUVMlSINIWaV Äpnns 9q3 aog aaauao aq:j uioag: rjaodaa ^BToads B ST ^Ö*N JQ sai. :a"[TSSTW zapueujaj y pjeipiy Aay aoi33uia o-psTixeg-'puV 3qX pasB9X9J uaaq nsnf SBq wgy 9q3 uo >jooq nsaii aqx sijodeduuiw—jnej }$ JO asaDO/pipjy J//04IPJ uPüJoy ,,-ssajSojd OTnsauiop puB aosad 10 rjinsjnd UOUUBLJ5 d saiue( Aay jsoyy £2001 AN '>iJ0AM8N •3U/ 'pJPAl ^ paat/s ')uap/îajj-a3/4 9q3 P-IBMOU ÄX3AT3 0B ujn^ 03 JO 90BJ jadieips di11(-id JVN 9AU0 9p|SJ3A!y g^f efSjoäQ 'ejuefiy Ä^Tanoas ÄdosnnT pus aATsuadxa ÜB OQUT §U!M JJ03S ejjsioj SJW 99mUlUJO3Ä0U9§J9UJ3 |euo!}e|\| v pj/jaiuy /o /Oeu/uias aadaap jaAa aSunjd 03 spuanui saaBis /e:>/#o/oai/j. ifSiMdf 'jossafojj |3ipsaH f tueqpjqv sqqey p9iTUfl aq3 aaqiaqw auxuuanap 05 aq -[TTM IAJVN13IA inoav a3Nd30NOO ^JPU/LUâc; fe3tS0fO9lf± UOiUf) asodand saj. -guTuurgaq aqa rjnq 93e N3WÀV1 ONV À0U310 uauuag 3 uqof 'ja -q9p 3Baa§ v 10 pua aqa 30U sj uiaasÄd N3mHVHD-03 °T3STTTBqT3UB lauxriuag paxjxpoui B Äofdap 03 uoTSToap S.UOXXN ^uaprsajj,, suojiiv^sanssi :696I 'LI qo^BR S3RIL XHOÄ M3N 3HL

(4)

by several persons and was not really aware of what he was doing. There was an attempt to link this with one of the attorneys, Mr. Terrance Hallinan. Reports have been received at the San Francisco office of CALCAV that those who are yet to be court-martialed were told that if they obtained legal counsel from someone other than Mr. Hallinan, they would receive similar light sentences. The Army wishes to have Mr. Hallinan replaced because he is a well-known champion of civil rights. The men have not accepted this opportunity and fourteen continue to retain Mr. Hallinan as their civilian attorney.

At this moment, five men are beginning their courts-martial on mutiny charges in Fort Lewis, Washington, after two weeks of pre-trial motions at the Presidio. Their lawyers asked for this change in venue with the hope that a trial away from the Presidio would prove as favorable as it had for John Colip. The courts-martial are expected to last a few days. The results and sentences will be known by the time this newsletter is in the mail.

The largest group of men, 14 in number, will come to trial at the same time and will be represented by Mr. Hallinan and military counsel. This court-martial was originally scheduled for March 18, but has been postponed due to delays in the preceeding court- martial. It will probably begin on or about April 7. General Larson has ordered a change of venue to Fort Ord near Monterey. Defense attorneys are fighting this change.

To date, in response to the last edition of ISSUES AND ACTIONS almost 1,000 letters have been written to congressmen, the President, the Secretary of Defense and Army officials. The largest number has gone to Secretary of the Army, Stanley Resor. In addition the full text of the article from ISSUES AND ACTIONS was read into the Congressional Record by Rep. Edward Koch of New York City. Demonstrations have been held around the country to support the 27 and to express outrage at the charges and sentences If you have not written your congressmen, Secretary Resor, or to any of the others listed in the last newsletter, we urge you strongly to do so. This case is far from resolution. Pressure must continue if hope is entertained of considerably reducing or, better, dismissing the charges and sentences.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

New telephones have been installed in the national CALCAV office. All the former lines have been disconnected. The new telephone number is: (212) 749-8518. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions A National Emergency Committee May 1, 1969

ACTIONS FOR MEMORIAL DAY

CALCAV is suggesting that clergy and laymen across the nation organize activities for Memorial Day (May 30) to emphasize the true solemnity of the day and to off­ set the sabre-rattling and anti-Communist oratory normally heard. Of particular importance is the need to focus attention on the persons killed in the Vietnam war. Local people will be able to determine what will be most helpful and effect­ ive in their local communities; the following are intended only as suggestions.

1. The reading of the names of all American soldiers killed in Vietnam. A litany form could be employed with a suitable response repeated after each name. Some way of including the countless Vietnamese killed in the war sliould also be devised. Such a reading of the more than 34,000 names was done in a draft board in Philadelphia on Good Friday, resulting in extremely effective news coverage. Persons there took turns reading the names over a 20 hour period. Per­ haps the reading could begin on Thursday afternoon and end on Friday to coincide with other activities. The list of names is available from Congressman Paul Findley, Rayburn Office Building, Washington, D.C. Representative Findley placed these names in the Congressional Record several weeks ago.

2. Processions could be held which would move to various institutions in the community to emphasize the connection of the institution with the war. Stops could be made at government buildings, draft boards, high schools, universities, prisons, and monuments; the processions could terminate at a church or synagogue. Such a procession was very effective in Worcester, Massachusetts at the time of Easter and Passover.

3. Vigils or sit-ins could be held at these locations.

4. Religious symbols, such as crosses, crucifixes and torahs, could be utilized to emphasize the religious tone of the events.

5. Memorial services could be held in a church or synagogue or at suitable out-door locations.

6. Attempts could be made to change the usual form and content of trad­ itional Memorial Day observances along the lines suggested above.

7. A vigil could be held at the site of the traditional observance to change its focus.

We are sure that you will have other ideas in addition to these. We urge that you make this effort in your community to bring an atmosphere bf reality into Memorial Day Observances this year. It seems to us both irrererent and irrelevant to ob­ serve that day only with ceremonies which extol the virtue of war and urge victory over the "enemy", while the war in Vietnam and the men, women and children killed in that war-are ignored. ACTION AT DOW'S ANNUAL MEETING

CALCAV will stage a demonstration at the Dow Chemical Company's annual stock­ holders' meeting on May 7, 1969, in Midland, Michigan. Dow has been the prod­ ucer of Napalm B, an extremely flammable mixture of gasoline and plastic which has been used extensively in Vietnam and also in Latin America. In addition Dow produces for the government other materials employed in Chemical-Bacteriological warfare. At the moment of this writing, CALCAV knows of rumors to the effect that Dow will no longer produce Napalm for the Pentagon. If this rumor is true, the demonstration will celebrate this fact and at the same time call attention to other materials produced by Dow.

CALCAV made the decision to return to Dow this year (a similar action was held in May, 1968) to dramatize not only the role of Dow Chemical in providing war mater­ ials but also the involvement of corporate industry generally in the manufacture of materials of war.

The demonstration is being organized mainly by local Clergy and Laymen Concerned groups in Michigan. They hope to have a large turnout of students, ministers, housewives and others in Midland. Plans at the moment include leafletting and canvassing door-to-door in the city of Midland; guerilla theatre; speakers; and participation in the stockholders' meeting itself. At the moment, CALCAV is working with lawyers on the possibility of issuing a restraining order against Dow which is trying to limit the number of tickets to the meeting given to CALCAV people.

All persons who wish to participate in this activity should feel free to come to Midland on May 7. For further information contact:

Mrs. Barbara Fuller Mrs. Marian Anderson Rev. Richard Venus Inter-Faith Council for Peace Michigan CALCAV Detroit CALCAV 1403 Iroquois Street Post Office Box 206 3991-14 Avenue Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 Lansing, Michigan 48901 Detroit, Michigan 48208 office: 313/663-1870 office: 517/485-8035 office: 313/832-2527 home : 313/663-0473 home : 517/337-0241 home : 313/831-7023 or the National CALCAV office: 212/749-8518,

SIMULTANEOUS NEWS CONFERENCES PLANNED FOR MAY 23

CALCAV, working with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, is arranging news con­ ferences to occur simultaneously in approximately 25 cities across the country on May 23, 1969. The issue to be discussed is that of political prisoners in South Vietnam. Recent imprisonments of folk-singers, intellectuals and those who advocate peace indicate the need to more fully acquaint the American public with this repression of dissent or criticism by our "allies". In addition to the news conferences, a high level delegation of religious leaders to Washington is planned to discuss this issue with government figures.

HELP IS NEEDED'. If you would be willing to set up a news conference in your city, please get in touch with the national office. We will supply you with copies of a "Press Kit" and other materials and suggestions to help you in making arrange­ ments and holding the news conference.

LITTLE TIME IS LEFT. If you are interested in helping with this project, tel­ ephone the national CALCAV office COLLECT. The number is area code 212--749-8518. Let us hear from you today'.

-2- NATIONAL COUNCIL TO REPEAL THE DRAFT

The National Council to Repeal the Draft (NCRD) has recently been formed. Its purpose is to work for the complete and total abolition of the draft. Among its sponsors are: The Rev. Ralph David Abernathy; Major General LeRoy H. Anderson, U.S. Army (Ret); Kenneth Boulding; Harvey Cox, PhD; Senator Ernest Gruening; Mrs. Coretta Scott King; Bishop John Wesley Lord; Captain Dale E. Noyd, U.S. Air Force; Carl Oglesby; Benjamin Spock, M.D.; Rear Admiral Arnold E. True, U.S. Navy (Ret); and George Wald, PhD.

NCRD was organized through the efforts of several groups, among them CALCAV. Claudette Piper is the Director of the organization, which will publicly announce its formation early in May. The address is 201 Massachusetts Avenue, N.E., Wash­ ington, D.C.

FILM LIST AVAILABLE

The National Office has recently compiled a listing of selected films for use at conferences and meetings. The films deal with the war, the draft and related issues. Each film is listed with a short, but thorough, description; its main rental source; its rental fee; and information regarding purchase. For your FREE copy of this listing, write the national CALCAV office.

WAR CASUALTY POSTER

Within the last several weeks you should have received a poster listing the number of American and Vietnamese military deaths in the Vietnam war. This basic poster will be up-dated with current statistics each month. Subscribers to the poster series will receive one poster each month for 12 consecutive months. If you wish to be a subscriber but have not sent in your order, do so today. Send $3.00 for each set (one poster each month for 12 months) you wish to the national CALCAV office. Orders must be paid in advance.

ASSISTANCE FOR DESERTERS FROM THE ARMED FORCES

Due to CALCAV's long-standing visibility in supporting draft resisters and rec­ ently in sending Thomas Lee Hayes to Sweden to work among deserters, the organ­ ization has several times within the last year been asked to perform a unique and vitally important function. There are many men who, for a variety of reas­ ons, find themselves in the military and discover that they are conscientiously opposed to all war or to the Vietnam war in particular. Unable to secure a dis­ charge from the military as a CO. (there is a provision for such discharges), they have deserted rather than abandon their convictions. Some go into exile in Canada or Sweden. There is, however, a considerable number for whom exile is not an option. They wish to remain in the United States and at the same time do some form of meaningful work--to make some sort of social contribution here. The only course available to such men is to go "underground"; to go to a place where they are not known and there assume a new identity. CALCAV has assisted several men recently in finding such a place to live and work. Each time the need has arisen a place has been found within a reasonable period of time. But to be prep­ ared to help deserters quickly, CALCAV would like to know persons around the country who would be willing to help such a person or persons. If you are willing to perform this service to these victims of the Vietnam war and are in a situation which would lend itself to providing a place to live and work with reasonable anonymity, please contact the national CALCAV office by mail. Also, if you know of someone in need of such a place to live and work, feel free to contact us.

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LETTER FROM THE REV THOMAS LEE HAYES

The following is a portion of a recent letter from the Rev. Thomas Lee Hayes, CALCAV's Staff Associate in Stockholm, Sweden:

"As to the work with the deserters themselves, there has been plenty of it. Since May, 1967, more than 240 Americans have contacted Swedish authorities for permis­ sion to stay. Others in process of application or 'underground' bring that total closer to 300. Our men are quite a hetrogeneous group. They range in origin from Florida to Alaska, from many small towns to New York City, in military duty from clerks to special forces, in bases from Fort Monmouth to Khe Sanh, in age from 18-34, in rank from p.f .c. to lieutnenant, in military service from a month to eight years. One former master sergeant served a year in Vietnam, returned to Europe and then split.

Most of the men are younger, between 18 and 22, the kind of men who are supposed to make the best soldiers. They suffer no illusions of early or even eventual am­ nesty in the States. They do not pine away for a homecoming, though some would return and many are estranged from their families. On the whole, they are here because of their opposition to the Vietnam war and what it meant to them. Faced with killing or supporting the killing of the Vietnamese or military prisons, they deserted. Most are highly serious about adjusting to Swedish life, language and labor, although this is very hard for just about any American.

Contrary to public impression in the States, there is no political asylum for them. There is only a de facto right to stay. This amounts to a political limbo. Great gaps exist between the story you hear in the American press byway of the Swedish government and the bureaucratic network of denied or delayed work permits. Without the work permit our men cannot work. Housing, especially in Stockholm, is virtually impossible to find. Yet last September 1200 Czech families, many of them in Sweden during the invasion of Prague, were resettled with political asylum, housing, jobs, within a 60 day period. Many Americans and Swedes see this as favored treatment resulting from political pressure by the U.S. on the Swedish Government.

A well known Swedish writer, Vilhelm Moberg, has written of Swedish emigration to the States. In a more recent work, The Unkown Family, he writes:

The United States is no longer the country to which rebels and revolutionaries flee. Just this category of people are going in exile to Canada and Europe. For me these Americans fulfill the great heritage of freedom of their country; in reality they are faithful to this heritage. These are the Americans who will not fail that proud proclamation in the Declaration of Independence. . . Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM A National Emergency Committee

June 5, 1969

Many of you received a solicitation for :unds in the last few weeks Summertime is always a lean time for raising money. In oi•de r to keep our field staff financed and increase our anti war activities generally we really need your contribu- tion befor e vacations begin. If you did not send a donation from our last fund appeal and you could send one today, we would gr eatly appreciate your thoughtfulness.

ACTIONS IN WASHINGTON, P.C. JUNE 17 AND 18

CALCAV, in cooperation with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, Resist, Women's Strike for Peace, and other peace organizations, is calling for people to come from as many states as possible to Washington on June 17 and 18 to participate in a "Speak-out" inside the Pentagon and to visit with Congressmen. The ration­ ale for this quickly organized effort lies in the fact that American servicemen are still dying for a repressive regime in Saigon, with other American servicemen finding their constitutional rights abridged. In both instances, in Vietnam and elsewhere, the GI is getting the short end of a bad bargain.

CALCAV and the other groups are organizing people to go to Washington to press Senators on these issues. The three specific questions to be asked are:

1. Do you believe that young Americans should be dying in Vietnam to support an unrepresentative and repressive regime that can exist only be­ cause of their sacrifices?

2. Do you believe that it is right for the military to prosecute and punish serviemen -- like Marines Harvey and Daniels, or the Presidio "27" -- for expressing their constitutional right to protest war and injustice?

3. How will you use your office to bring Americans home from Vietnam and end suppression of dissent in the United States Armed Forces?

At present there are delegations coming from many major cities. This action will begin at 11:00 a.m. at a local Washington church -- the location has not been confirmed yet -- on Tuesday, June 17, and conclude sometime around 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, the 18th. For more up-to-date information on this action please feel free to call the National CALCAV office collect! The registration cost will be $2.00; housing and/or sleeping in churches will be arranged if needed.

We hope to have somewhere between 500 and 1,000 people in Washington on those days. By the time you read this newsletter we will have lined up speakers and more specific details, so please do not hesitate to call us if you are at all interested Ci 5§. REPORT FROM SWEDEN

The Rev. Thomas Lee Hayes reports from Stockholm, Sweden that he has rented a farm 15 miles outside the city where several American deserters have begun to live. The rent for the farm is $600 a year.

Several Americans visited Mr. Hayes while in Stockholm for a recent peace con­ ference called to discuss the Vietnam war. Along with others, Mr. Hayes was able to meet with several Vietnamese, including Madame Binh, one of the chief representatives of the National Liberation Front at the Paris talks.

If any of our readers would be interested in raising money to assist Mr. Hayes in his work, contact the National CALCAV office. Mr. Hayes has sent several specific proposals which need funding. Perhaps, a local CALCAV group would be interested in supporting this work as a local project.

NO^ MR. PRESIDENT. An Editorial from the Johnson County (Kansas) Daily News Friday May 9, 1969

President Nixon essentially asked the American people Wednesday night for another year's extension of the current Vietnam policy.

"Let me be quite blunt," he said. "Our fighting men are not going to be worn down, our negotiators are not going to be talked down, our allies are not going to be let down."

We should be equally blunt to him.

