In protest against the U.S, wae in Vietnam, Jean Poul Sortre, the famous French philosopher and writer, has canceli g@his speaking engagements in the U.S. I » Moret. 17 cablegram, Snrtle stated: "The politics of vielence practised in V'cinan by the U.S. government, with the approval of the majority of the Azorican people, constitute for me a major obstacle to my coming to the Uniten Siates,"
Sartre had been scheduled to give five lectures on ethics and history at Cornell University April 7-14 and to speak at the Poetry Centre in New York Clty Avril: 25,
Sertre's action has a certain value in that it publicizes one more protest against Washington's brinkmanship in Vietnam. Undoubtedly it shocked some Americans into realization that the outside world blanes them too for the J:hnson -dministration': aggression in Vietnan,. On the other hand, Sartre's action is subject to ériticism. On the basis of a Gallup pobl, which does not necessarily relfect the true sentiments of the population and which, in any case, is not permanent, he despairs of the American people. If a majority of the Americans do support the war in Vicviam, it is because of their almost total brainwashing by government, press, television etc, If they can be told the true story about that war and the U.S, role in it, many will be convinced it is crivinal and will oppose it. T: abandon the Averican people to the Wshington warmakers and their propaganda hirelings anounts to giving up a battle before it has been fought out.
Sartre could have registered a far more telling protest by coming here and speaking out against the Victnam war. That would have brought him attacks by the capitalist press and possibly cancellation of his visa. But it would certainly have helped'awaken A ericans to the enormity of their government's crimes in Vietnam md strengthened the opposition which already exists here,
Perhaps Sartre is uMaware of the emphatic ovposition already expressed by U.S. stiucunct and faculty grovps; of the slogans raised by civil-rights demonstrateérs in the recent massive demonstrations - "Out of Saigon, into Selma"; of the protests by peace groups and radical organisations. Perhaps he did not know that his visit would have coinGided with the April 17 March on Washington to End the War in Vietnan, called ty Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and supported by many youth, faculty, peace groups, and others,
Sortre opposed France's dirty wars in Vietnam and Algeria; he denounced the Kreulin's sus,yression of the Hungarian Revolution; he defends the Cuban Revolution. His protest agninst the war in Vietnam adds to’ that honourable record. Delivered in person in the U.S., his protest would have had an even greater effect,
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