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It is true
that the Geneva Conference, which was held in 1954 after the French defeat
at Dien Bien Phu, decided that free elections should beheld within two years
to unify Vietnam which was temporarily divided at the 17th
parallel. To bring an immediate end to the fighting, the Geneva Conference
granted the communists control of North Vietnam while South Vietnam was
independent. Participants in the conference included England, Russia, France
and the Vietminh (the revolutionary forces under communist control). The
U.S.A. and South Vietnam were not parties to these agreements.
Following the Geneva
Conference, more than a million refugees fled to South Vietnam before
communist control became adequate to stop the flight. The number of refugees
has now grown to one and one-half million. After the exodus of these
refugees, the population of North Vietnam exceeds that of South Vietnam by
one million.
America has been blamed
for the failure to hold these free elections. The truth is that free
elections have not been possible because of the communist control of North
Vietnam. Communism has never yet allowed free elections in any country it
controls.
The impossibility of
holding free elections can be illustrated by a hypothetical discussion with
a critic of American policy in Vietnam:
Critic: I think we should reconvene the
Geneva Conference and hold free elections throughout Vietnam.
American: I think that is a good idea. At the same time let us hold free
elections in Russia, in China, and the other communist countries.
C: You know that is not practical.
A: Why isn’t it practical?
C: Because the communists don’t allow free elections in countries they
control. We would need to go to war to enforce free elections.
A: Is North Vietnam controlled by the communists?
C: Yes.
A: Is the policy of communism towards elections different in North Vietnam
from the policy in Russia and China?
C: I don’t know. It might be.
A: Do the communists hold elections in the countries they control?
C: Yes, they certainly do.
A: What sort of elections?
C: The communists select one slate of candidates and submit this slate to
the people for approval or disapproval.
A: Are opposition parties and candidates allowed?
C: No.
A: What has been the result of all elections in communist countries to
date?
C: The slate of candidates selected by the communists has received
approximately 99 per cent of the vote.
A: If an election was held with communism in power in North Vietnam, would
not the communists receive 99 per cent of the vote?
C: I suppose so.
A: Since the population of North Vietnam is greater by one million than
South Vietnam, would not this automatically result in a communist victory
over all Vietnam even if everybody in South Vietnam voted against the
communists?
C: It certainly looks that way.
A: Is not this clamor for free elections simply a trick to turn all
Vietnam over to the communists?
C: When you analyze it as you have done, I must agree that it is.
United Nations Supervision
Some may object that the elections in North Vietnam would be supervised
by United Nations observers. This would not change the situation. Unless the
United Nations possessed adequate military forces in North Vietnam to
guarantee the freedom of an opposition political party, such supervision by
the United Nations would be a farce. A genuine free election would require
that this opposition party could use all the means of communication and
promote its candidates and know it was safe from communist reprisals. I have
not heard anyone suggest that the United Nations recruit this large military
force and station it in Vietnam or that the communists would agree to its
presence. Such a force could only be stationed in Vietnam by waging war on
the communists in control.
Free Elections in South Vietnam
Free elections would be possible in South Vietnam, and it is American
policy that such elections be held. The communists oppose holding these
elections.
Staughton Lynd,
Professor at Yale, who accompanied Communist Herbert Aptheker on a recent
illegal visit to North Vietnam, reports, "Both the DRV (communist
controlled North Vietnam) and NLF (Vietcong) opposed the United States’
demands for ‘free elections’ in South Vietnam only, which would tend to
perpetuate the division of South Vietnam."
The NLF claims the
support of 80 per cent of the people of South Vietnam. If this claim were
accurate, free elections would bring them to power in South Vietnam and they
could immediately vote to unify North and South Vietnam. This would be the
obvious way to secure their objective.
The communist
opposition to free elections in South Vietnam reveals clearly that their
claim to the support of the majority of the people of South Vietnam is
false.
Under present
conditions, free elections in Vietnam are impossible. Those who advocate
them are either out of touch with reality or trying to promote communist
victory.