We have already let down about 33,000 of America's best young men. We have sent them off to slaughter. We have already let down probably twice that many, by having them maimed for life.

But, even more importantly, by continuing our present insane policy, we propose to let even more of them down.

And for what reason?

National pride. We refuse to admit that we have already lost a war that should never have been started.

Our leaders made a series of stupid blunders, and we have not risen in anger to force a reversal of those blunders.

We should do so now.

We should tell President Nixon that we should not extend our ridiculous slaughter for 12 months, or even for 1 month. We should recognize the foolishness of this "Let's not let our allies down" sentimental, militaristic and idiotic posture. We should not give President Nixon his year.

We should withdraw our troops, and employ our young men in the creation of a better America.

Our pride be damned. NATIONAL DENOMINATIONAL MEETINGS

During the Summer many denominational bodies have national meetings throughout the country. CALCAV will try to influence several of them with respect to their stand on the war, the draft, amnesty, and other related issues. Every denominational organization is at a different point with respect to its pos­ ition on the above issues; this means that different strategies and tactics will need to be developed that will be tailored to each meeting. It is our understanding that we will work closely with those concerned with church renewal and with progressively minded persons in each denomination.

We are not so much interested in the "politics" of the religious bodies as we are in helping them see new and more creative challenges before them with respect to these issues.

The first meeting with which CALCAV will be involved is that of the United Church of Christ in Boston, during the month of June. We will be working with a new group called United Churchmen for Change. At the present time we are investigating the possibilities of also involving ourselves in the meeting of the Unitarian Universalists later in July; the Disciples of Christ who will meet in Seattle; and the Missouri Synod of Lutherans who will meet in Denber, and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations which will meet in Miami in Oct­ ober. If you are a member of any of the above religious bodies and would like further information on this new thrust of our National Committee, write our national office.

MAY 23 ACTIONS

On May 23, in Washington, D.C. and in 34 other cities across the country, CALCAV cooperated with the Fellowship of Reconciliation in staging news conferences on the theme of political and religious repression under the Saigon regime. In Washington, where our activities went beyond a simple news conference, Mrs. Robert C. Ransom, whose husband is on our National Steering Committee, went to the South Vietnamese Embassy and returned medals that had been awarded posthumously to her son, Mike, killed a year ago in Vietnam by a land mine. Mrs. Ransom said she could not accept medals from a government that put students, religious leaders and others in jail because they wanted peace. She cited the closing down of more than 30 newspapers in Saigon since January 1, 1969 as one sign of this repression. An official of the South Vietnamese embassy said that the pap­ ers had been shut-down because they did not "serve the national interest".

While Mrs. Ransom was at the South Vietnamese Embassy, her husband, a lawyer for IBM; Father Robert Drinan, Dean of the Boston College Law School; Mr. Don Luce, former Director of the International Voluntary Services in Vietnam; Mrs. Ann Bennett, wife of Dr. John C. Bennett; and the Rev. Richard R. Fernandez, Director of CALCAV met at the White House with Mr. Richard Sneider of Dr. Henry Kissinger's staff. The group discussed many questions surrounding political repression in South Vietnam. Mr. Sneider gave the tired old arguments concerning domino theories and the certainty of "a blood bath if the American forces pulled out of Vietnam". The group was "assured" that there was less political repression today in South Vietnam than two or three years ago. When Father Drinan pressed Mr. Sneider for specific information the government official simply reassured the group that there was "less political repression"'.

(continued on page 4) -4-

May 23 Actions, Continued

At the Lafayette Hotel after the meetings held simultaneously at the White House and the South Vietnamese Embassy, the group announced that a high level delegation was being sent by several religious organizations, including CALCAV, to South Vietnam to study the whole issue of political repression. The delegation left on Sunday, May 25, and will return with a full report on June 10. In addition to Father Drinan and Mrs. Bennett, the delegation includes the following:

Mr. John Pemberton, Director, American Civil Liberties Union Representative John Conyers, Congressman from Detroit Admiral Arnold E. True, U.S„N. (retired) Rabbi Seymour Siegel, Professor of Theology, Jewish Theological Seminary Bishop James Armstrong, United Methodist Church, North Dakota

ACTION AT DOW CHEMICAL'S ANNUAL MEETING

More than 300 persons from the state of Michigan gathered in Midland, the home of the Dow Chemical Company for its annual Stockholders' Meeting, on May 7. Clergy and laymen from throughout the state distributed leaflets in the town on that day. Of equal importance were the meetings held in three Midland churches on the Sunday prior to the Stockholders' Meeting. The meetings, organized basically by Mrs. Barbara Fuller of Ann Arbor, centered around the discussion of chemical warfare and Dow's involvement in that enterprise. More than 200 Midland residents participated.

In the Stockholders' Meeting, several persons representing CALCAV in Michigan as well as national spokesmen for the organization held a "Teach-In" that received good news coverage throughout the central mid-west. Although Mr. Carl Gerstacker, Chairman of the Board of Dow Chemical Company, said that many of the speakers were liars, and implied that CALCAV's whole orientation and style had strong facist overtones, he did admit that perhaps one task which we could dedicate ourselves to was gefting napalm outlawed!

CLERGY APPLAUD CANADIANS ON WELCOME TO U.S. DESERTERS

On Thursday, May 22 the Canadian Parliament agreed to grant "landed immigrant status" to men who have deserted the U.S. Armed Forces. This means that deserting American servicemen can now enter Canada with same rights and privileges of other immigrants. In a statement issued by our National Committee in Montreal on May 29, more than 30 religious leaders said "Once our country was viewed as a haven of safety for refugees from injustice. This is the noble message of the Statue of Liberty. As it was given to us by Europe, so now that statue might appropriately be moved to Canadian soil. For, to our sorrow and shame, the United States now has its own political prisoners and exiles. Your welcome to Americans who cannot in conscience take part in their country's military adventur­ ism reveals Canada as a sanctuary of hope in North America. -5-

Reprinted below is an excellent article from the May 19, 1969 edition of I.F. Stone's Weekly. CALCAV is grateful to Mr. Stone for the permission to reprint the article here. We recommend this publication highly. Subscriptions at $5.00 a year are available from 4420 29th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

The Essential Truth No Repression Can Erase "A society that does not correct its own ills cannot coming college generation into an activism which oveF- expect peace . . . The frustrations spawned by a society reaches immediately attainable goals." which has inverted its values and reversed its priorities, putting war ahead of human well-being and preferring —Dr. Buell Gallagher May 7 and May 9, resigning as privilege to justice—these frustrations pushed the on­ president of New York's City College.

In Defense of the Campus Rebels I hate to write on subjects about which I know no more than the conventional wisdom of the moment. One of these Add Voices Of Reason subjects is the campus revolt. My credentials as an expert are " 'We need more chancellors and mayors who de­ slim. I always loved learning and hated school. I wanted light in battle,' [Eric Hoffer] shouted, thumping his to go to Harvard, but I couldn't get in because I had gradu­ fist on the witness table, 'who love a fight, who get up in the morning and say: "Who shall I kill today?"'" ated 49th in a class of 52 from a small-town high school. I —Testifying in Washington on campus disorders, went to college at the University of Pennsylvania which was New York Times, May 10. obligated—this sounds like an echo of a familiar black demand "If people demonstrated in a manner to interfere today — to take graduates of high schools in neighboring with others, they should be rounded up and put in a communities no matter how ill-fitted. My boyhood idol was detention camp." the saintly anarchist Kropotkin. I looked down on college —Dep. Atty. Gen. Riehard Kleindienst, Goldwater's degrees and felt that a man should do only what was sincere right-hand man in 196U, quoted in a revealing and comprehensive portrait of Nixon's Justice Department and true and without thought of mundane advancement. by Elizabeth Drew in the May Atlantic Monthly. This provided lofty reasons for not doing homework. I ma­ "Is there a legitimate interest in favor of our modern jored in philosophy with the vague thought of teaching it ideological criminal in today's world that is deserving but though I revered two of my professors I disliked the of protection?" smell of a college faculty. I dropped out in my third year —Kleindienst speech at the Pentagon May 1. to go back to newspaper work. Those were the twenties and "The time has come for an end to patience." I was a pre-depression radical. So I might be described I —Atty. Gen. Mitchell's Law Day speech, May 1. suppose as a premature New Leftist, though I never had the urge to burn anything down. to hear any one group or class, including policemen, called pigs. I do not think four letter words are arguments. I hate If National Security Comes First hate, intolerance and violence. I see them as man's most In microcosm, the Weekly and I have become typical of ancient and enduring enemies and I hate to see them welling our society. The war and the military have taken up so much up on my side. But I feel about the rebels as Erasmus did of our energies that we have neglected the blacks, the poor about Luther. Erasmus helped inspire the Reformation but and students. Seen from afar, the turmoil and the deepening was repelled by the man who brought it to fruition. He saw division appear to be a familiar tragedy, like watching a that Luther was as intolerant and as dogmatic as the Church. friend drink himself to death. Everybody knows what needs "From argument," as Erasmus saw it, "there would be a quick to be done, but the "will is lacking. We have to break the resort to the sword, and the whole world would be full of habit. There is no excuse for poverty in a society which can fury and madness." Two centuries of religious wars without spend $80 billion a year on its war machine. If national parallel for blood-lust were soon to prove how right were his security comes first, as the spokesmen for the Pentagon tell misgivings. But while Erasmus "could not join Luther, he us, then we can only reply that the clearest danger to the dared not oppose him, lest haply, as he confessed 'he might national security lies in the rising revolt of our black popu­ be fighting against the spirit of God.' "* I feel that the New lation. Our own country is becoming a Vietnam. As if in Left and the black revolutionists, like Luther, are doing God's retribution for the suffering we have imposed, we are con­ work, too, in refusing any longer to submit to evil, and fronted by the same choices: either to satisfy the aspirations challenging society to reform or crush them. of the oppressed or to try and crush them by force. The Lifelong dissent has more than acclimated me cheerfully former would be costly, but the latter will be disastrous. to defeat. It has made me suspicious of victory. I feel un­ This is what the campus rebels are trying to tell us, in easy at the very idea of a Movement. I see every insight the only way which seems to get attention. I do not like much (continued page 5) of what they are saying and doing. I do not like to hear opponents shouted down, much less beaten up. 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-6- (continued from page 5) degenerating into a dogma, and fresh thoughts freezing Only 81% On Net Worth! into lifeless party line. Those who set out nobly to be their "Washington—Major issue raised by the renego­ brother's keeper sometimes end up by becoming his jailer. tiation case being contested by Grumman Aircraft Every emancipation has in it the seeds of a new slavery, and Engineering Corp. is whether aerospace companies whose sales skyrocketed to meet Vietnam war de­ every truth easily becomes a lie. But these perspectives, which mands should have their profits slashed because they seem so irrefutably clear from a pillar in the desert, are appear excessive by the yardstick of net worth. This worthless to those enmeshed in the crowded struggle. They is the same problem the industry faced during the are no better than mystical nonsense to the humane student Korean war period when unilateral determinations by the Renegotiation Board against major aerospace firms who has to face his draft board, the dissident soldier who mounted to more than $100 million. The board's deter­ is determined not to fight, the black who sees his people mination of $7.5 million excessive profits against doomed by shackles stronger than slavery to racial humilia­ Grumman for the calendar year 1965 is now in a pre­ tion and decay. The business of the moment is to end the liminary phase here before U.S. Tax Court Judge John E. Mulroney. Grumman's profits for the year war, to break the growing dominance of the military in our averaged a moderate 6.57c of sales. But the board society, to liberate the blacks, the Mexican-American, the said the company's 81% return on net worth 'clearly Puerto Rican and the Indian from injustice. This is the indicates the presence of excessive profits.' " business of our best youth. However confused and chaotic, —Aviation Week & Space Technology, April lb. thtii unwillingness to submit any longer is our one hope. old habits, those in power always prefer to fall back on the Revolutionaries In A Free Society theory that all would be well but for a few malevolent con­ There is a wonderful story of a delegation which came spirators. It is painful to see academia disrupted, but under here to see Franklin D. Roosevelt on some reform or other. the surface were shams and horrors that needed cleansing. When they were finished the President said, "Okay, you've The disruption is worth the price of awakening us. The convinced me. Now go on out and bring pressure on me." student rebels are proving right in the daring idea that they Every thoughtful official knows how hard it is to get any­ could revolutionize American society by attacking the uni­ thing done if someone isn't making it uncomfortable not to. versities as its soft underbelly. But I would also remind Just imagine how helpless the better people in government the students that the three evils they fight—war, racism and would be if the rebels, black and white, suddenly fell silent. bureaucracy—are universal. The Marxism-Leninism some of The war might smolder on forever, the ghettoes attract as the rebels cling to has brought into power a bureaucracy little attention as a refuse dump. It is a painful business more suffocating than any under capitalism; the students extricating ourselves from the stupidity of the Vietnamese demonstrate everywhere on our side but are stifled on the war; we will only do so if it becomes more painful not to. other. War and imperialism have not been eliminated in It will be costly rebuilding the ghettoes, but if the black the relations between Communist States. Black Africa, at revolt goes on, it will be costlier not to. In the workings least half-freed from the white man, is hardly a model of of a free society, the revolutionist provides the moderate with fraternity or freedom. Man's one real enemy is within the clinching argument. And a little ««-reason does wonders, himself. Burning America down is no way to Utopia. If like a condiment, in reinvigorating a discussion which has battle is joined and our country polarized, as both the revo­ grown pointless and flat. lutionists and the repressionists wish, it is the better and not We ought to welcome the revolt as the one way to prod the worser side of America which will be destroyed. Some­ us into a better America. To meet it with cries of "law and one said a man's character was his fate, and tragedy may order" and "conspiracy" would be to relapse into the sterile be implicit in the character of our society and of its rebels. monologue which precedes all revolutions. Rather than change How make a whisper for patience heard amid the rising fury ? Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM A National Emergency Committee

August 1, 1969 £>

TffllE MULJTjTAffiT AMB lOISSICMTr V

Last October, twenty-seven prisoners in the Presidio Stockade in San Francisco staged a sit-down demonstration to protest the murder of a fellow prisoner and the general conditions in the Stockade. The twenty-seven were charged and subsequently court-martialed for mutiny. This event educated the American people on the plight of servicemen in the contemporary American military. The mutiny trials deserved and received a good deal of attention. Public opinion was aroused by the situation as no other single issue has done except for the Vietnam war itself. And this is what is significant: if the war in Vietnam has served any positive function it has been to confront the American people with what was being done in its name by the operations of the military, by foreign policy, by the conscription system, and by the priorities which the nation has set for itself. Were it not for the war in Vietnam, most Amer­ icans would likely continue in an ignorance born of apathy and unchallenged by reality. The war has forced people to recognize what is being done in Vietnam, in the underdeveloped world, and at home. Occurring at this time, the Presidio mutiny trials awakened many people; people who are willing to go back to sleep now that the courts-martial are over and now that reasonable sentences will likely be imposed (in contrast to the initial sentences of 14, 15, and 16 years). The Presidio Mutiny was unique in that the grievances the prisoners had were quite legitimate (murder and inhuman conditions) and the Army reacted in an extreme way that was ultimately against its best interests. The events at the Presidio shocked and disturbed most persons no matter what their political inclinations. The Army was probably under more pressure from Congress and the public than it had been over any single non-policy situation. Needless to say, the Army and the military generally learned its lesson. The military cannot realistically afford more bad publicity or operate to its way of thinking under such pressure from the public and Congress. New policies and procedures are emerging for dealing with dissent within the military. Observers on the West Coast have noticed an increase in the number of discharges granted for reasons of conscientious objection. No longer is the military (continued on page 2) -2-

leveling massive, unrealistic charges against dissenting servicemen to set an example for others. It evidently thinks it can accomplish its purposes more effectively by keeping the problem closed within its own house. This is being done through many different means including harassment, courts- martial for minor offenses, and transfer to the battlefield. The military is no longer attempting a strong show of force. It is rather employing a slow, quiet, but effective suppression of dissent. This has led to a situation in which the public is no longer directly confronted by what is going on in the military. Several examples will serve to illustrate this fact. These situations have not received any large degree of public attention despite the fact that the root causes are the same as those of the Presidio Mutiny, although not so extreme in degree.

Fort Dix At mealtime in early June of this year, the dog-bowl shaped containers used for water glasses were being washed. During the meal they were dried. A prisoner got up to get a water bowl. There was much confusion then involving the G. I., the guards, and the other prisoners. Approximately 100 prisoners stood up in support of the man. A sensible, rational guard told the man that he should sit down and that bowls would be supplied. He did and that should have been the end, had not a captain in the stockade ordered the man into segregation-solitary confinement--for his act of getting a water bowl. On June 5, the prisoners in one cell block were ordered to stand at attention in the yard for three hours in the hot sun while their belongings were searched for contraband material. Shaving lotion (contraband) was found and was poured over its owners' possessions. Emotions ran high that evening in that cell block as well as others. Several persons decided that as a protest to the harassment of the day, two foot lockers would be thrown out the window. Chaos resulted in the tense barracks and several items were burned resulting in $1, 000 damages. 38 men were charged with rioting. At first 10 G. I. 's were to be given general courts-martial with possible maximum sentences of 40 years each. Since that time 7 were changed to special courts-martial with a maximum of 6 months. At this writing 3 men still face the maximum sentence of 40 years. It happens that all 3 men are involved in the growing G. I. dissent movement.

