from a special correspondent
For the first time in 40 years, delegations representing Portuguese student associations in several European countries were able to meet in freedom to discuss problems which affect them. But this conference could only take place far from our country, in Belgium, The large number of expulsions from Portuguese universities, the colonial war, the anti-democratic policies of the Salazar Government and the mediocrity of Portuguese educaiion have forced many Portuguese students to leave the country. But our meeting was not convened with the sole aim of solving the problems which arise from our exile. We also wish to give our support to the struggle of Portuguese students for freedom of association, an integral part of the fight of, our people for democracy, against the colonial war and for the complete independence of our country from foreign economic, political and military control. Also in these last few years, the fascist character of the Portuguese dictatorship, which murdered General Humberto Delgado, has revealed itself in a particularly violent form when seeking to crush the struggle for independence of the peoples of Guinea and Cape Verde, S, Tone and Prince, Mozambique and Angola. We strongly condemn the colonial war, and hold Salazar and those who support him responsible for the deaths which this was is causing amongst the people of the colonies and also amongst our own people, We also hold his regime responsible for the increasingly dependent situation © in which Portugal is being placed by this war, To maintain the military occupation of the colonies, Salasar has been selling our country, ‘ The German bases on our soil are being repaid by ever increasing military aid to the regime as is shown by the recent sale of planes air force use in the colonies, We call the attention of our people to the position of dependence in which this war is placing Portugal. The sale of Portugal is.a fact, But the existence. of military bases on our territory and in Spain, besides opening the way to foreign interference in the internal affairs of these countries, also places in jeopardy the physical integrity, the very existence of the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula. The recent disaster in Spain, in which an atomic bomb was lost, could have led to the destruction of a large part of the population of the southern half of the Peninsula, and the danger of radioactivity is still present. The existence of foreign military bases in the Iherian Peninsula and in the Azores permits the continuation of an irresponsible military policy which endangers world peace. Portuguese students, meeting fa the first time in freedom, call the attention of the students and peoples of Portugal and all the world to these facts, Portuguese students both in Portugal and abroad know how to assume their responsibilities. * Final declaration adopted by the first conference cf Portuguese students ahrann _
Gel. CHALLENGES U.S. GOVT. ON VIETNAM WAR from 'The Militant! Private Robert Luftig of New York City has filed suit to prevent the Army from assigning him to Vietnam. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court, San Francisco, on January 19th, 1966. Those named as defendants are Secretary of Defence McNamara, Army Secretary Reser, and the Commander of Fort Ord, where Luftig was stationed. This suit is believed to be the first of its kind filed against the U.S. Government, The question the suit raises is the right of the defendants, or anyone under their command, to force Luftig to "engage in a war which is illegal under the laws of the United States, the Constitution and treaty obligations." The suit charges: 1, That the war action of the United States in Vietnam is violative of our treaty obligations under the Charter of the Unite. Nations and other treaties,ll,. That the action in Vietnam by the armed forces of the United States violates the Geneva Accords, the terms of which were accepted by the United States although not a signator thereto, 111, That the armed Conflict between the forces of the United States and the Vietnamese is a’ 'war' without a declaration by Congress, 1V, That the President of the United States under his executive power ‘shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed...', V. That the deployment of plaintiff to Vietnam under existing conditions would be violative of the 'due process! provision of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States... The brief submitted in the suit has been reproduced and is being distributed by the Luftig v. McNamara Committee which was formed to inform the public about the case and raise funds for its prosecution. Contributions or requests for information can be sent to: ‘ Martin Shepard,M.D., Treasurer, L/ Committee, 50, West 96 St., New York, N.Y. 10025. A hearing is scheduled for April 5th.