THE CLOWN PRINCE OF SLANDER–DREW
PEARSON
All human beings need encouragement so I would
like to express my thanks to Drew Pearson for his column which appeared in
many newspapers on February 12. This column bears striking testimony to the
effectiveness of the work of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade.
A man and a movement may be judged by
their enemies as well as their friends. It is a distinct honor to have
merited the privilege of being libeled by none other than the prince of
slanderers, Drew Pearson. This places us in the company of many noble men
including several presidents of the United States. In his column, Drew
Pearson states:
"Sen. Tom Dodd, (D-Conn.), has
discovered how to make a profit out of patriotism. He simply collects
honorariums, ranging from $500 to $2,000, for delivering anti-Communist
speeches around the country.
"He has frequently appeared, for
example, before the Christian Anti-Communist Crusade, which has doled out
several thousand dollars to Dodd over the years. This outfit is run by Fred
Schwarz, an Australian citizen, who has raised millions to fight communism
in the United States.
"Unaccountably, he has sent large
sums to India, though he has never explained how this helps to defeat
communism in America. This column contacted both the State Department and
Indian Embassy, which have no knowledge of any anti-Communist activity by
Schwarz in India.
"Last Aug. 28, Schwarz sent Sen. Dodd
a $1,000 check and a voucher good for a roundtrip plane ticket to Los
Angeles.
"Less than a month later, on Sept.
21, Dodd mounted the rostrum at the Hollyood Palladium and declared to an
enthusiastic audience:
"‘I believe in Fred Schwarz, and I
think he’s one of the great patriots who’s leading a great fight against
communism. . .
"‘He knows what communism is, and
he has gone about this country and this world patiently explaining what this
struggle is all about.’
"Dodd never mentioned, however, that
he was paid for saying so."
Senator Thomas Dodd has the honor of being
the object of a vicious vendetta by Drew Pearson, and he is quite capable of
looking after himself. There is no mystery concerning his relationship to
the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade. He is a Senator of the United States
and there are few positions of greater honor to which man can attain. He is
an ardent, articulate and courageous foe of communism, and his services as a
lecturer are in constant demand by many groups throughout the United States.
Like most other Senators and lecturers throughout the United States, he
receives an honorarium when he lectures for these groups. The Crusade has
been privileged to have him as a lecturer on several occasions and we have
paid the agreed honorarium. Perhaps Drew Pearson will reveal what fee he
asks for giving a lecture in Los Angeles.
Drew Pearson states that the Crusade has
raised millions to fight communism in the United States. Obviously he has
paid no attention to our work or literature through the years. Our battle is
not only against communism within the United States, but against communism
throughout the world. Communism is an international movement and its threat
transcends national boundaries. We have proudly announced our activities in
21 countries. Even Drew Pearson should have heard of our work in British
Guiana. India has occupied a prominent place in our programs. We helped
establish a daily newspaper to fight communism in Kerala, India. We support
hundreds of Christian and anti-communism workers and an orphanage of 75
underprivileged boys. This may be unaccountable to Drew Pearson, but it
appears most reasonable to those genuinely concerned with the communist
danger and with human liberty and well-being.
I am amazed at the efficiency of Drew
Pearson’s snooping methods. Apparently he has never heard of people in one
country helping people in another without going through the medium of
government. This is quite possible in democratic countries however
inconceivable it may be to the totalitarian mind. If Mr. Pearson had
bothered to contact our office, we would have proudly revealed the details
of what we are doing and have done. We would probably have bragged a little.
He might have learned how to spell the name of our organization. Perhaps the
direct approach does not occur to the master spy.
As an entertainer, Mr. Pearson must rank
with Maxwell Smart and the other great spies of the television screen. If
Maxwell Smart considers the association libelous, I apologize.
DANGER IN
EUROPE
While the eyes of the world are focused on the
cruel conflict in Vietnam, dangerous developments are taking place in
Europe. The communists are making real progress towards their objective of
establishing "Popular Front" governments in France, Italy, and
Greece.
These "Popular
Front" governments would be formed from a coalition of communists,
socialists, and other left-wing groups as well as representatives from the
center parties. The aim is to neutralize these countries and destroy the
North Atlantic Treaty Organization rather than to establish direct communist
control.