Cruel and unusual punishment is used at Fort Dix. Straps, originally designed as a constraining device have taken on the qualities of medieval torture methods. The straps tie a man's hands together and then hold his hands to his feet, placing his body in a bowed position. The straps are used as punishment. Prisoners in segregation have stated that men are sometime beaten in this position or are dropped on their abdomens onto their wooden beds. A coffee house has been formed at Fort Dix to serve two purposes: 1. to serve the needs of G. I. 's by offering a place to go for food and conversation; and 2. to channel the growing opposition to the war in Vietnam and to the dehumanization of the Army.

(continued on page 3) A member of the New Jersey State Police and an employee of the state government both told the operators of the coffee house that a heroin raid was planned at the coffee house. No drugs are sold or distributed at the coffee house. Signs clearly visible say: "No Drugs, No Alcohol". It may be the case that G. I. 's have obtained drugs at Fort Dix where they are prevalent; but everything is done to keep the drugs out of the coffee house. The Army is obviously threatened by the coffee house which they see as a countervailing force to their power. Thus it is overreacting to situations within its ranks and penalizing those soldiers who are involved in anti-war activities.

Harvey And Daniels George Daniels and William Harvey, two young black marines, were in a bull session at Camp Pendleton, California on July 27, 1967, In the discussion it was alleged that the men described Vietnam as a white man's war and stated that black men could not in good conscience support it while their own people were suffering. Daniels, a member of the Black Muslims, was charged with "advising, counseling, urging, causing and attempting to cause insubordination, disloyalty, and refusal of duty of eight named members of the Marines", while Harvey was charged with "making disloyal statements with intent to promote disloyalty among the troops. " At the court-martial, testimony was heard that Harvey and Daniels had urged the men to request "mast"--an offical method of jumping the normal marine chain of command in order to see the Commanding Officer. Daniels was sentenced to ten years and Harvey to six years. Earlier this month a Naval Board of Review reduced Harvey's sentence to three years and Daniel's sentence to four years. A Naval Court of Appeals will review the case in the fall. The Harvey and Daniels case points to two important facts. First, free speech is not a reality in the military. The G. I. is not permitted to express his political beliefs. Second, the military does respond to public pressure. The Presidio case and the reduction in the sentences of Harvey and Daniels shows that. Letters to your Congressmen, to the President, and to the Secretary of the Army, Stanley Resor or the Secretary of the Navy, John Chafee are still needed to free Harvey and Daniels, and to drop the general courts-martial of the three men at Fort Dix.

DESERTION With these problems in mind, it is easy to understand why a G. I. will desert rather than use the established means for discharge or redress of grievances. In fact, theologians and others are beginning to discuss seriously the concept of "conscientious desertion". It is, however, difficult to differentiate clearly between those who desert from the military for traditional reasons of conscience and those who desert due to despair or inability to adapt to military life. By the former is meant those who have while in the military discovered a conviction which prevents them from taking part in all war or a particular war. It is not a rare occurance for a man to ' come to his conscience" while in the military. Often it is due to the simple fact that he had never really given the question full attention and reflection. (continued on page 4) It is this latter group, however, which merits our more serious attention. Many wish to ignore these men by emphasizing that they were unable to adjust to the military routine and deserted out of a simple desire to escape from it. Many would feel that their motives for desertion are not as high as those of a person who deserts rather than compromise his convictions. This, however, is missing the point. What is significant is that there are today increasing numbers of men who are unable to adapt to the military's demands for regimentation, brutalization, and extreme discipline. Should not the burden of proof be placed on the institution rather than the individual? Is it entirely the individual's fault that he cannot adjust? Would not a more realistic assessment indicate that the Army is at least partly to blame in that it is not meeting the real needs of the individuals it tries to force into its mold? The Presidio Mutiny brought a number of cases to public attention in which Army and civilian psychiatrists stated unequivocably that the men should never have been placed in the military at all. Others could perhaps have adjusted if the Army had provided guidance services for them. The Army operates with the working assumption that all men are exactly the same in background and emotions. The Army itself makes no attempt to deal with persons as individuals. Since the Army is reluctant to discharge such persons (why is.not clear), the individual is wise to consider desertion as a viable alternative. Canada The situation with deserters is constantly changing. Canada is now emerging as the best country for deserters. On May 22, 1969, the Canadian government ennunciated a policy that deserters could not be discriminated against in making application for legal residence in Canada. The point the government made was that desertion is an affair to be settled between the man and his own government and is something that should not concern Canadians at all.

This was a great leap forward for the deserters. The Canadian government had previously had as official policy that deserters were not unwelcome in Canada. However, the immigration system operated otherwise. Landed immigrant status is necessary if one wishes to remain in Canada longer than six months. Anyone may enter as a visitor but must leave after six months and then re-enter the country. Landed immigrant status is needed to obtain a work permit and the other social benefits of Canadian society. It is the first step toward citizenship which requires five years residency. One may apply for landed status at the border as he enters the country. Or he may enter as a visitor and later apply for landed status internally. Landed status is granted on the basis of a point system. Out of a possible field of 100 points, one must obtain 51. Points are awarded on the basis of skills, talents, education, jobs held, financial stability, recommendations of clergymen, and the personal assessment of the immigration official. If one applies for landed status at the border, and has a firm job offer from a Canadian employer, he is able to obtain up to 10 extra points for that. He may not obtain those same points if he applies internally. Thus, the man who applies for landed status internally, has only a 90 point field out of which to obtain 51 points. The new government decision on May 22 makes it possible for a deserter to apply for landed status at the border as well as internally. Further, desertion as an example of a failure to live up to contractual obligations has been deleted. Still further, the government has made it clear that desertion is a matter of no concern to the Canadian government.

(continued on page 5) -5- The new policy is extremely successful. Reports have been received from the groups helping deserters in Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa, that deserters have had little difficulty in obtaining status, if they have the points needed. Both internal and border applications have proved to be completely successiui. The change in Canadian policy was in large part due to the efforts of the United Church of Canada. A year ago, the denomination had blocked an appropriation of social service funds for war resisters. In a complete reversal, they under­ took this spring a massive and effective lobbying effort to remove the inequities from the immigration policies as these policies affected deserters. Telegrams and letters were sent to members of the government and parliament. Most observers credit the United Church of Canada with the major responsibility in bringing about the change. In addition a number of political leaders were also active and supportive of the deserters' cause. But no other institution was so effective as the United Church.(American churches should take note!) The number of deserters in Canada has increased considerably since May 22 It is likely that the number will continue to rise. For this reason, financial " assistance from sympathetic Americans to organizations assisting the deserters is becoming more necessary. Those who wish to assist in this way should contact the National CALCAV office. This office is also willing to provide more detailed information on immigration to Canada by deserters. One note on terminology. The deserters in Canada, by and large, do not wish to be called "exiles". They are refugees from the United States and intend to begin a new life in Canada. They are desirous to involve themselves in Canadian society and to become Canadian citizens. They entertain no illusions about returning to the United States under an amnesty. Should such an amnesty be granted, they would then and only then consider whether to return. In the meantime they are planning to remain in Canada indefinitely. They are not unwilling to be called deserters, for they did in fact desert from a system which did not respect their rights and which was repugnant to them. They are con­ vinced and most observers would agree, that they are honorable men seeking a new future for themselves.

Sweden The deserters' situation in Sweden has been discussed in ISSUES AND ACTIONS previously. It does not seem necessary to discuss it in depth here. Instead., a portion of a recent report by the Rev. Thomas Lee Hayes is printed below. Rev. Hayes is an Episcopal minister placed by CALCAV in Stockholm to work among and serve as a pastor to the deserters. This has been a crucial time in the Deserter Movement to be here in Stockholm. I believe the Project to be worthwhile. If measured by the dem­ ands upon my time and resources, or by the eagerness of Swedish authorities to let 'Hayes handle that one', we are doing our job. We cannot tell yet what the new Immigrant Service Board will be like or do. They will have fewer staff people, which does not sound so good. Permits should begin to be given for one year and delays should shorten. Things are going well. There are more men in shcool, more on jobs, more in permanent housing than before. There are fewer strung out on drugs, fewer 'hung-up' on Sweden. It may be the change in weather, but I believe it is deeper and more solid." uoAuny w auevv

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Underground in the United States

With Canada now open for deserters, the option of remaining in the United States anonymously or "underground" is becoming less advisable. Further, men who have attempted to do this by assuming a new identity, have had in­ creasing difficulties. In fact, it is apparent to many who were suggesting this course of action, that it is now unwise. Going to Canada presents none of the emotional difficulties which men have encountered by trying to submerge their true identity and adopting a new one. In terms of security, as well, Canada is much more preferable. Further, Canada does not necessarily entail a complete break with family and friends which is the major obstacle that one faces when attempting to remain in the United States.

This edition of ISSUES AND ACTIONS is intended to focus on the problem within the military. Due to the limitations of space, much had to be ommitted. There is a distinct shortage of literature on the whole question of military justice and the rights of soldiers within the Armed Forces. Toward meeting this end, Clergy and Laymen Concerned is at the moment taking initial steps to produce a full length book on these matters. A panel of lawyers and others with a degree of experience in this area has been assembled and has met for the first time. They will provide the materials which will be used by Mr. James Finn in editing the book. | Mr. Finn is a member of CALCAV's National Committee and the editor of "Worldview'1. He is a well-known independent writer and editor of several volumes.

ADDITION TO NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF

The Rev. Richard Killmer, formerly the Executive Secretary of the Minnesota Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, joined the staff of the national office in New York City on June 1. He is a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and of Princeton Theological Seminary. During the summer of 1967, he was a Coordinator of Vietnam Summer. He has been active in civil rights and anti-war activities. He is married and the father of a one year old daughter. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM nions A National Emergency Committee November 6,1969

A REMINDER -J A week or two ago you probably received our Fall fund appeal. If V you have not taken time before this to contribute to the work of our National Committee, we hope you will do so in the near future. An envelope is enclosed for your convenience.

Mr. Nixon's speech of this past Monday should not sway us from our continued demand that all United States forces be withdrawn from Vietnam. We all know that the Russican occupation of Czech­ oslovakia drastically influenced the politics of that country just a little over a year ago. So also we can understand the enormous im­ pact of even 200, 000 Americans troops on the politics of South Vietnam and the future of Southeast Asia.

While we are pleased that Mr. Nixon's announcement will, at least in the immediate sense, probably cut down the loss of life, we can­ not afford the luxury of assuming "the job is done" until there is a firm and definite commitment to remove all United States troops from Vietnam and to allow the Vietnamese to make decisions with respect to their future political situation. It is to "finish the job" which we have begun for which your financial support is needed.

NATIONAL END THE WAR. FAST Enclosed you will find a brochure which explains in some detail a national fast which our committee along with many other groups is calling for the Thanks­ giving holidays. While Vietnamese continue to suffer and while Americans and Vietnamese continue to die in Vietnam, there cannot be any real sense of Thanks­ giving in our own nation. Our hope is that many persons will seize upon the Thanksgiving season as an opportunity to express their deep concern about the political and moral tragedy which the war in Vietnam continues to represent.

Specifically, we believe that persons holding vigils and simultaneously fast­ ing in local communities all over the country during this Thanksgiving season will provide another demonstration against the war which will be of considerable importance. Renewal of any society is always dependent, at least in part, upon the renewal of individual persons within that society. We believe that a fast at Thanksgiving time by persons who have cared long and deeply about those who

(continued on page 2)

SS 5 suffered and died in Vietnam can contribute to the renewal of our nation. Finally, when persons gather together in public places during the Thanks­ giving season to fast and vigil, it is imperative that they develop statements in­ dicating the purpose and focus of their fasting which are appropriate to their local community. We do not deem it proper for our National Committee or other groups that are cooperating in this project to determine the religious and/or political rationale for people around the country who wish to join in this occasion. (The "consulting groups", listed on the enclosed brochure, should really be con­ sidered cooperating groups. Also, it is of some special note that one group, SADIA, represents every major Protestant social action body in the country. )

NEW MOBILIZATION AND VIETNAM MORATORIUM

On October 22, the Vietnam Moratorium Committee and the New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam held separate press conferences and mutually endorsed one another's planned activities for the 13th and 14th of November and the 13th, 14th, and 15th of November, respectively. Both organizations indicated that they felt that the grass roots work of the Moratorium and the more centralized activities of the New Mobilization in Washington and San Francisco were mutually supportive and complimentary. Of course, as a monthly newsletter, Issues and Actions is a relatively poor means of providing day-to-day information on such developments. Daily press and television coverage is a much more up-to-date and appropriate vehicle for this kind of communication. As this newsletter goes to press there has been no definite word with respect to the kinds of activities which the Vietnam Moratorium will be sponsoring on November 13 and 14, nor is there a precise list of speakers for the New Mobilization mass rally on November 15. One activity which will be of special interest to persons from the religious community will be a worship service sponsored by Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam. It will be held at the National Cathedral at 8:00 PM on Friday, November 14. Leading church officials will be present. Participants will include: Bishop Paul Moore, Washington, DC; Rev. William Sloane Coffin, Chaplain at Yale University; Dr. Robert Moss, newly elected President of United Church of Christ; Mrs. Robert Ransom of Bronxville, New York; Rabbi Balfour Brickner, Union of American Hebrew Congregations; and Dr. Eugene Carson Blake.

Several thousand persons will be in Washington at this time to participate in the March Against Death, which begins at 6:00 PM on Thursday, November 13 at Arlington Cemetery. If you are planning to be at the Cathedral for this service, you should plan to arrive early, since no more than 2, 800 persons can be seated in the Cathedral.

REGIONAL CONFERENCES During the last month CALCAV held several regional conferences throughout the nation. The meetings were held to determine how the effectiveness of local efforts to end the war might be maximized.

(continued on page 3) On October 6-7 representatives from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana met in Dallas. Augusta, Maine was the site for another meeting on October 9. Representatives from Mondtana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska met in Rapid City, South Dakota on October 14-15. Approximately one hundred persons attended the three meetings.

The people participating discussed with resource persons (Dr. George Shepard of the University of Denver and Leonard Tinker of the American Friends Service Committee) the current status of the war and the Paris talks, and the significance of recent moves by Nixon. Representatives in each city described local attempts at peace education and the problems they faced. Many people reported experiencing feelings of isolation and loneliness in their local situations.

An effort was then made to discover what could be done to increase the effec­ tiveness of their attempts and how the national office of CALCAV could be of help. Plans were made in several states for increased activities. A regional newsletter was planned in the Southwest along with regional coordination of speakers. A steering committee was selected in Maine to organize and coordinate local activities. In all cases a determination was voiced to continue efforts until the war ended.

STOCKHOLM EVALUATION

On November 30, Dr. Harvey Cox of our National Committee and the Rev. Richard R. Fernandez, National Director, will go to Stockholm for four days to discuss with Rev. Thomas Lee Hayes his work over the past eight months. In re­ cent weeks there have been many letters and phone conversations with Rev. Hayes and it is possible that some new arrangement might evolve out of Dr. Cox's and Rev. Fernandez' visit to Sweden.

There is a real sense within the deserter community in Sweden that they have begun to cope more successfully with many of the issues and problems which confronted them less than a year ago. Rev. Hayes had indicated that a new struc­ ture and/or staff relationship might be developed for a more creative support for those Americans who have decided to leave the United States military establishment and take refuge in Sweden. In the next edition of Issues and Actions there will be a more detailed report on the visit of Dr. Cox and Rev. Fernandez.

NEW STAFF MEMBERS In the last few months there have been several new additions to our field staff in different parts of the country. In Denver, Mr. Duane Gall is now working for Colorado Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam. In Buffalo, Rev. Ken Sherman, a part-time staff person for our National Committee last year, has assumed a full-time position. In San Antonio, we have entered into a cooperative relationship with the American Friends Service Committee in hiring Mr. John Drury to work on military and draft counseling issues in the Southwest. In

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Minneapolis, we have added a pair of part-time persons, Mrs. Paula Westerlund and a seminarian, Mr. Clark Reike. Mr. Brian Droulet has moved into Rev. Phil Farnham's old position in San Francisco. Mr. Arthur Bradley has begun work in Peoria, Illinois. In the very near future we will add staff persons in Indianapolis and Cleveland.

On pages two and three you will find a report concerning meetings that were held in Texas, South Dakota, and Maine. It is possible that there will be applica­ tions made for new field staff assignments in these states. Local development, as we have indicated on many other occasions, is the first and most important aspect of our work as a National Committee. To the extent that we are a grass roots movement, our viability as a national organization will remain credible and strong.

