CACC
NEWSLETTER

January 2, 1967

Dear Friend:

Joost Sluis, M. D. leaves for Thailand on January 16. He will investigate at first hand the communist threat in Thailand and seek to establish an educational program to combat it. We are encouraged to pursue this program because of outstanding results obtained by a similar program in British Guiana.

Many people wonder how it is that an orthopedic surgeon, after spending many arduous years training for his specialty, should be willing to give up surgical practice to devote time to education on the
nature of the communist threat.

In 1958, I spoke to a meeting of the Christian Medical Society in San Francisco. I outlined the doctrines and motivations of the communists and drew attention to the enormous success they had achieved in enslaving one billion people. A young surgeon was present at this meeting. He was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School and had recently entered private practice in orthopedic surgery in San Francisco. The message made a great impression on him. Sometime later he said:

“I wake up every morning to the realization that one billion people under communist domination are being mobilized by communist leaders to encircle us to bring about our destruction and enslavement. I don’t like it so I try not to believe it. I try to put it out of my mind but it keeps coming back. I am an honest man; at least I think I am; I try to be. If a man came to me with a lump in the leg, and I did not honestly examine it, determine if it was cancer and treat it accordingly, I would not be fit to be a doctor.

“I cannot escape the evidence, try as I may. I ask myself the question, ‘What are you doing to stop them?’ I have to admit I am doing nothing. Then I think of the future of my wife and three children if communism should succeed, and somehow it does not seem quite so important whether the operation upon the hip joint which I do, iS a little better than that of the next man or not. What is important s that the communist program should be stopped and a future of Christian liberty be preserved for my wife and family.

“I don’t know what to do, but I intend to find out. When I have found out, I don’t care what it costs. By God’s grace I will do it.”

This young surgeon was Dr. Sluis.

Those were no idle words. He meant them with deep sincerity. His medical practice took second place. He sacrificed his financial self—interest. He became director of the Northern California branch of the Christian Anti—Communism Crusade and representative at large for the Crusade work. Whenever a crisis arose anywhere in the world and he could be of service, he was willing and eager to go.

His wife, Lois, accepted this changed direction of their lives with enthusiasm and serenity. Possessing a deep Christian faith, she devoted herself unstintingly to the care of her family and the work of her husband. She has been a partner in the truest meaning of the word.

BRITISH GUIANA

In 1960, we observed a grave danger threatening in South America. It appeared probable that the country of British Guiana would secure independence from England while under communist leadership and follow Cuba into an alliance with Soviet Russia. This would provide the Soviet Union with a military and subversive base on the mainland of South America and enable them to penetrate the neighboring countries of Venezuela and Brazil. This ominous situation convinced us that something should be done.

Dr. Sluis visited British Guiana to investigate the situation and find out what could be done. We took this action on our own intiative. We were not personally acquainted with any individuals in British Guiana. We were not advised or instructed by any governmental body.

The significant features of the situation there were:

1) Geographic location. British Guiana bordered on Brazil, Venezuela, and Dutch Guiana.

2) The racial division of the population. Approximately 50 per cent of the population were East Indian and 40 per cent were Negro.

3) The East Indian political leader, Cheddi Jagan, was a self—professed Marxist and supporter of the International Communist movement. While a student in the U.S. he married a communist wife, Janet Rosenberg. They were making a dynamic appeal to the Indian population in the name of Indian nationalism rather than communism.

4) The imminence of independence from Great Britain. British Guiana was scheduled to cease to be a British colony and become independent in the very near future.

If British Guiana became independent under communist leadership, the government could make an agreement with the Soviet Union, and Soviet military troops could be established there. A second Soviet base in the Western Hemisphere would exist and this one would be on the South American mainland. The communists would have gained a major victory in their program to conquer all Latin America. How could this be stopped?

THE STRATEGY

Cheddi Jagan was an Indian with natural appeal to the Indian segment of the population. If all the Indians voted for him, he was assured of a majority. It was imperative to convince as many Indians as possible that they should reject communist leadership even though this meant rejecting the leadership of a member of their own race. To achieve this, they must be taught the true nature of communism and the slavery it would certainly bring them.

The capital city of British Guiana is Georgetown where the population is overwhelmingly Negro. The Indians lived mostly in the rural areas where they worked on the sugar and rice plantations. The message must be taken to them.

Dr. Sluis went to British Guiana and organized teams to visit the Indians in the rural areas to describe communism to them. He secured trucks with electric generators so that he could show films of communist actions in Latvia, Cuba, and Hungary. These films gave a dynamic message and opened the eyes of many Indians. When elections were held, sufficient Indians voted against Japan to prevent his consolidation of power.

Dr. Sluis and I earned the anger of Cheddi Jagan and the World Communist movement. While Japan was Prime Minister, we were declared prohibited immigrants.

THE RESULT

British Guiana is now independent and has been renamed “Guyana.” The Prime Minister is Forbes Burnham who is a Negro and an anti-communist. It is noteworthy that Guyana was one of the countries voting against the admission of Red China to the United Nations in the recent Assembly. Jagan is out of power and the program to establish a Soviet base on the mainland of South America has been thwarted.

THAI LAND

Can something similar be done in Thailand? We hope so. The situation is more difficult. In British, Guiana, the population was 600,000, whereas in Thailand it’s 32,000,000. The principal language in British Guiana was English, but this is not so in Thailand. Translation will be necessary for work there.

These difficulties should challenge us to greater efforts and sacrifice. The program will be difficult and expensive. We depend entirely upon voluntary support. We could achieve miracles with what is being spent in one hour in Vietnam at present. It is sobering to realize that America is spending more than $1 million each hour in Vietnam. Will you stand behind Dr. Sluis with your prayer and financial support?

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

In 1961, Dr. Sluis was directing the campaign in the sugar and rice fields of British Guiana. I had the responsibility of securing the necessary financial support. I addressed a meeting at Louisiana State College. After the address, a man rose and said: “Your message has stirred me profoundly. It has also left me feeling frustrated. I want to do something—something practical and immediate. What can I do?”

My reply was prompt: “You have asked a straight question. I will give you a straight answer. Give me $1,000 to fight communism in British Guiana.”

The man paled. Quickly he said: “I am just an ordinary man. I am not wealthy. How can I give
$1,000?”

I replied, “If one of your children had leukemia, you would get it; wouldn’t you?”

To those who can give $1,000, I ask without embarrassment, “Please give $1,000 to help fight communism in Thailand.”

Of course, many are quite unable to give such a sum. Nevertheless, everyone can do something.

A recent letter reveals a simple and obvious method of support for our cause. If this method was universally adopted by our friends, our financial problems would be solved.

“Dear Doctor Schwarz:

“I have been searching for a way to make a regular and sustained contribution. Here is how I managed to find that way: Cigarettes cost me $10 each month on the average. On October 23, 1966, at 9:00 a.m., I smoked my last cigarette for the balance of my life. From that day forward, I shall make a $10 contribution on the first day of each month.

“This contribution will not lower my family’s standard of living nor my savings plan. I call it LIFE INSURANCE in letters ten feet high.” Signed: Walter Carman, San Diego, California.

If such a sacrifice seems beyond the power of the human will, I commend the resources utilized by St. Paul when he said, “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.”

With Christian love,
Fred Schwarz, President
Christian Anti—Communism Crusade