If this plan succeeds,
West Germany will be isolated and forced to come to an agreement with the
Soviet Union. This will lead to the neutralization of all Europe and rob the
United States of America of all her European allies. The communists will
have taken a giant step towards their objective of the isolation and
encirclement of the United States as a prelude to its surrender.
Basic Strategy of Communist Conquest
All communists are agreed on the basic strategy of world conquest. They
are agreed that the United States is the final obstacle between them and
their goal. They classify the United States as the living embodiment of evil
imperialism and state that it is the threat to the freedom of all the people
of the earth. They are constantly quoting the report of the 81st
Communist Party following their meeting in Moscow in 1960, which described
the United States thus:
"The
greatest international exploiter, the center of world reaction, the chief
bulwark of modern colonialism, the international gendarme, the main force
of aggression and war, and the enemy of the people of the world."
The Sino-Soviet Conflict
All communists agree that world conquest demands the isolation,
encirclement, demoralization, and defeat of the United States. They disagree
over some of the steps necessary to achieve this. A vituperative conflict
has erupted between the Russian and Chinese Communists concerning the
correct strategy to be followed by the communists in Europe. The Chinese
Communists demand that the Communist Parties of each country follow the
established communist policy of stimulating violent revolution leading
directly to communist seizure of power. The Russian Communists urge the
European Communist Parties to temporarily renounce violence, behave like
constitutional democratic political groups and cultivate assiduously the
othr parties of the left and center so that the communists will be accepted
in a "Popular Front" government.
The Russian Communists
urge their comrades to make real concessions to the other parties. In this
way they may overcome the hurdle of mistrust which has been built up over
the years in the minds of the socialists and other groups.
The Chinese Communists
call this program "Revisionism" because it has departed from the
fundamental Marxism-Leninist policy of violent revolution.
The Russian Communists
call the Chinese insistence on violent revolution. "Doctinairism"
because it does not allow for the flexibility of true Marxism-Leninism in
relation to changing conditions.
The Russian and Chinese
Communist Parties are debating these issues before the other Communist
Parties of the world and the majority of these parties favor the Russian
Communist position. The Chinese Communists are becoming increasingly
isolated and the venom of their attacks on so-called "Soviet
Revisionism" is escalating.
Developments in France,
Italy, and Greece show that the Russian policy is proving most successful
and the danger of government by a common front of Leftist Parties is
becoming acute.
France
Charles De Gaulle holds a unique place in France. He is the symbol of
French nationalism and courage. His political philosophy is vague, and he
has held power because of his strong personality.
On December 5, the
French people voted for a president. The only opposition to De Gaulle was
Mitterrand who had the support of the communists, the socialists, and those
radicals of the left who disapproved of President De Gaulle. In effect he
was the candidate of a "Popular Front." He received a startling 45
per cent of the national vote.
About a year from now,
France will vote for a new Chamber of Deputies. This is roughly the
equivalent of the American Congress. It is quite possible that a majority of
the elected delegates will be against De Gaulle.
De Gaulle himself is
following a program which has the approval of the communist leaders in
Moscow. He is threatening the destruction of NATO. It is possible that this
process will be accelerated after the elections next year.
When De Gaulle dies,
and that day cannot be too far off, a vacuum will exist in France and a
"Popular Front" led by the communists and socialists is highly
probable. This will be the achievement of one basic communist aim. The
future looks bleak!
Italy
The Italian Communist Party has 1,800,000 members and receives 8,000,000
votes in a national election. This make it the second political party of
Italy and the largest Communist Party in the western world.
The Italian government
under Premier Moro was a leftist coalition between the Christian democrats
and the socialists. The communists were excluded. This coalition collapsed
and Italy was without a government over a month. It has been reformed but is
very shaky.
Communist-Catholic Collaboration?
From January 25-31, the Italian Communist Party held its 11th
Congress. The Worker of February 20, reports on this Congress. The Worker
states: "On the issue of creating a new political majority, perhaps the
most significant development at the Congress was a new overture to the
Catholics which was advanced in the report to the party’s general
secretary, Luigi Longo.