DENOMINATIONAL RESOURCES FOR DRAFT COUNSELING Several denominations offer resources for persons interested in, or involved in, providing draft counseling services. Inquries requesting advice, resource mater­ ials and, in some cases, financial help should be addressed to the appropriate persons below.

United Presbyterian Church United Church of Christ Rev. L. William Yolton Rev. Russe Claussen Emergency Ministry on Conscience and War Board of Homeland Missions Office of Church and Society 1505 Race Street 830 Witherspoon Building Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 Episcopal Church United Methodist Church Rev. Robert Martin Mr. Clarke Moses Episcopal Church Center Methodist Board of Social Concern 815 Second Avenue 100 Maryland Avenue, NE New York, New York 10010 Washington, DC Church of the Brethern Disciples of Christ Mr. Wilbur Mullen Rev. Robert Fangmeier 1451 Dundee 222 South Downey Avenue Elgin, Illinois Indianapolis, Indiana 46207 ssues Newsletter ot CLERGY AND LAYMEN hllli CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM ions A National Emergency Committee December 4, 1969

^0 ? V

SEASONS GIFTS TO p

On December 17, CALCAV is sponsoring services of celebration and joy in Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, and Seattle. As an expression of our joy and hope, there will be processions to the Canadian border; participants will be bearing money to be used for gifts to American deserters and resisters. The gifts will then be distributed through centers in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.

It is estimated that there are now between 40, 000 and 60, 000 of these American emigrants in Canada. The Toronto Anti-Draft Programme recently reported that during the summer, they averaged 30 to 40 new men a day. Many of these men come with little cash and few clothes, and they often face many weeks without work.

We have all raised our voices in condemning the Vietnam war as unjust, mistaken, and immoral. These men have acted in conscience against that war. Having raised up men of conscience, we cannot abandon them now to loneliness and need.

Enclosed in this newsletter is a reply envelope addressed to Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, or Seattle. The purpose of the envelope is for you to send cash, checks, or money orders for Chanukah or Christmas gifts for deserters and resisters. Help these men of conscience have a happy holiday. The success of this program will depend on your dollars. The money should be sent as soon as possible to ensure that it is received before December 17.

O U) •2-

APOLOGY! In our last newsletter (November 6), which went to press just before Mr. Nixon's impossible speech of November 3, we tried to assume in our opening appeal for funds that the Nixon administration would see some gain in de- escalating the war in some specific way. His speech offered nothing new, and thus our newsletter must have sounded to you, our readers, way out of touch ! Rather than throw the whole newsletter into the wastebasket--at a considerable expense--we mailed it out anyway and offer this apology for our mistaken judgement. Your long suffering for that kind of misplaced optimism is appreciated.

THE DRAFT AS A TOOL FOR REPRESSION The coal industry is one of the major industries in Kentucky. One method used is strip mining--a method which strips the top off a mountain to lay bare the upper seam of rich coal. This method pushes earth, boulders, and trees down mountainsides, burying homes and gardens, polluting streams, and devastating the area. Joe Mulloy, a native of Kentucky, was one of the organizers of a group opposed to strip mining. In one confrontation, Joe and others stood in front of a bulldozer that was about to mine the land above a home in the area. After a month of confrontations, the governor suspended the operator's permit and ordered a halt to the mining. The operators reacted. Mulloy's home was raided by a sheriff's posse, and books and papers were taken. Joe was charged with sedition--advocating violent overthrow of the government. The next month, a panel of federal judges found the state sedition law unconstitutional.

The next tool to stop Joe was the draft. On the day after the sedition law was thrown out, his draft board issued an induction order. Joe was on vacation when the order reached his home. During his vacation, unaware of the order, Joe filed form 150--requesting to be classified as a consci­ entious objector. The board refused to open his case and consider his request. This denied him any appeal. Joe then received another induction order, which, out of conscienc e, he refused. He was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison and $10, 000 fine (the maximum sentence).

Walter Collins, a 24 year-old black man from Louisiana, has been involved in the civil rights movement since 1963. He has also been very active in the peace movement. The New Orleans draft board has hassled him since 1967. Although he was a graduate student, he was classified 1-A (six months before the ruling disallowing graduate deferments). His letter asking for appeal has mysteriously disappeared from his file. He also has (continued on page 3) -3- been told that since he would be given a student deferment, he need not apply for a C. O. (the classification he believes he should have). When Walter went back to Michigan, where he was a graduate student, he found an induction order with a date that had passed. He went back to New Orleans and complained that the order had not been forwarded and that he had been given misinformation about the conscientious objector status. The clerk said it was too late then to apply for the C. O.

He reported twice at the induction center, and was turned away because he was wearing anti-war buttons. The clerk then gave Walter a C. O. application on orders from her superiors, but told him it would do no good, and gave him his third induction order. The fourth time he went to the induction center, he was slandered with racial slurs by the medical officer, and told to wait. After three hours of waiting, he left. He was arrested a month later. He was sentenced on six counts of refusing induction and sentenced to 25 years, to be served concurrently, and fined $2, 000.

Both men are asking the Supreme Court to hear their cases. You can help by writing to your congressmen and senators and to the President, asking for an end to political repression and for amnesty for these two men. For further information, contact this office or the Southern Conference Education Fund, 3210 W. Broadway, Louisville, Kentucky, 40211.

STUDY OF MILITARY CHAPLAINCY During the second week in December, in New York City, there will be a consultation examining the question of military chaplains and their role regarding the war in Vietnam, the rights of conscience, and the integrity of religion. This consultation will include several former chaplains, Dr. Harvey Cox of the Harvard Divinity School, Dr. Gordon Zahn, who has written a book on the military chaplaincy in the Royal Air Force (R. A. F. ), plus a few other persons who have had experience with the military chaplaincy question. This consultation will at least lead to some kind of report, if not a book, on the subject. We'll keep you posted as plans develop. We would invite our readers to send to our national office any articles or other information you have that you think might be useful in a study of the military chaplaincy.

BOOK SALE

The books listed on the next two pages were purchased by CALCAV for sale in two Washington, D. C. churches which acted as reception centers during the November 13-15 "March Against Death. " Most of these titles do not appear on our literature list, and our limited facilities prohibit stocking them all on a regular basis. They are offered here, therefore, on a one-time-only basis, in time for Christmas/Chanukah gift-giving. In order to clear our stock as rapidly as possible, we are offering a 10% DISCOUNT ON ORDERS OF $10. 00 OR MORE. Orders intended for holiday giving should reach our office no later than December 12, 1969. -4-

SPECIAL BOOK SALE

Peace in Vietnam: A New Approach in Southeast Asia. Quan. Amt. New York: Hill and Wang, 1967. each $1.25 American Power and the New Mandarins. Noam Chomsky. New York: Vintage. each $2.45 The Nonviolent Cross. James Douglass. New York: Macmillan, 1968. (Hard cover) each $6. 95 Protest, Pacifism, and Politics. James Finn. New York: Vintage, 1967. each $2.45 Whither Latin America? Carlos Fuentes, et al. New fork: Monthly Review Press. each $1. 75

The Great Fear in Latin America. J. Gerassi. New York: Macmillan. each $1.50

The Free World Colossus: A Critique of American Foreign Policy in the Cold War. David Horowitz. New York: Hill and Wang, 1965. each $2.45

Ho Chi Minh: A Political Biography. Jean Lacouture. New York: Vintage, 1968. each $1. 95

The Futile Crusade. Sidney Lens. Chicago: Quadrangle Press, 1964. each $5.00

The New Radicalism in America. Sidney Lens. New York: Apollo, 1966. each $2.45

Thailand: The War That Is, The War That Will Be. Louis Lomax. New York: Vintage, 1967. each $1. 95

Total this page The Intellectual Origins of American Radicalism. Quan. Amt. Staughton Lynd. New York: Vintage, 1968. each $1. 65

Gandhi on Nonviolence. Ed., and with introduction by, Thomas Merton. New York: New Directions. each $1. 50

Containment and Change. Carl Oglesby and Richard Shaull. New York: Macmillan, 1967. each $1. 45 American Militarism 1970. from Progressive. New"York: Viking Compass, 1969. each $ .95

The Village of Ben Sue. Jonathan Schell. New York: Vintage, 1967> each $1. 65

The Military Half. Jonathan Schell. New York: Vintage, 1968. each $1. 65 Trip to Hanoi. Susan Sontag. New York: Noonday Press, 1969. each $1. 45

The Military Establishment. John Swomley. Boston: Beacon Press, 1964. each $6.00

The Rising American Empire. R. W. Van Alstyne. Chicago: Quadrangle. each $2.45 Total

MINUS 10% discount if total was $10. 00 or more PLUS $ . 35 if you wish this order sent "Special Handling" PLEASE REMIT EXACTLY THIS AMOUNT WITH ORDER and send to Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive, New York, New York 10027

Orders without pre-payment must be returned unfilled.

NAME

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-6- WINDSOR CONSULTATION

According to the major help centers in Canada, there are between forty and sixty thousand draft age Americans in Canada. Most of these men (and in many cases their wives) have applied for Landed Immigrant Status which means that they intend to become Canadian citizens. Obviously, these men need help in the process of moving into a new country.

When young men arrive in Canada they usually have very little money, know no one in a strange country, have no idea of how to get a job, have no place to stay, and are lonely and scared in trying to work through all the ambiguities of leaving the United States. Once their immediate needs are met, the process of immigration and the problem of acculturation present themselves. Approximately twenty groups in Canada, on very low budgets, have tried to respond to these problems. Some organizations, such as in Toronto and Ottawa, do this very well and efficiently.

Through CALCAV initiative, the Canadian Council of Churches and the National Council of Churches sponsored a consultation on pastoral care of U.S. draft-age emigrants to Canada. It was held in Windsor, Ontario, on December 2. The meeting included representatives of the Canadian religious community, the U. S. religious community, and the resisters and deserters who are living in Canada.

Those present at the consultation worked towards defining the needs of these young men and outlined general goals. Hopefully, a ministry to these men will be created.

A resolution and report from the Windsor meeting has been presented to the General Assembly of the National Council of Churches, which is meeting in Detroit this week. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM Actions A National Emergency Committee January 26, 1970

WffllEffiffil HIP'S &.TT With the Vietnam Moratorium and the New Mobilization activities over two months now, it is clear--if it was ever in doubt to begin with--that the Nixon policy of gradual troop withdrawals is one which is predicated to keep the peace movement quiet and the war going. It is clear that Mr. Nixon has succeeded--if we are to believe either the Gallup or the Harris polls--in quieting down the great uproar that took this nation in the early and late fall. For many, the time for activities which have not been done is long since past. Most of us, as we look at the last several years, know that we have done about everything a body politic can do, from leafleting to resistance. A question which presently confronts us~-both as individuals and as a body of corporate people concerned with the immorality of the war--is whether the atrocity which the war represents is still enough in our conscience to stimulate a new counter attack against the abortive policy which our government seems intent and determined to carry on against the Vietnames people. The road ahead is not one which will be easy. For many of us, we have traveled it before, and the burden that we now feel in terms of repetition and possible boredom with this whole mess grates hard upon our hearts. However, we need to remember that change never comes without struggle, and that what we're about today is not simply an end to the war in Vietnam, but a struggle against American imperialism and economic exploitation in just about every corner of the world. We need not get weary, because our brothers around the world, be they black, yellow, brown, or in some instances white, are, hundreds of thousands of them, at work at the same task: the struggle of all men to be free. It seems to us that as the winter months move into the spring, we need to continue to organize against the war in Vietnam as we look in a tangential way at all those other forces which have made this war possible and which basically have not been altered. The task now is not only to end the war in Vietnam or to change the course of American foreign policy in Southeast Asia--much more than that is called for. To be specific, it is our task to enter into a conscious struggle with persons around the world who are laboring in different ways and with different means to set themselves free. Our nation, as one of the major powers, is looked on in many parts of the world with anger and even hatred. Our task is to join those who are angry and who hate the corporate power which the United States presently represents, and to attempt, in our struggle, to liberate not only black and brown and yellow men in every corner of the world, but more importantly, to:help liberate our own nation from its reactionary and exploitive policies. We will surely still see the war in Vietnam as the most fundamental issue to be grappled with, but it is only a symptom of a deeper malady which is at work in our nation. The war provides an organizing tool for issues which are far deeper than the war and will remain beyond the war itself. We believe that Bill Coffin was right when he wrote, almost four years ago, "While it is a question still whether churches and synagogues will oppose the war in Vietnam, that they can make a difference is not. ' ffiJE2ElD©WSEffl]$ TT© ©ES11TI1S ^W© ffiKSISTffiMS

CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH GIFTS--Over ten thousand dollars was raised from our mailing list for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts for deserters and resisters in Canada. Checks for five hundred dollars were given to aid centers in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. The remaining funds will be distributed by the Canadian Council of Churches. The money was given in connection with services of joy and celebration held in Boston, Detroit, Buffalo, and Seattle. In Buffalo and Detroit, parents of deserters crossed the bridge into Canada and met their sons. WINDSOR CONSULTATION--Through CALCAV initiative, a meeting was held in Windsor, Ontario on December 3 with a delegation from the National Council of Churches and other American religious leaders, a delegation from the Canadian Council of Churches and other Canadian religious leaders, and deserters and resisters. The purpose of the meeting was to discover the needs of these men and how these needs can be met. The National Council of Churches, meeting in Detroit that week, passed five guidelines in response to reports from the Windsor Consultation. The guidelines are that the National Council of Churches: 1) requests the Canadian Council of Churches to initiate the formation of a coordinating body to evaluate the need for pastoral services among American refugees to receive and review project proposals from local groups, and to accept and disperse funds for the support of approved projects; 2) urges its member communions and related agencies to provide substantial support for such services through a Canadian coordinating body; 3) commends to the member communions of the National Council of Churches and related agencies the need for interpretation and pastoral care to the parents and families of the refugees; 4) requests the World Council of Churches to study the needs of these American refugees in Canada and to consider supporting the Canadian churches in this pastoral ministry; 5) requests the appropriate bodies within member communions to make special efforts to bring to the attention of the military chaplains the special needs and circumstances of those who report indignities, violations of due process, or civil rights, or who are struggling with problems of conscience arising from the war. The Nat i onal Council of Churches and other religious bodies are now developing ministries to respond to these guidelines.

FATHER THOMAS HAYES--Father Thomas Hayes, who was minister to the deserters in Sweden under CALCAV's auspices, has returned after a successful ten months. The organization's responsibility to the deserter community in Sweden has certainly not ended. CALCAV will continue to respond. In a press conference in New York, Father Hayes said, "They're making it. The deserters are creating a life for themselves. " To support this contention, he referred to a press conference held in Stockholm by a Swedish social worker, Mrs. Kristina Nyström, who works with the U.S. deserters. Mrs. Nyström reported that 400 deserters have applied or refuge in Sweden and for Swedish citizenship. Three hundred and fifty have been accepted. Only 15 have been rejected. The other cases are pending, or the young men have withdrawn their applications. Mrs. Nystrom also stated that she had contacted 294 deserters. Of that number, 104 are working, 103 are in Swedish language classes, 7 are in folk high schools (preparatory schools for university work), 9 are in the adult gymnasium (adult high school), 6 are in training schools, 16 are in the University of Stockholm, and 14 are in education courses at Osterbybruck.

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SONG MY

Our national committee is in the process of discussing with several lawyers from New York Ci t y specific kinds of activities and actions we can take with respect to the massacre of Song My in Vietnam. In our next newsletter, we will have more information and a specific program outlined.