"Longo proposed
collaboration not only for immediate demands (notably peace, and also
economic reform) but long-range cooperation on the path to socialism.
"He thought the
basis for such a dialogue existed. . . .
"‘At this point,’
he added, ‘we ask the Catholics; isn’t it possible, isn’t it necessary
to look together for common ground, in order to build up together a new
society. . .’" The Worker, February 20, 1966, Pages 5 and 9.
This is a radical
departure from previous communist statements on the subject of religion.
Previously the communists have always advocated the right of the communist
state to teach atheism in all its schools. This is expressed in the Soviet
constitution by the provision which allows freedom of religious worship and
freedom of anti-religious propaganda.
In practice this means
that the old people may be allowed to worship but no church schools on
programs of evangelism are allowed. If any child resists atheism in the
schools, he is regarded as backward and the higher schools are closed to
him.
When we observe the
inroads the communists have been making in certain Catholic circles, it
would be foolish to underestimate this threat. A "Popular Front"
in Italy is a distinct possibility.
Greece
Recently the young King Constantine dismissed the government of Premier
George Papandreou. This immediately sparked large street demonstrations. An
important Greek communist official, Leonida Stringos, writing in the current
World Marxist Review has claimed that the communists were the
original organizers of these demonstrations.
After a prolonged
period of crisis, a new government was established. This government is
presently under bitter attack from the forces of the deposed Papandreou and
the communists. They have encouraged endless public demonstrations and
rotating strikes against the government.
Although technically outlawed, the communists
operate under a political organization called E.D.A. Papandreou has accepted
the services of the communists in his campaign against the present
government. If this campaign is successful, the communists will have
increased their power and taken giant steps towards the neutralization of
Greece and its withdrawal from NATO.
In France, Italy, and
Greece withdraw from NATO, the Alliance is dead. Once these countries are
neutralized, Europe becomes a neutral zone from the Atlantic to the Urals
and America stands deserted and alone.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
The Soviet writers, Sinyavsky and Daniel, were
recently sentenced to seven and five years hard labor respectively. Their
crime–they had written books critical of the Soviet Union and published
them abroad under pseudonyms.
OPERATION VIETNAM
Our project to provide every serviceman in
Vietnam with a copy of the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to be
Communists)" is gaining momentum. Our problems are twofold: (1) To gain
access to the names and addresses of the servicemen in Vietnam, and (2) To
secure adequate financial support to distribute hundreds of thousand of
books.
The most effective
method we have discovered to secure the names and addresses of the
servicemen is to secure lists published by various newspapers across the
country. At Christmas time many newspapers published lists of the servicemen
from their circulation area and encouraged readers to write letters to them.
A number of such lists have been sent to us and several thousand books are
already on the way. If any of our readers could secure lists from their
local newspapers and send them to us, it would be most appreciated.
Individuals have sent
in personal lists, and we are supplying organizations collecting paperbacks
to send to Vietnam.
We still hope to get
the official list of names and addresses from the authorities. This would
enable us to send a book to everyone.
Obviously this project
must be financed so once again I appeal for a special effort from our
friends and supporters. The response to our appeal for support was excellent
in November and December. We finished the year with all bills paid. There
has been some reaction during January and February and our income has
diminished considerably. This is natural enough and we are not surprised nor
alarmed, but we are reminded that we cannot relax and that we must keep our
needs constantly before our people. Money must keep flowing if we are to
carry on our work. Money, like water, can become stagnant if it does not
move.
We know that those who
are giving regularly will understand our constant appeals. If more people
would give systematically, these constant appeals would not be so necessary.
In the last analysis,
the problem communism presents is a moral problem. The existence of morality
depends upon the existence of choice. No one can do good if there is no
opportunity to do evil. Christ said, "Choose ye this day whom you will
serve."
No one is compelled to
give to support our work. All contributions are voluntary. This contrasts
with the coercion of taxation. The ability to refrain from giving makes the
choice to give a moral and virtuous act. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.
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