LENT, EASTER, PASSOVER

In our national steering committee meeting on January 13, we decided that a number of actions should be developed around the Christian and Jewish holy season this coming spring, beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 11, and concluding with Passover, April 28. You will be receiving a program for local action as well as a national focus for action during this season. > uoAuny w aijBVN S^UBg aaiaAB-| siNvnnsNoa XN3WMOI3A3>\ UOSIBAA m»yi 'w ajopas o laeqatvv jyy *~ 8"!II!>PS piABQ in uosuqof AA ajopoam iyy SJ.NVJLSISSV 3All¥»lSN»Vav Jauj||i)| pjBqjja Aajj uapa^s uj/otppojs saABH aal SBUioqi Aay S31VIDOSSV «VIS zapuEujaj JJ pjBqDiy Aay «OU3WQ uj;xafv M3A/ aj ejuej alid//oo s.ui/o/ )S £Z00t AN '^JOA MaN iMpnaij-aaiA 'uouutqs d *aiui| JQ

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MJULITAKY cm^jpiLAirMCY iMjFeKMATiiomr Our national committee is in the process of putting together a book on the military chaplaincy. We have had some serious questions about how well military chaplains have responded to young men who have reported violations of due process, and to young men who have been wrestling with the question of conscience.due to the war in Vietnam. Some GI's have testified that chaplains seem to be the greatest proponent of the war in Vietnam, and so it becomes impossible for them to talk to them about their questions. We are most inter- ested in obtaining any information along these lines which you, our constituents, can send to this office. The publication date for the volume will probably be late fall. (Any information that you care to send to this office should be addressed to Mr. David Schilling, in our national office.) ffiOOK <Ö)W (EH ffiMMTTS

Random House has agreed to publish a book on the rights of conscience of GI's within the military. The book, which is written under the auspices of CALCAV, is being edited by James Finn, Director of Publications for the Council of Religion and International Affairs. The publication date is expected to be earlv fall. J

The book will include a discussion of the uniform code of military justice, the influence of the command on individual cases, the psychological effect of military life, and other aspects of the question. Several personal accounts will also be included. Howard Levy, Peter Born, Leonard Boudiné, Edward Sherman, Roger Priest and others will be writing chapters for the volume. Fear of a Bloodbath

by Tran Van Dinh

The possibility of a "bloodbath'" in South Vietnam if US troops were to on life and take killing very lightly"; the second is that reprisals are the swiftly withdraw has been worrying both "hawks" and "doves." But the monopoly of the Communists, whereas anti-Communists are less vengeful. Vietnamese likely to be the most affected by a change of regime in Saigon, The first is easily dispelled by a reading of Western history: the religious or by a Communist take-over—the wealthy and powerful—do not talk much wars, the Inquisition, the lynchings, the World Wars, the American Indian about it: they have been getting ready ever since the Tet offensive of 1968, and Civil Wars, Hitler's "final settlement." Anyone who has spent time in which brought the war into their cities and their air-conditioned living rooms. Vietnam realizes that the peasant esteems life very highly. The Oriental is A quiet exodus began, mostly to France. The price of exodus is not cheap. no more brutal, no more casual about death than is the Occidental, irre­ An exit visa costs as much as S5000; a "certificate of French citizenship" spective of politics. Since 1945, Vietnam has gone through a revolution costs about S2000: illegal border crossings into Cambodia cost anywhere and revolutions are always bloody, but the blood is on all hands. Mr. Kis­ from S800 to S4Ü00. singer recognized this when he wrote: "It is beyond imagination that parties Money has been deposited in European banks. According to Allessandro that have been murdering and betraying each other for 25 years could work Cassella of Die Wettwoche of Zurich a total of between $1.5 and S2 billion together as a team giving joint instructions to the entire country." The has left Vietnam in this way. According to the same journalist. President French, whom the US helped to fight against the Viet Minh during the first Nguyen Van Thieu has found a home for his children in Rome (where his Indochinese War, murdered a large number of Vietnamese nationalists and brother is ambassadorl. and his wife has just purchased a house in Europe. Communists alike, in both the North and the South. In November, 1945, He estimates that of 1600 Vietnamese who are legally leaving this country- French artillery fire and air bombardment killed 6000 fleeing Vietnamese each month, half do not return, which means that approximately 10,000 have civilians at Haiphong. The brief Japanese occupation of Vietnam was also emigrated since the negotiations started in Paris. My own estimates are a bloody. bit higher. Those who cannot afford or who do not wish to leave, have gone Many Americans believe that the Vietnamese Catholics will be the sure through a well-planned process of accommodation with the "other side." victims of future reprisals. Thus, President Nixon in his address on Novem­ an accommodation that reaches the highest echelons of the government. ber 3 mentioned the "million-and-a-half Catholic refugees who fled to South Huynh Van Trong, special assistant to President Thieu, was arrested in Vietnam when the Communists took over the North." The President's sta­ July this year with 42 others on charges of having contacts with the Vietcong. tistics were inflated. According to Vietnam Past and Present published in They were scheduled for trial November 28. On the provincial level, as Henry Saigon in 1956 under the patronage of the South Vietnam Department of A. Kissinger has noted, "tacit accommodations are not unusual in many Education and the National Commission for UNESCO (p.374) and written areas such as the Mekong Delta" (Foreign Affairs. January 1969). One by Mr. Thai Van Kiem, a Vietnamese diplomat and scholar, the total num­ wonders who will be left among the prospective victims. ber of refugees was: 887,895 of whom 85 percent or 754,710 were Catholics. The here-and-now bloodbath is real, however. For the majority of Viet­ Also, some 100,000 Vietnamese left the South for the North in 1954, several namese, poor peasants in the defoliated countryside and destitute workers thousands of whom were Catholic. There are now about 800.000 Catholics in the city slums, it is what they have been witnessing a long time: the search in North Vietnam. There are Catholics in the leadership of the National Lib­ and destroy missions; the "free zone" strikes; the B52 saturation bombings; eration Front. Those who predict the wholesale murder of Catholics by the Phoenix operation (which from December 1967 to December 1968 killed Communists sound more Catholic (and more anti-Communist) than the most 18,393 civilian Vietcong cadres); the Song My ("Pinkville') type of breakfast anti-Communist Catholic leader in South Vietnam, Father Hoang Quynh. massacre in which an American infantry unit allegedly shot down some During the First Indochinese War, Father Hoang Quynh led a guerrilla army hundreds of men, women and children in a captured village in the early against the Viet Minh, and in 1954. he moved south with his faithful. Re­ morning of March 16, 1968; the atrocities regularly described in national cently, he said: "If the Communists come, we will try and live and adapt magazines (Esquire. Look. The New Yorker). To talk about a future here." (Newsweek November 24, 1969) in the last three years, he has worked massacre against this present background is ironic, to say the least. out a close relationship with Venerable Thich Tri Quang, the militant Bud­ For me, a Vietnamese, to discuss this problem is to admit the US has a dhist leader whom some in the US consider pro-Communist. Father Hoang role to play in the internal affairs of Vietnam after the war. I ask myself if Quynh knows very well that security lies in close association with your own earlier Americans would have been impressed by the reprisal argument, if people, not with a foreign army. In a communique on January 8, 1968, the it had been raised by the British before they left American shores after the Conference of Bishops in Vietnam appealed to "the goodwill of the govern­ War of Independence? Would it have carried much weight if, during the ment of both South and North Vietnam to build peace together: in the name Civil War. a European country had intervened on behalf of either the North of the Lord, we cry Stop." In early November this year, 93 prominent Viet­ or the South, and then refused to leave on the grounds that withdrawal namese Catholics from France, West Germany, Canada and in Vietnam would leave the people of the North (or the South) at the mercy of ag­ called for the immediate withdrawal of US troops. Among the signers of this gressors? appeal was Colonel Nguyen Van Chau, for several years (1957-1962) Di­ Nonetheless, the question needs to be discussed, if only because it is rector of Psychological Warfare of the ARVN (Army of the Republic of raised by many Americans whose compassion for the Vietnamese people South Vietnam). (The colonel recently sent a letter supporting the October and whose opposition to the war I do not doubt. But in doing so, we must and November Moratoriums in the US.) examine two underlying myths: the first is that the "Orientals put little value In recent months Saigon has given wide publicity to "mass executions and mass graves" in Hue, digging up bodies for the press and photographers. Yet, Colonel Ton That Khien, chief of Quang Ngai province ("Pinkville), Mr. Tran Van Dinh's last post in the South Vietnamese diplomatic service where the March 16, 1968 massacre of Vietnamese women and children took was that of Charge d'affaires in Washington in 1963. In I960 he was a mem­ place, refused to dig up the bodies of the victims, saying that "they are old ber of the South Vietnamese Cabinet, holding the portfolio of Director bodies" (Evening Star, November 17, 1969). Why are the Hue bodies new and General of Information, and was also a member of the National Security the Quang Ngai old, when they were buried at the same time? President Council. This article appeared originally in The New Republic, December 6, Nixon said: "We saw the prelude of what would happen in South Vietnam 1969. when the Communists entered the city of Hue last year. During their brief rule there, there was a bloody reign of terror in which 3000 civilians were Anti-American feelings in the South have risen since the Paris talks. The clubbed, shot to death and buried in mass graves." I was touched by the "Vietnamization" program has brought into positions of command young President's mention of Hue. my home town. The 1968 Tet offensive took ARVN officers, who, unlike the generals, have never been associated with two victims in my own family: my younger brother, a noncommissioned of­ the French army. They are products of the South Vietnamese military ficer in the ARVN and a published poet, and my nephew. They were both schools since 1954. They are now part of an anti-Communist army, but they killed not by the Vietcong but by American bombings. They were buried in are not anti-nationalist; they know what is going on among their leaders, a temporary grave for the reason that Hue was under siege; nobody could the corruption and the ineffectiveness. I know of several cases where of­ get out of the area to buy a coffin for decent burial. The first news I received ficers of the ARVN have been demoted because of their close connection from an official Saigon source was that my relatives were killed by the Viet­ with their American advisers. General Ky himself has tried to exploit this cong. Only much later, when I got word from my own family, did I learn that anti-American sentiment among young officers. More than once, he has they had been killed by the bombings. What happened in Hue is told in an said that if he had to choose again, he "would be on the side of Ho Chi account that appeared in The Christian Century of November 5, 1969.* The Minh." The young majors and captains do not have money in foreign banks, author. Len E. Ackland, now a graduate student at the Johns Hopkins School they are not going to leave en masse after the Americans go home. But to of Advanced International Studies, worked and lived in Hue in 1967. He stay with their people, they either have to find the way to accommodate returned there after the Tet offensive of 1968 to interview the people (he with the "other side." or prove by their actions that they are as patriotic as speaks Vietnamese). He wrote: "When on the first day of the attack, about the Vietcong. The best proof might be to fight the US "residual force." In 20 Vietcong entered Gia Hoi (a precinct of 25,000 residents in Hue) in order June of this year, two US military police who had rushed to a bar in response to complaints that a drunken US soldier was making trouble were shot to to secure the area, they carried with them a list of those who were to be death by Colonel Nguyen Viet Can, commander of the Vietnamese airborne killed immediately as 'enemies of the people.' According to Le Ngan. direc­ battalion that guards the Independence Palace. No charge was filed against tor of Hue's special police, the list consisted of five names, all those of of­ the colonel. As Mr. Kissinger again rightly notes: "The Vietnamese people ficers of special police." The Catholic priest in Gia Hoi told him that "none have lived under foreign rule for approximately half of their history. They of his clergy or parishioners were harmed by the NLF." have maintained a remarkable cultural and social cohesion by being finely When the 1968 Tet offensive started. I suggested to an acquaintance of attuned to the realities of power." To many Vietnamese the realities of power mine whom I thought was close to the Saigon policy makers, that Hue should since the Paris talks are shifting. An attack by the ARVN against the US be declared an open city as was Rome during the Second World War, and troops would be the final blow. for the same reasons. Had that been done, the loss in lives, the damage to historical sites and treasures would have been minimized. Instead of which Finally, President Thieu and the US Embassy in Saigon have claimed that the ARVN (which disappeared at the first Vietcong shot) returned in force the pacification program has been going extremely well, that the South Viet­ with the US Marines and planes to "destroy the city in order to save it." namese government controls more than 80 percent of the population. If this Hue authorities never explained why they failed to protect the people. Nor were true, then over a million ARVN troops and US residual forces could did they reveal the number of people killed by American bombings and stage a real bloodbath—against the Vietcong—after the war. artillery. I do not sit in the inner councils of the NLF. I do not know the number of Few know the Vietcong better than Tran Van Dae, a Vietcong colonel Vietnamese who may be victimized once US forces are withdrawn. But I who defected last year. In an interview published by the Joint US Public am not persuaded that a bloodbath would take place if there were no US Affairs Office in Saigon, Jran Van Dae said: "If the Vietcong took over, troops in Vietnam, or if the Vietcong took over. I agree, however, that if they would send military officers and former civil servants to concentra­ only dozens of Vietnamese might be killed in the post-withdrawal period, tion camps to be reeducated, in some cases to hard labor until they become it is the moral duty of the American people and government to find the way submissive. And of course, all those whose social class or former position to protect them. In the past, the Chinese invaders always took along with makes them objects of suspicion would be carefully watched by the author­ them those Vietnamese who cooperated with them, and provided them ities. To me, the people of Vietnam and especially the peasants who have with good jobs in China. The French have also been hospitable to their Viet­ been militarily and politically trained in the last two decades by the revolu­ namese friends. If fears of reprisals are the main concern of the Administra­ tionaries would not be easily terrorized. They are tougher and much more tion, as President Nixon has indicated, then several steps can be taken. sophisticated than their apparent apathy seems to indicate. In 1956, two Adopt Senator Charles E. Goodel's "Vietnam Disengagement Act." This years after the prestigious victory at Dien Bien Phu and the immense popu­ would not only put a limit on the US commitment in Vietnam, but would larity of the late President Ho Chi Minh, the peasants in Nghe An, Ho Chi create "a powerful incentive for that government [of South Vietnam] to Minh's home province, revolted against the excesses of land'reforms. Presi­ mobilize its forces more effectively and to seek the political strength of a dent Ho Chi Minh admitted the mistakes publicly and took over the Secre­ broadened popular base," Thus reducing the chance of wholesale reprisals. tary Generalship of the party to correct them." Support Senator George McGovern's suggestion and provide funds and If the reason for continuing the US military presence in South Vietnam means to resettle, either in continental America or in Hawaii, those Viet­ is to prevent a bloodbath, then the logical thing to aim for, right now. is a namese who wish to leave the country at the departure of the US troops. broad-based Saigon regime that includes Buddhists, whose nonviolent posi­ A bipartisan congressional committee could be formed promptly to prepare tion has been always clear and consistent, the peace-minded generals such evacuation plans. Journalists, politicians and others who have expressed con­ as Duong Van Minh (Big Minh) or Tran Van Don. That would be a negotiat­ cern about a possible bloodbath could be invited to contribute money and ing government. The Thieu-Ky-Khiem regime is not only an obstacle to effort. The US can argue at the Paris talks (or better, at a reconvened Gene­ negotiations, but polarizes the situation among non-Communist elements va Conference) for a period of regroupment exceeding the 300 days stipu­ as well. "Vietnamization," which attempts to consolidate Thieu's regime, lated in the 1954 Geneva Agreements. As a resident of the US, being taxed simply increases the likelihood of reprisals. without being represented, I would suggest that the US should ask its allies Those who fear a Vietcong bloodbath ought to consider other possibil­ to share the burden. Perhaps some Vietnamese would like to settle in Thai­ ities too. What will happen, for example, to thousands of political prisoners land, in the Philippines, in South Korea, in New Zealand. Australia needs (among themTruong Dinh Dzu, the runner-up in the 1967 elections and now manpower, and if Canberra can send troops to fight for the "freedom" of the Vietnamese, the Australian Parliament can change its immigration laws to condemned to five years at hard labor), if there is no negotiated settlement? admit the colored Vietnamese. Judging from many threats directed against the neutralists and the peace- minded by the Saigon regime, they would be liquidated by Thieu and his Give to the International Control Commission (ICC) temporary command friends the day those leaders decided to quit the country. Thieu has already of the last batch of US troops being withdrawn, thus guarding against their launched a campaign against his political opponents, accusing them of being being assaulted by ARVN, NLF or Hanoi forces. Communists. Let the US insist on strengthening machinery to implement Article 14C Or consider this: Senator Cranston (D, California), Newsweek and Time of the 1954 Geneva Accords. 14C said that the parties to the agreement have referred to a Pentagon "contingency plan" to fight the South Vietnam­ undertook "to refrain from any reprisals or discrimination against persons ese Army, should negotiations fail. This is not as absurd as it may seem. or organizations on account of their activities during the hostilities, and to guarantee their democratic liberties." These pledges are accepted in para­ *Reprints of Ackland's article, "Vietnam: The Bloodbath Argument," are available graph C of point 5 of the NLF 10-point program for the settlement of the war. from Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027. Single copies, 15C; ten copies $1.25; one hundred copies $10.00. Only Reprinted, with permission, from The New Republic©l969. Single copies prepaid orders can be accepted. 10

Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027. Tel. 212—749-8518. United States Servicemen's Fund "SUPPORT OUR SOLDIERS" 430 W. 250th P.O. Box 3061 Riverdale, N.Y. 10471 Oakland, Calif. 94609 Telephone (212) 884-3600 Telephone (415) 653-5820

24 January, 1970 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fred Gardner Dear Friends, President The Nixon Administration is escalating its efforts to intimidate and silence the Donna Mickleson anti-war movement. The pattern of repression, consistent with the Nixon-Mitchell Executive Director program to silence the majority, has emerged as State, Federal, and Military authorities Robert Zevin Secretary-Treasurer have moved to close down the anti-war GI coffeehouses. Donald Duncan On November 20, 1969, the Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board initiated Rev. Richard R. Fernandez proceedings to place the Shelter Half Coffeehouse in Tacoma, Washington, "off limits" Dr. Howard Levy Grace Paley to military personnel. The Shelter Half, which is staffed by civilians and GI's from Ft. Mrs. Cora Weiss Lewis, is a meeting place for anti-war GI's. The board took this action after "receiving information which indicated that the

INITIAL SPONSORS Shelter Half Coffeehouse is a source of dissident counseling and literature and other Rev. James Bevel activity inimical to good morale, order and discipline within the Armed Services." It Noam Chomsky has ordered the Shelter Half staff to appear before it on January 22 for a pro-forma Rev. Wm. Sloane Coffin, Jr. hearing "to show cause why it should not be placed Off Limits". David Deilinger Barbara Dane On January 13, four civilian staff members of the UFO Coffeehouse, adjoining Ft Nat Hentoff Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina, were arrested and indicted on eight counts for Paul Lauter operating a public nuisance. Two days later a South Carolina judge issued a temporary Dwight McDonald restraining order against the UFO. The order contends that the UFO is "detrimental to Jack Newfield Msgr. Charles Rice the peace, happiness, lives, safety and good morals of the people of the State of South Benjamin Spock, M.D. Carolina," and that it possesses and distributes certain written materials to encourage soldiers to refuse to obey certain orders of their superior officers and to encourage young men to avoid and refuse to fight for their country." The UFO s door was padlocked and its staff members each face ten years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The November 15th Mobilization in Washington, D.C, was led by over 200 active duty GI's. It is the GI's who are in the forefront of the anti-war movement. We urge civilians to support our GI's in their fight against repression by writing letters opposing the closing of the UFO and the order to place the Shelter Half Off Limits to: Hon. Stanley Resor Secretary of the Army Department of the Army Washington, D.C. And by sending copies to your congressman and senator, and one to us, and by sending checks payable to the "Attorney General's Favorite Defense Committee" to the New York address on this letterhead. Yours in Peace,

Richard R. Fernandez Dr. Howard Levy

Contributions to the United States Servicemen's Fund are deductible for Income Tax purposes. Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM A National Emergency Committee

March 11, 1970

(COMMITTTJEK JFOffi ff>ffiïï$©]BLtEK C

A new organization, The Committee of Liason, came into existence early in January to facilitate communication between American prisoners held in North Vietnam and their next of kin in the United States. On returning from North Vietnam, Mrs. Cora Weiss, long active with Women's Strike for Peace, indicated that the North Vietnamese were very interested in establishing a communications link between prisoners and their relatives. At this writing, the new committee has been able to forward two bundles of mail from North Vietnam to parents and wives here in the United States on separate occasions. With Mr. Ross Perot travelling around the country trying to exploit the highly emotional situation in which wives or parents find themselves, the need for this new committee is quite clear. As a matter of fact, parents or wives who do not know whether their husband or son is alive can write to the Committee of Liason (365 West 42nd Street, N. Y., N. Y. 10036) and ask them to find out whether the North Vietnamese have information on the person involved. One of the problems faced by the Committee is the U. S. government's subtle way of "playing with figures on the whole prisoner issue. In late December, in Paris, the U.S. published a list of more than 1400 Americans believed "missing or held captive" in North Vietnam. The government knew full well which of the persons on the list are known to be prisoners, but did not bother to asterisk these names in the news account. It is our judgment that this helped to play upon the emotionas of American parents who really do not know whether their sons are dead or alive. It is clear from the conversations which Mrs. Weiss and others have had that the North Vietnamese are interested in dealing directly with the American peace movement on this issue and not with the U. S. government, which continues to wage its illegal and immoral war. Finally, it should be clear that the Committee exists to facilitate communication, and not in any sense as a propaganda organ of the peace movement. If you know anyone who is having difficulty communicating with loved ones known to be held in North Vietnam, or if you know persons trying to find out whether their relatives are prisoners at all, you should suggest that they write the Committee of Liason. In addition to Mrs. Weiss, the committee members include Mr. Richard Falk, Princeton University; Mr. David Dellinger; Mrs. Anne Bennett; Professor Franz Sherman, University of Southern California; Miss Barbara Webster; Mr. Richard Barnet; the Rev. Richard Fernandez, and others.

PS— V. I Ill© TET IP

J&ASTMM/TP ASSSttSW MM IF AST C©]WTÏÏiWIÏÏJJE;S Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 11, in cooperation with The Fellowship of Reconciliation, we have sponsored a Fast and Vigil in front of the White House from 9 to 5, seven days a week. At this writing, groups have already come into Washington to participate in the Fast/Vigil from Connecticut, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia, and several other states. We have been encouraged by the participation of persons in the Washington D. C. area who have assisted in this continued anti-war presence outside the Chief Executive's home and offices. We expect the Fast to continue on through at least Easter, and perhaps through the end of the Jewish Passover season on April 28.

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SOME mW : INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY, WAR CRIMES, AND THE LAWS OF WAR

Our National Committee is presently involved with two separate committees which are in the process of putting together specific programs around the question of individual responsibility in time of war. First, on February 12 and 13, with the American Friends Service Committee, we co-sponsored a symposium in Washington, D. C. Twenty-five church and academic leaders discussed the specific and often subtle issues which Song My and other such incidents have raised. Out of this meeting has come a steering committee which is composed of Dr. Robert Lifton, Yale University; Mr. Richard Falk, Princeton University; Dr. Gabriel Kolko, State University in Buffalo, New York; Mr. Stewart Meacham, Peace Education Secretary for the American Friends Service Committee; Mrs. Francine Gray, a writer; and Rev. Richard R. Fernandez, of our own committee. This committee will be involved in several different tasks, and they are putting together a proclamation with respect to individual responsibility in time of war as well as a somewhat longer position paper on this same issue. In addition, in the early spring, there will be a large conference in Washington, D. C. at which persons who have the ability to create and utilize various means of expression--writers, filmmakers, people who work with tapes, etc.--will be thoroughly briefed on the individual responsibility issue. Hopefully, it will develop a whole set of specific tools with which to assist people on a local level to discuss the war crimes issue. Our National Committee has also become involved with the Law Center for Constitutional Rights, in New York City, in several different tasks with respect to individual responsibilities and the laws of war. One of the primary actions we will be cooperating with the Law Center on as part of our concern is the acquisition of affidavits from servicemen and ex-servicemen in the early spring. Specifically, we hope to have lawyers in at least 25 cities make themselves available on three consecutive weekends to be able to take sworn affidavits from servicemen who have seen or participated in activities in Vietnam which they consider to be "possibly criminal. " The purpose is not to point fingers at individual servicemen, but rather to attempt to discern more clearly the overwhelming nature of the war being pursued there and where the responsibility lies in the higher levels of the military.

As plans develop with this and other legal programs, we will keep you posted.

IITTIOIIL 1BJLACK HJEFJEBRJEMeTDJlM The National Black Referendum on Vietnam (NBRV) is an attempt on the part of many national Black religious, social, and political organizations to determine the position of Black American with respect to the war in Vietnam. The referendum will take place between Palm Sunday, March 22, and Easter, March 29, in every Black community in the country. This is a significant effort not only to involve the Black community in the anti-war movement, but also to show the ill-effects of spending tax dollars for Vietnam when they could be used to alleviate the blight of America's ghettoes. NBRV has requested CALCAV*s support, so it is important for our people to help them on the local level whenever possible. For further information, call David Schilling, 212-749-8518. IPOSTiEJ» SULJE

The national office has acquired copies of three posters by Boston Globe cartoonist Paul Michael Szep. Szep is a Canadian-born 28 year old whose cartoons have attracted wide attention in his three-year association with the Globe. His work shows a striking flair for capturing governmental absurdities in a uniquely expressive graphic format. In an introduction to Szep's latest book, Keep Your Left Hand High, Art Buchwald calls him "a brilliant craftsman and artist, as well as a social commentator.

The posters, shown below, are printed in black on 23x23 inch buff stock. They will be shipped postpaid at the following rates: singly, $2. 00 each; any two, $3. 50; any three, $4. 50; four or more at $1. 50 each. Use the order blank at the bottom of this page for convenience.

Number 1, "Alice " Number 2, "Bingo" Number 3, "Dick & Ted"

Please send me the Szep posters in the quantities indicated below. POSTER QU AN. NAME Number 1, "Alice" ADDRESS Number 2, "Bingo" Number 3, "Dick and Ted" zip TOTAL POSTERS ORDERED Please allow three weeks for delivery. REMITTANCE ENCLOSED Make checks payable to: All posters shipped postpaid. Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027 Singly, $2.00 each Any two, 3.50 ONLY PREPAID ORDERS CAN BE ACCEPTED. Any three, 4.50 Four or more, 1. 50 each -5-

TA3C BRJESISTHBTCJE (The following is excerpted from a letter by Michael A. Robinson, one of the founders of Clergy and Laymen Concerned About Vietnam; the letter is addressed to "Director, Internal Revenue Service, Andover, Mass.") Over the years I have voiced my opposition to American involvement in the brutalizing war in Vietnam. The tragedy of Song My epitomizes the moral failure and senseless waste of the war. I know that I am involved. My tax dollars bought the bullets of Song My. I love my country for its dream of a free and just society and for the opportunities our Constitution provides for individual freedom and social change through peaceful means. But to support the war is to violate my conscience and pay for murder. This I cannot do. I find it impossible to maintain my religious commitment to God and man and my dedication to the cause of democracy and, at the same time, pay for the war. I am therefore refusing to pay 20% of my Federal Income Tax, the amount estimated to be the cost of the war in Vietnam, until such time as our government withdraws its forces from that land. I do not want this money for myself. I will accumulate it in a separate account for payment to the government for peaceful purposes after our disengagement from the war in Vietnam. This I believe to be my only moral alternative. This is a difficult step to take. I cannot do otherwise. I hope that other patriotic Americans will join with me in refusing to pay for this war we do not support. --Michael A. Robinson, Rabbi

MimrilSTMY W<Ü>W M1FT -K&JE jEMHKSmAMTTS JESTAJBJLIISHJEiB The Rev. Richard Killmer, a former CALCAV field staff person in Minneapolis and a member of the national staff since last June, has entered upon a new "Emergency Ministry Concerning Draft-Age Emigrants in Canada. " A National Council of Churches program, this new ministry represents a significant step by American churchmen towards taking up responsibility for reconciliation among a war-weary people. More on the details of the ministry in a subsequent issue.

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A CAPTAÏÏWS HJffiTTJffilR TO fflïïS PAM-ffiMTS An Army Captain stationed in Vietnam wrote to his parents, "If you do not want any more My Lais, then get the troops out of Vietnam. " In the letter, part of which was printed in the Bridgeport Post, in Connecticut, on February 17, 1970, Capt. Miller said, "I have participated in many My Lai-type operations, where alot of innocent civilians were killed. I feel guilty, certainly, but I can tell you without reservation that My Lai will continue to occur as long as our government continues to pursue the course of action that it has over the past 25 years. It is not the Lt. Calleys that are at fault. It is our people--our people. They sent us out to fight a war...." "Now I ask, if you and the people of the United States did not want us to do that, why do you provide us with weapons of mass destruction? Logically it follows that you want us to kill, slaughter, brutalize, and mutilate the people. The citizens of the United States are paying about 2 billion dollars per month for that. Isn't it ridiculous?" On February 19, Capt. Miller retracted the letter, He said he was sorry for all the attention the letter won. "it was a boo-boo. ' Miller may have felt some pressure from the military to withdraw the letter!

Bl, KOT<£ FILM SET F<0)ffiî MAffiCK 241 A two and one-half hour documentary entitled "King: A Film Record... Montgomery to Memphis" will be shown in 300 cities on March 24. The money raised will go to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC. ) It is hoped that 5 million dollars will be raised. Several members of our steering committee saw a partial screening a few months ago, and we hope that all of our constituents will see it. Dr. King was a co-chairman of our committee and was the Director of SCLC.

WWKILM STAFF ODHBTF.fflffiJfflBHCJfl CALCAV is holding a field staff conference on March 13-15 at High Point in Clinton, Michigan. Field staff, representatives of local steering committees, and national office staff will meet in order to plan local and national program priorities of the organization for the coming year. FACT SHEET ON THE VIETNAM WAR THE PAST YEAR: AN OVERVIEW April 15, 1970 "/ think history will record that this may have been one of America's finest hours, because we took a diffi­ cult task and we succeeded."

Richard Nixon spoke these words in Saigon, July, 1969, while reaffirming his continuing support for the Thieu-Ky regime. Two years after Lyndon Johnson's dramatic, but empty, gestures toward peace the war drags on, its scale matched only by the expansive rhetoric used to justify it. It has become more than evident CASUALTIES NLF and that the Nixon Administration is North selling the old Johnson "win" policy United States South Vietnam "Allied" Vietnam under a new name—Vietnamization. Year Killed Wounded Killed Wounded Killed Killed The latter is "the process of gradu- TTTZ —— ally transferring combat responsi- iyou z'zli ( > D'DDy bilities from U.S. to South Viet- 1961 11 3 4,004 8,000 12,133 namese troops as American units 1962 31 78 4,457 7,300 — 21,158 are gradually withdrawn from Viet- 1963 78 411 5,665 12,000 — 20,575 nam." The policy has not, thus far, 1964 147 1039 7457 16J00 1 16785 worked well. In 1969, Nixon s first in,c i ^n c 11 A ,n„ Oo <-<•? oi „<« year in office, 9,414 Americans died 1965 1'369 6'114 U>243 23>665 31 35'436 in combat, more than in 1967, the 1966 5,008 28,614 11,953 20,975 566 55,524 year that brought heavy criticism to 1967 9,378 52,969 12,716 29,448 1,105 88,104 the Johnson war policy. George C. 1968 14,592 92,820 27,915 70,696 979 181,149 Wilson, Washington Post columnist, 1969 9>414 702i6 21,758 65,034 866 156,594 observed that "Ironically, a spot J9 { 246 2Q011 (8) (8) 194 24,934 check of newspaper coverage in —'. : l_i U : those two years shows that the Viet- 41,2741 272,281 109,391 253,8182 3,742 618,061 nam battlefield news practically dis­ appeared from the front page in * As °f April 4, 1970. 1969 as compared to 1967." The l Does not include 7,750 accidental deaths, which raises total U.S. dead in Vietnam air war continues over South Viet- to 49,024. nam, U.S. planes dropping a monthly 2 figUre represents the total of "seriously wounded" only for the period January 1, average of almost 100,000 tons of 7960 through December 31, 1969. exposives. In the ground war revela- , n mt available_ tions ot Song-My style massacres (with Army officials covering up and/or excusing them with a myriad of military cliches) cast a grisly shadow of shame over our 'finest hour.' Now the reality of a spreading war in Laos and Cambodia has come to light, with American "logistical" troops and air support playing large roles in both countries. The tempo of the war has not changed. U.S. and ARVN forces have been under orders to continue "maximum pressure" on the enemy, a policy now BOMB TONNAGE euphemized as "protective reaction." Throughout the summer and fall of 1969 this pressure DROPPED ON VIETNAM was kept UP despite an unmistakable de-escalation by North Vietnamese and N.L.F. forces, beginning in June. In July casualties fell to their lowest 1969 level. The lull was widely Period Tons of Bombs acknowledged by the Pentagon and although it continued into August, no U.S. reciprocation j965 315 goo was forthcoming. One Army officer of the Ninth Infantry Division stated that "If anything, iq/r/- SlVnnn we're pushing harder than before." In mid-August responding to constant military pressure, ' the enemy launched a counter-offensive which lasted two weeks. Then, in September, the 1967 — 932,763 iuu resumed, and continued into November. During October the lowest U.S. casualty total 1968 1,431,654 since 1966 was recorded. Still there was no change in U.S. policy. One general said there 1969 1 186 047 nad been no change in orders, that his aims were to inflict "maximum enemy casualties"; 1 97Q 117 g7r during October, his statistics revealed that of 58 engagements, only four were enemy-initiated. • If there has been a tactical change in the war, it is toward more reliance on machines and 4,495,139 firepower, with an emphasis on keeping U.S. casualties down to "acceptable" levels. In December, Secretary of State Rogers announced that North Vietnamese infiltration had de­ creased in 1969 by 60% from 1968 levels. This de-escalation has had no effect on policy, either on the battlefield or in Paris. Nixon has yet to appoint a top-level negotiator to replace Ambassador Lodge, who resigned last November 21. It is obvious that the President still believes in and pursues a military solution in Vietnam, just as Lyndon Johnson did before him. "Speaking for peace or in any other way opposing the government [in South Vietnam} easily brings the charge of Communist sympathy and subsequent arrest . . . There must be no illusion that this climate of religious and political suppression is compatible with either a representative or a stable government." The above statement was cabled directly to President Nixon by the U.S. Study Team on Religious and Political Freedom in Vietnam during their stay in Vietnam in May-June, 1969. It is no secret that Thieu and Ky remain in power by imprison­ ing vast numbers of their political opponents. A senior American advisor told the Study Team that over 45,000 prisoners are incarcerated. An estimate from the Saigon Daily News put the figure at 100,000. Regardless of the exact numbers, the fact is that anyone who openly advocates peace, negotiations, neutrality, etc. is subject to arrest, torture, and banishment to the dark cells of the prison. The recent conviction (by military tribunal) of Assembly deputy Chau is only the latest ex­ ample of the totalitarian practices of the Thieu regime. CHRONOLOGY "// there is anything that makes my blood boil it is to see to train Vietnamese solders," as well as aircraft and our allies in Indochina and Java deploying Japanese troops other equipment. By the end of the year over 3100 to reconquer the little people we promised to liberate. It is American advisors are stationed in Vietnam. (By the most ignoble kind of betrayal." contrast, Senate Majority Leader Mansfield reports —General Douglas Mac A rthur that in 1965—3 years later—"only about 400 North after World War II. Vietnamese soldiers were among the enemy forces 1945- Democratic Republic of Vietnam proclaimed from in the South.") Hanoi by Ho Chi Minh. Struggle of the Vietminh 1962- The U.S. increases its aid to the Diem regime, set­ against Japanese occupation of Indochina during ting up the "U.S. Military Assistance Command, World War II had been aided by the U.S. British Vietnam" under four-star General Paul Harkins, forces help the French colonial powers regain a and raising the number of MAAG advisors. South tenuous control over Indochina, refusing to deal Vietnam's National Assembly extends its term of with the Vietminh. office by one year, and several months later extends 1946- March 6 Agreement, signed by the French and Ho Diem's power to rule by decree for another year. Chi Minh, recognizes Vietnam as "free state" 1963- Buddhist demonstrations against the discrimination within the French Union. France, disregarding the of the predominantly Roman Catholic Diem re­ spirit of the agreement, establishes customs office gime are put down bloodily by government troops in Haiphong. After a few minor incidents, France and national policy in Hue and Saigon. Between calls in its fleet, and without warning fires on the June and October, seven Buddhist monks die in open port (estimates of Vietnamese dead range protest by setting themselves afire with gasoline. In from 8,000 to 40,000.) The Vietminh attacks the November Diem is overthrown in a military coup. colonial government all through Indochina in re­ (10 successive governments assume power during sponse to the Haiphong attack, and the French- the next 18 months, the majority of them military Indochinese War begins. juntas, including that established by air-marshal 1948- Bao Dia, former emperor of Vietnam is installed by Nguyen Cao Ky in June, 1965.) France as chief of state of Vietnam in Saigon. 1964- Congress in August passes "Gulf of Tonkin" Reso­ 1950- U.S. agrees to help France finance war against the lution after two U.S. destroyers are allegedly Vietminh. (Between 1950 and 1954, $2.6 billion attacked by North Vietnamese torpedo boats. (Sub­ in military and economic aid—80% of the cost of sequent testimony before the Senate Foreign Rela­ the war—is sent to the French in Vietnam.) tions Committee disclosed that neither craft suffered damage, and that some crewmen were not at all 1954- French defeated at Dien Bien Phu. Geneva Agree­ sure they were being "attacked"!) The resolution ments signed, dividing Vietnam into two "zones" empowers the President to "repel any armed attack pending elections which are to be held no later against the forces of the United States and to pre­ than July 1956. President Eisenhower pledges vent further aggression." This resolution cited by direct economic aid to the government of Bao Dai. President Johnson as the basis for further increase 860,000 Vietnamese, mostly Roman Catholic, cross of American involvement, and escalation of the war the "provisional military demarcation line" into the by air attacks against North Vietnam. southern zone. 1965- Regular bombing of North Vietnam begins in Feb­ 1955- Bao Dai deposed and Ngo Dinh Diem becomes ruary. Secretary General U Thant's proposal in president of "Republic of Vietnam." U.S. assumes March for a preliminary conference on Vietnam is the training of the army of Diem's regime, taking rejected the next day by the United States. The U.S. over from the French. Preliminary talks to set up provides the South Vietnamese army with gases, the elections required by the Geneva Agreements and commits its 23,000 advisors to combat in June. are scheduled to begin on July 20. They are rejected By the year's end, over 160,000 additional combat by Diem and the U.S. closes its consulate in Hanoi. troops are brought to Vietnam, and the U.S. loses 1956- Uprising of Cao Dai sect is put down by Diem after 351 planes and helicopters. he agrees to legalize its religious practices. Diem 1966- Military targets in the Hanoi-Haiphong area are refuses to allow the elections called for in the bombed in an effort to stop growing movement of Geneva Agreements to take place. In spite of this, men and supplies across the demilitarized zone. U.S. aid continues to Saigon. (On the effect of the bombing, Secretary of Defense 1958 Guerilla activity increases in response to Diem's per­ McNamara was to say in 1967: "I don't believe 60 secution. The guerilla forces are made up in part of that the bombing up to the present has significantly former Vietminh members who remained in the reduced, nor any bombing that I could contemplate southern zones, and in part of other groups which in the future, would significantly reduce the actual feel the weight of Diem's oppression. U.S. direct flow of men and material to the South.") U.S. com­ aid also increases. A Michigan State University bat strength increased to over 285,000 men. team trains the national police, and the U.S. Mili­ 1967- The bombing of North Vietnam increases, as our tary Assistance and Advisory Group (MAAG) is troop commitment climbs to almost half a million. increased from 327 to 685 members. In an election rife with charges of fraud, the military 1960- National Liberation Front (NLF) founded by South ticket of Generals Thieu and Ky are elected with Vietnamese nationalists and intellectuals to further 35% of the total vote. (The Assembly had barred resistance to Diem. Diem begins to infiltrate sabo­ 7 sets of candidates and Ky, then Premier, had con­ tage teams into the northern zone. tinued press censorship, declaring that "there are 1961- Radio Hanoi praises the NLF in first public stand parts of a constitution that can be respected right on the crisis in the South. President Kennedy com­ away and there are others that take time.") Amid mits "several hundred specialists in guerilla warfare exclamations that the enemy is "hurting very badly" CHRONOLOGY Continued begin: June 8—25,000; Sept. 16—35,000; Dec. (Dean Rusk), that "we are making steady progress" 15—50,000. Ho Chi Minh dies on Sept. 3. In (Hubert Humphrey), and predictions of "sensa­ September, Thieu appoints military and civil servant tional" military gains (Ambassador Lodge), Sena­ friends to cabinet and shrinks his already narrow tor Claiborne Pell announces that during the bomb­ base of popular support. Ambassador Lodge re­ ing of the north, "we may well have lost equipment signs his post in Paris and Nixon chooses not to worth more than five times the cost of the damage name anyone of comparable stature to carry on the we inflicted." U.S. casualties continue to mount, negotiations there. The Song My massacre comes and authorized American troop strength is in­ to light. Secretary of State Rogers announces a creased to 525,000. 60% decrease in North Vietnamese infiltration 1968- January 30, the NLF launches the Tet (Lunar New during 1969, reducing the total enemy forces level Year) offensive, virtually destroying the "pacifica­ in South Vietnam to 240,000. In 1969 9,414 tion program" and inflicting the heaviest losses of American soldiers died, more than 1967. the war on U.S. troops. (Hue is held for 25 days 1970- The long-postponed Senate Foreign Relations by North Vietnamese and NLF units, Saigon itself Committee hearings on the Vietnam War open in is attacked in strength, and the U.S. embassy is February. The enemy launches his annual Tet entered and held for 6 hours by 19 guerilla fighters.) offensive, aimed primarily at military bases. U.S. General Westmoreland asks for 206,000 more com­ begins disclosures of losses in Laos fighting. AP bat troops : over 20,000 are authorized, to bring the calls B-52 raids over Laos "some of the heaviest total authorized to 549,000. Preliminary peace air raids ever flown in Southeast Asia." South talks between North Vietnam and the United Vietnamese troops carry the war into Cambodia States begin in Paris on May 10, following Presi­ with U.S. air and logistical support. The menacing dent Johnson's March 31 declaration of a limitation spectre of a wider war in Indochina takes on in­ on bombing of North Vietnam. The use of chem­ creasing reality. icals to destroy crop-producing land in South Viet­ TROOP STRENGTHS IN VIETNAM'S nam is increased, and for fiscal 1969 the Air Force SOUTHERN ZONE requests almost double the amount of chemicals which it used in the previous year. General West­ South moreland is replaced by General Creighton Abrams. Year's United Viet­ NLF and A full bombing halt is declared on November 1 as End States namese "Allied" North V ietnamese expanded peace talks are announced. U.S. casual­ 1960 800 274,000 36,000 ties continue to rise as the American command steps 1961 3,200 338,200 — 63,000 up the ground operations in the south. The Wash­ 1962 11,300 467,200 — 79,000 ington Post reports that almost as many U.S. sol­ 1963 16,300 525,800 — 92,000 diers had been killed in 1968 as in the previous 1964 23,300 611,700 500 170,200 ( 2,400 )2 7 years combined. 1965 184,300 691,500 22,400 222,800 (26,500) 1969- Expanded peace talks (including representation 1966 385,300 735,900 52,600 281,900 (48,500) from the Saigon regime and the National Libera­ 1967 485,600 753,000 59,000 303,800 (51,700) tion Front) begin in January and continue through 1968 542,000 800,000 72,000 320,000 (130,000) the year with no results. A minor Tet offensive, 1969 472,000 875,000! 69,000 240,000 (140,000) aimed only at military bases is launched in Febru­ (/) In addition, there are presently 215,000 "para-military" per­ ary. A battlefield lull dominates the rest of the sonnel (i.e. national police, civilian irregulars, and pacification year, interrupted only by occasional 'high points' units as well as regional police). of combat. Nixon unveils Vietnamization plan in (2) Figures in parentheses indicate number of North Vietnamese May 14 speech. Troop withdrawal announcements regulars included in the preceding figure. "Crop destruction constitutes a war measure primarily, if not exclusively, directed at children, the elderly, and pregnant and lactating women. In other words, our point is not that innocent bystanders will be hurt by such measures hut that only bystanders will be hurt. The primary U.S. aim—to disable the Vietcong— will not be achieved and our proclaimed secondary aim—to win over the civilian population—is made a hollow mockery." —Scientists Jean Mayer and Victor W. Sidel "Defoliation" of land in South Vietnam has been used as a DEFOLIATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM weapon in the war since 1962. Since the beginning of the Acreage Treated With program, known as "Operation Ranch-Hand," the per­ Defoliants and Herbicides centage of crop-producing land treated with chemicals has 1 2 risen enormously. At the end of 1969 almost 6 million PERIOD ACREAGE TREATED COST acres had been treated, 554,465 acres of which had been 1962 17,119 (717) crop-producing. Much of this acreage has been subjected 1963 34,517 (297) to repeated attacks. Besides being of dubious military 1964 53,873 (10,136) value, the defoliation program has harmed and alienated the civilian population. A study done in February, 1969 1965 94,726 (49,637) disclosed a startling correlation between herbicide usage 1966 775,894 (112,678) $12.5 in Vietnam and fetal deaths in pregnant Vietnamese 1967 1,700,000 (221,000) $38.8 women, as well as a significant increase in birth deformi­ 1968 1,900,000 ( 95,000) $45.9 ties. In the face of such deliberate destruction of land and 1969 1,300,000 ( 65,000) $70.8 life, the apparent American assumption that the Viet­ (1) Numbers in parentheses represent acres of crop-producing land. namese people prefer environmental devastation to a gov­ Crop-producing land in South Vietnam totals about 8 million ernment including Communist participation can only be acres. treated with the gravest of reservations. (2) Figures (in millions) are for the fiscal year indicated. ". . . We're going to bomb them back into the Stone Age." —General Curtis LeMay We may not yet have succeeded in pushing them back into the "Stone Age," but the Bronze Age must not be far away. Some facts about the bombing: Total tonnage of bombs dropped on Vietnam, north and south, exceeds the total dropped in all theaters of World War Two by twice that amount. At the end of 1969, the figure stood at 4,377,464 tons. On Japan, Germany and other enemy territory in the last World War we dropped 2,057,244 tons. We have dropped 250 pounds of bombs for every man, woman, and child in both North and South Vietnam. We have dropped over 35 tons of bombs for every square mile of territory in both North and South Vietnam. "It became necessary to destroy the town to save it." —An army major at Ben Tre, South Vietnam, February 7, 1968

CASUALTY COMPARISONS The figures at left need no comment. What deserves comment, but about which there is no conclusive knowledge, is the number of civilian casualties in the war Battle to date. The Kennedy Subcommittee on Refugees conservatively estimates that War Dead Wounded there has been a minimum of 1 million civilian casualties since 1964, perhaps YYYY j 53 402 204 002 500,000 of that total being deaths. That is an average of 150,000-200,000 civilian TT ?QI'Ç<;7 A7n'sA£ casualties per year. In the light of increased combat casualties over the past three 291,557 670,846 vears> jt js lively that the true figures are much higher. Edward S. Herman, author Korean 33,629 103,284 0f several studies of U.S. Vietnam policy, estimates South Vietnam casualties since Vietnam 41,274 272,281 1965 at 1,116,000 dead and 2,232,000 wounded. "The official figures for refugees stand at nearly 2,000,000 (or more than 10 per cent of the population) but the true number is unknown. The official count in Saigon, for instance, is zero but perhaps half of the people in Saigon are refugees of some sort." —Richard J. Peters, Associate Program Officer International Voluntary Services

The U.S. Committee for Refugees lists the number of refugees in South Vietnam for 1969 as 1,197,143. Tens of thousands have fled into Cambodia and Thailand. The population of Saigon is 2.5 million, and Mr. Peter's analysis would put the refugee total over 3,000,000. The Kennedy Subcommittee on Refugees estimates over 5 million South Vietnamese have been refugees in one sense or another since 1964, and that one out of every three South Vietnamese has been dislocated by the war, whether or not he has been resettled.

VIETNAM WAR COST The cost of the Vietnam War has wrought a number of disastrous effects on the U.S. economy. A period of inflation, unprecedented since 1947, has literally wiped A-^1 out all wage gains of the American worker: in 1965, consumer prices rose 1.8 Year hiscal ($Billions) per cent; in I966> 3 2 pcr cent; in 1967, 3.2 per cent; in 1968, 4.9 per cent; and 1961-65 $ 10 in 1969 prices rose a record 6.5 per cent—thus, a 19.6 per cent drop in the pur- 1965-66 . 20 chasing power of the dollar in four years. Unemployment rose to 4.2 per cent 1967 20 (3.8 million workers) in February, 1970. According to Mr. Tom Riddle, member 1968 25 of the Council on Economic Priorities, "Such unemployment trends do not seem 1969 „ 25 to fit in well with America's goal of eliminating poverty and solving the urban July-Dec. '69 10 crisis. Unemployment, however, is one of the costs that some of the American $770 Billion PeoP'c are asked to pay in order to halt war-generated and stimulated inflation." Interest rates on loans to individuals and businesses have risen to all-time highs— approaching 9 per cent. The balance of payments deficit in 1969 was $6.99 billion—the worst in our history. Who prospers as the workers and the poverty-stricken bear the brunt of the war's cost? "In the same period that workers' wages have been declining, corporations and the rich have been enjoying unprecedented prosperity. Between 1960 and the first half of 1969 . . . corporate after-tax profits skyrocketed up 94.5% and dividends to stockholders rose 80%." "But the American people will not, and should not, be content to sacrifice indefinitely our youth and our treasure for a Government which muzzles folk singers who sing of peace, which shuts down newspapers which dare suggest talks with the N.L.F., which locks up Buddhist priests and politicians who have the audacity to call for peace." —Senator Albert Gore (D-Tenn.) March, 1969

Sources of information and statistics supplied upon request. Single copies 100 each. Mail orders (must be pre-paid): 25 copies. $1.00 (post paid)—minimum order, 200 copies, $5.00 (postage paid) Inquire about special rates on larger orders. Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027—212/749-8518 Turnpike Press, Annandale, Va. 22003 VIETNAMIZATION: SOME FACTS AND FAILACIES "We have adopted a plan . . . for the complete withdrawal of all U.S. ground combat forces, and their replacement by South Vietnamese forces, on an orderly scheduled timetable. This withdrawal will be made from strength and not from weakness. As South Vietnamese forces become stronger, the rate of American withdrawal can become greater. I have not and do not intend to announce the timetable for our program . . . (since that) would completely remove any incentive for the enemy to negotiate an agreement." President Nixon on November 3,1969

The above is what the Nixon Administration calls "Vietnamization" of the war. It obviously is not a plan to end the war, since South Vietnamese are to continue fighting with American assistance. Senator Eugene McCarthy told the Senate For­ eign Relations Committee in February, 1970 that Vietnamization means "Asians would be killing Asians with American arms," and that the Saigon Government's forces would be "essentially a mercenary army fighting its own people for an un­ representative government." Furthermore, Nixon's Vietnamization program provides only for withdrawal of U.S. "ground combat forces" (which included about 325,000 of the 542,000 troops in Vietnam when Nixon took office). This evidently means that a residual force of 200,000 or more air support and "logistical" troops may remain in Vietnam for years to come (50,000 troops have been stationed in South Korea since the end of the Korean War). In addition, the Administration makes no mention of plans to reduce the bombing, shelling, and defoliation of Vietnam. In the context of what is clearly a plan to force a military solution of the war, Mr. Nixon's concern to give "incentive" for negotiations rings a bit hollow. As George McGovern put it, "It increasingly appears that there is no real change of policy—that we simply have a new man­ agement of the old assumptions—that we are following the same strategy that has produced our earlier years of grief."

"But to many old Vietnam hands, this seems a pure pipe dream. For while Vietnamization may sound plausible in Pentagon position papers, there is little evidence that the South Vietnamese army has achieved the combat efficiency or the esprit to hold its own against the North Vietnamese." U.S. TROOP WITHDRAWALS — Newsweek, Sept. 8,1969 Date Level to Number Announced Be Reached Vietnamization is at best a dubious undertaking, despite the familiar military ex­ clamations of success in whatever undertaking, for it explicitly aims at a military 25,000 June 8, '69 517,000 victory. In spite of Secretary of Defense Laird's broad pronouncement in Saigon 35,000 Sept. 16, '69 472,000 last February that "Vietnamization is working," almost all other reliable sources 50,000 Dec. 15, '69 429,200* point to the contrary. A New York Times reporter from Saigon said in December *actual troop level as of April 9,1970. that "the improvement of South Vietnamese soldiers appears to grow in direct proportion to their distance away from the battlefields. The public relations effort here has outstripped the willingness of many American commanders to put professed South Vietnamese military prowess to a firm test." The ARVN forces, always troubled by high desertion rates (25% in some divisions), are also known for their "mercenary-like" character. Accounts of rape, looting, torture, etc. by ARVN forces abound like rain in the Monsoon season. As recently as February 3, 1970 the AP reported that an ARVN company had been ordered to chase a band of Viet Cong who had ambushed a convoy transporting soft drinks: " 'The armored cars came down the road,' said one Amer­ ican officer, 'The armored cars stopped, [the ARVN] looted the soft drinks and neglected to go after the Viet Cong.' . . . The South Vietnamese also got away with a field radio mounted on one of the escort jeeps, an American source said." Ed­ ward S. Herman believes that "this mercenary quality of the ARVN, and its chronic tendency to loot and plunder, is a reflection and derivative of the character of the Saigon regime itself. . . . The relationship between the character of the Sai­ gon regime and the qualities of ARVN is one of cause and effect—the Saigon leadership, like the French before them, have no social roots in the indigenous culture of South Vietnam, and they have, as a consequence, never elicited any moral commitment from the South Vietnamese SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES populace. The military forces which they have mobilized, again as with the French before them, thus have a distinctively mercenary cast that affects both their attitude 374,000 ARVN (army) toward the population and . . . their performance in combat." No one, except the 28,000 Navy Nixon Administration, really believes Vietnamization will work—unless the Amer­ 32,000 Air Force ican public is willing to see the war drag on for at least another five years. 11,000 Marines Despite Mr. Nixon's preference for military victory, he has shrewedly placated 252,000 Regional Forces* American public opinion by withdrawing small numbers of American troops at 178,000 Popular Forces* propitious times. Since withdrawal is the surface symbol for ending the war, the 215,000 Paramilitary Forces* public is led to believe we are doing so, although many war analysts have pointed out that at least 100,000 troops could be withdrawn without affecting combat 1,090,000 effectiveness. The announcements themselves have been carefully timed to *These last three forces, totaling 645,- undercut rising anti-war sentiments and to achieve maximum public-relations 000, are paid volunteers in one sense effect. or another. THE PROGRESS' IN PACIFICATION "Many American field officers believe that, despite some statistical progress, the gains in pacification are fragile—the program could be set back at any time by a concerted enemy effort." James Lowenstein and Richard Moose, Staff Consultants to Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Winning over the South Vietnamese peasant population (over 10 million of the country's 18 million people) has always been considered a necessity to "win" the war. But few serious attempts at pacification have ever been made by any South Vietnamese government, including the Thieu-Ky regime. In 1969 the U.S. and the Saigon government began an intensified program to bring the peasant population under Saigon control. William Colby, American director-advisor of pacification efforts, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last February that 93.7% of the South Vietnamese rural population lives in "relatively secure" hamlets. The Hamlet Evaluation System (HES), computer-run by Americans, is fed monthly reports by 232 American advisors who are in charge of 37 hamlets each (of 12,650 hamlets, only 8650 are evaluated— 4,000 are considered under permanent Viet Cong control). Rep. John Tunney, in a December, 1968 study of the HES, re­ ported that ". . . these official evaluations . . . were not indicators of popular loyalties, nor were they estimates of the way in which the people would turn when they confronted a choice of either joining a Viet Cong guerilla team or of facing the consequences of informing on them." The evaluation system itself consists of 18 factors that are rated by the advisor on an A to E scale (like a report card). Tunney shows that ". . . it is possible to obtain a rating showing hamlets to be secure which are anything but secure and which have strong Viet Cong organizations . . . only six of the 18 criteria used in evalu­ ating a hamlet are direct measures of the Viet Cong's strength. And since all 18 criteria are weighted equally, Saigon goes into any evaluation with apparently a two-to-one margin in its favor."

CIVILIAN TERRORISM "The Vietcong system of assassinations is apparently considerably more discriminating than the parallel (and now more extensive) 'Phoenix' program of assassinations engaged in by U.S. and ARVN." forces. Edward S. Herman The Johnson and Nixon administrations have consistently projected civilian terrorism as a distasteful tactic peculiar to the Viet Cong. Now that the Song My and other similar incidents have come to light, U.S. claims to humanitarian purity ring more than a little hollow. Even more distressing than such "isolated" cases is that CIVILIAN TERRORISM assassination of civilians has been part of official U.S. policy since the beginning of Civilians Killed the "Phoenix" program in 1967. Phoenix, the strong-arm of the 'pacification' pro­ NLF gram, is a C.I.A. sponsored and run program to "neutralize" (a euphemism for Period (Vietcong) Phoenix (U.S.) the process of capturing, soliciting defections, and assassinating members of the 1957-66 11,905 (1) N.L.F.) Viet Cong political leaders and agents. The Phoenix program in its 2Vi 1967 3,706 years has assassinated very nearly as many (24,580) civilians as have the Viet Cong in the thirteen year period from 1957 to 1969 (25,619). Furthermore, there 1968 5,389 18,393(2) is a considerable difference between the Viet Cong system of assassination and the 1969 4,619 6,187(3) U.S.-A.R.V.N, program. The Viet Cong almost always know who their target 25,619 24,580 is—usually Saigon-appointed local level officials, tax collectors, and administrators. (1) Between 1956-60, at least 5,000 1° contrast, Viet Cong agents are hard to single out—19,534 were "neutralized" civilians (alleged "Communists") m 1969 by Phoenix people and most of these were taken into custody on the basis were killed by the South Viet- or rumor, report, whim, or opposition to the Saigon regime (of these, 6187 were namese Diem regime. killed, 8515 were imprisoned, and 4832 defected to the Saigon side). As reporter (2) Total for 1967 and 1968 Tom Buckley states, "Village political officers and administrators are as elusive as C31 As oi 12/6/69 ever; it is often difficult for the Phoenix operatives to learn who they are, let alone eliminate them. The Viet Cong have at least been able to target their murders accurately for the most part." Captives who are not executed and do not defect are either imprisoned until proof can be drummed up against them, or'released after an average six-month incarceration. Despite Phoenix the Viet Cong infra­ structures remain virtually intact; the program seems mainly to have succeeded in alienating what little support existed for the Saigon government.

Sources of information and statistics supplied upon request. Single copies 100 each. Mail orders (must be pre-paid): Single copies 100; 5 copies 250; 40 copies $1.00; 100 copies $2.25; 250 copies $5.00 Inquire about special rates on larger orders. Clergy and Laymen Concerned about Vietnam 475 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. 10027—212/749-8518 Turnpike Press, Annandale, Va. 22003 Issues Newsletter of CLERGY AND LAYMEN CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM A National Emergency Committee

June-July 1970

BILLBOARDS AVAILABLE FOR LOCAL USE

"Dear Mom and Dad," the sign reads, "Your silence is killing me. " The message is both subtle and poignant, striking and yet simple. Clergy and Laymen Concerned, in cooperation with several other groups, has printed it up on 24-thickness 8'8" by 9'6" outdoor billboard posters. A billboard, moreover, provides a ready means by which ^^ , small groups of people in a town or neighborhood can get together to _j5^ exert some influence on their fellow citizens. In most localities display space can be rented at rates ranging >c from $80 to $120 per month, so a Dear relatively small number of persons putting up $5 to $10 each can make a Mom and Dad, tangible contribution to public aware­ Your silence ness. is killing me. The billboards are printed in bold black and white; local groups can In Southeast Ait«, al home. have organizational names placed on the poster by simply hiring a sign painter to do it. Space is provided at the bottom for this purpose. m W Copies are available only from the national office of Clergy and Laymen Concerned, at a cost of $13. 00 each, postpaid. Use the order blank at the bottom of this page for your convenience.

In Addition to the large billboard poster, CALCAV has printed a smaller (17" by 22") poster as one of a series of bimonthly "issue" posters. The smaller poster carries essentially the same message printed on glossy stock with an enclosing black border. This kind of poster has proven very effective on store windows, bulletin boards, office walls, etc. Single copies are available from the national office at a cost of $1. 25; five copies for $4. 00; ten for $6. 50; one hundred for $25. 00.

PLEASE SEND:

outdoor BILLBOARD POSTERS NAME "@ $13. 00 each ADDRESS indoor WALL POSTERS "@ $1. 25 each; 5/$4. 00 10/$6.50; 100/$25.00 h

I enclose as prepayment. Make checks payable to: (Only prepaid orders will be filled. ) Clergy and Laymen Concerned 475 Riverside Drive, N. Y. , Nc Y. 10027

Please allow two weeks for delivery. If you've recently received a fundraising request from our national office, we do hope you'll send along a contribution. During the summer, while many take some time off, our office runs at full tilt. If you've not received a request for funds, you will in a few days. Please give it your early and serious consideration.

WASHINGTON MOBILIZATION MAY 26-27 With several denominational social action bodies, our national committee cooperated in sponsoring a mobilization of church and synagogue clergy and laymen in Washington D. C. during the latter part of May. About a thousand persons attended the day-and- a-half convocation to meet with congressmen and discuss issues related to the war. Of particular interest at the time were the Cooper-Church and McGovern-Hatfield amendments, both pending at this writing on the Senate floor. Called in less than two weeks, as a response to the Cambodian invasion, the emergency mobilization demonstrated a ready sense of urgency among a religious community stunned by this latest in a long series of disillusionments. The speakers included Senators Harold Hughes of Iowa and George McGovern of South Dakota, Rev. William Sloane Coffin, of Yale, Mr. Charles Palmer, President of the National Student Association, and others. For the mobilization, the national office prepared a twelve page newsprint tabloid on "The Widening War" in Southeast Asia. This tabloid includes several articles from recent French journals that have not been widely seen in this country. Single copies are available free of charge from the national CALCAV office; larger quantities are free except for postage.

"ISSUES AND ACTIONS" TO BE REPLACED Feeling the need for a more timely and more flexible communications medium than that provided by the present format, the national steering committee of Clergy and Laymen Concerned has decided to begin publication of an eight-page tabloid weekly newspaper beginning in the fall. A new full-time staff person, Mr. David Langston, has been hired to begin preliminary work on the project. Present plans call for the paper to focus on events and issues in the broad range defined by "religion and American power. " Coverage will be given to news items significant to the peace movement, to third-world issues, and to the religious community as it relates to both. The hope is that the newspaper will provide, in addition to needed news coverage, a vehicle for cross-communication between the traditional religious constituency of CALCAV and the rest of the "movement" as a whole. REPORT FROM SOUTHEAST ASIA

The Rev. Richard R„ Fernandez, Director of CALCAV, returned in April from a three week trip to Laos and North Vietnam. To date, articles based on his experiences have appeared in the National Catholic Reporter and Christianity and Crisis. (Reprints of these articles are available at 15c each from the national office.) The following is a summary of some major impressions from the trip.

Perhaps the most overwhelming reality to confront a visitor in S. E. Asia is the continuing American determination to 'win" the war by military means. The years of bombings in Laos, only lately made public, and the recent Cambodian invasion have established a trend of events that seems likely to produce even more substantial U.S. escalations before serious efforts at peaceful settlement can take hold. In Laos, extensive conversation with refugees indicates that massive American bombings over the last three years have severely disrupted the lives of the Laotian people. An American AID official estimates that there are 180, 000 Laotian refugees in American refugee camps alone. According to Prince Souvanna Phouma, the Laotian head of state, his country now numbers 750, 000 refugees (a refugee here is defined as anyone who has moved twice in two years--which is a great deal of moving in this part of the world). This means that somewhere between 8 and 22 per cent of the entire population of 3. 2 million persons has been uprooted in the last three years by American bombings. In North Vietnam a visitor is greeted everywhere by a fierce desire for national unity and for liberation of the Vietnamese people from all foreign domination. Even the Bible is cited here as justification for the Vietnamese revolution. In one conversation a Protestant evangelical pastor--whose theological perspective was quite conservative--concluded his remarks with the affirmation that ' Jesus Christ is my heavenly father and Ho Chi Minh is my earthly father. " On the same occasion a Roman Catholic priest said that "Before the revolution we were not allowed to talk to Protestants, and they were not allowed to talk to us. We were both told that the other was really a 'non-Christian. ' Then, " the priest continued, "after the revolution Uncle Ho told us that all men are brothers, and since that time we have been meeting and praying together on a regular basis. " The ecumenical movement clearly came to North Vietnam not by way of Pope John, but by way of 'Uncle Ho !' Finally, the immense distortions wrought by U. S. intrusions upon Asian politics have obviously produced some unexpected results. As Tran Van Dong, North Vietnam's Prime Minister, remarked in a meeting, "What we could never have done here in North Vietnam of our own will or intent, your government has done for us. They have united the peoples of Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam in a single struggle against the American government. " To an Asian, the irony in that comment is no small matter; the Cambodian and Laotian peoples have harbored deep fears and hatreds of the Vietnamese for centuries. What manner of new fears and hatreds have led ancient enemies to join hands against a common threat? That is a matter for serious contemplation by those who believe that the U. S. should be involved in Asian affairs. uoAuna w 9\i s^ueg aujsA1ABi T SiNvnnsNco iN3WdOT3A3a

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NIXON AND CAMBODIA The Lon Nol government in Cambodia is in trouble from any of several perspectives- m CanS leaVG Cambodia L 1 K vt c^ 1 > °n Nol's chances of surviving a determined comeback by Sihanouk are slim, particularly if Sihanouk stages it from the Angkor ruins traditional (12th century) seat of the Khmer emperors; (2) to counter^ihano^ Lon ' Nol must depend on U. S. trained and supported Thai and Saigon troops (South Korea has already turned down a request for aid); (3) Thais and Vietnamese are traditional enemies of the Khmers The use of foreign soldiers to defend the capitol is sure to fan old memories of the Thai occupation under Japanese auspices during WW II and of the way the Vietnamese were dismantling the Khmer empire when the French intervened It is likely to resurrect old border disputes that were temporarily laid aside at the ' signing of the Geneva Accords when Cambodia made it clear that its acceptance was not to be construed as acceptance of the French-drawn borders.

It was his awareness of such subtleties that led Sihanouk to walk a political tightrope and down-play military defense. Respecting the old enmities, the North Vietnamese and NLF P P a a P c fh a t Am^ Î? . +°H y,°f staying clear of Khmer villages, while most reports indicate that ARVN has maintained the tradition of treating the Khmers as definite inferiors. If Lon Nol has to depend on these combat forces for survival, his government--and all of Cambodia--is m trouble.

Unfortunately, President Nixon's exposure to the media is limited to staff-prepared synopses^ and so he was unlikely to have read Time magazine's (June 1) de-mythologizing of the claims about rice and arms caches. AccoTdmg to Time, military intelligence altered its use-rate estimates of supples to make the céiïKèToî rice look bigger--from 17 ^of,^Upp.lies per battalion per month down to one ton of supplies per battalion per month, lhus, the rice found (which incidentally appears to be mostly village rice, not cache rice) was extended from one week's supply to a four-and-a-half month's supply. The article also said that the 12, 000 small arms captured were of out-moded rifles that had been replaced two years ago by AK-47s, i. e., the weapons captured were headed out of Vietnam not into it. The same for ammunition --only a small percentage of that found is usable by' n?fhfyi_7 nnnTariet7 Vl,etconf • Most of it (apparently 2/3)was anti-aircraft ammunition; of the 17, 000 tons found as of June 1, only about 75 tons were of field-use variety In the larger picture because of the slackened operations within Vietnam, quantities of supplies captured there have fallen off drastically; the net result may turn out to be an overall downturn m the amount of supplies captured in the Southeast Asian war for this period of