Two reports in last weekend's press highlight the extent to which the
Americans’ inability to make any progress in Vietnam has led to the
extension of their military involvement in neighbouring countries. U.5,
forces in South Vietnam have attacked villages across the Cambodian
border for some considerable time. Under the pretext of chasing F.L.B
troops and taking advantage of disputed territory the U.S. military
has attempted to conceal the extent of this action, lov, however,
so complete is their lack of success in action against the Vietnamese
peasantry that they are putting pressure of Prince S hanouk to give
formal permission for American reids inside Cambodian territory. Alter-
natively they would apparentiy settle for a strengthening of the Inter-
national Control Commission so that the patrol work could be carried
out for them. Chester Bowles, American Ambassador to India, is at pre-
sent in Phnom Penh with an offer to supply helicopters and other equip—
ment for use by the Commission. Eritain and Russia are co-chairmen of
the Geneva Conference that set up the I1.C.C. in Cambodia, It has been
ineifective for years, and Russian consent, open or tacit, is needed
for the American proposal to revive and strengthen it. Harold Wilson
will be visiting Moscow in just over a week's time and this will be
his chance to play the part of roving U.S. Ambassador once aygsin. ‘The
use of an unofficial envoy of this kind relj,ves the U.5. Government of
any responsibility should Wilson be rebuffed and also allows Harold the
opportunity to indulge in a little more of his “messenger of peace role,"
Talk of "Vietcong sanctuaries" in Cambodia or Laos has taken much of the
headlines away from the very regl American "sanctuaries" in Thailand from
which the majority of bombing raids on North Vietnam take place. fo
protect these bases the U.S. has now virtually taken over control of the
Thai military forces. A brief report on the situation in Thailand
appeared in last weekend's Sunday Times.
"Tough army units, specially trained by U.5. “green berets” military ad-
visers, have now taken over comuand of the northern junzle provinces of Thai-
land from the police. General Prapas, Thailand's army commander, agrees
with Prime ifinister Thanom that the situation in North Eastern Thailand, sub-
ject to prolonged Communist subversion and now open fighting, is “very serious’
The march of events in Thailand recalls and parallels the early events and
lost opportunities in South Vietnam. U.S. military "advisers" have quietly
taken over the training of anti-guerrilla forces while the Commmists have
sought to organise an underground Thai equivalent of the Vietcong. ifilitary
expenditure at the six bases from which American planes regularly bomb North
Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh trail in Lsos has been correlated with economic
aid efforts in the neighbouring villages. Ome shudders at the likely
reaction here to any weakening or wavering of the American stand in South
Vietnam. Fo one can accuse the Thai Government of precipitance in its
eampaign to “democratise" the country and draft a new Constitution, Last
month's municipal polls were the first elections in Thailand since the
general election of 1957."
V.o.C. NOTES from Devid Robinson. ilarch 24th Demonstration. Over sixty people attended a meeting at Toynbee Hall last Thursday to form an Ad Hoc Committee for the mass demonstration planned for next March. After a lively discussion it was agreed that a rally should be held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday March 24th, to be followed by a march to the U.S. Embassy by a route to be determined by the committee. The demonstration is to be organised under the umbrella of the following slogans; "Solidarity with the Vietnamese People Ageinst American Agsression,” and "Vietnam — End British Complicity Now." ‘The posters, leaflets and stickers will be ready in about ten days. We will be holding a committee meeting/work party every Thursday until March 24th at 7.90 pxm. This week and next it will be held at 49 Rivington St. From the beginning of next month these meetings and all other V.S.c. work will be moved to our new premises. Our new address will be published in The Week before our move. Organisations supporting the March 24th Vietnam Ad Hoc Committee include the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign, Stop-It Committee, London Committee of 100, Australians and New Zealanders Avainst the War in Vietnam, Harringey C.r.V., ierton C.P.V., Romford C.L.P., Salford East C.L.P., Bromley L.P.Y¥.5., East Walthamstow L.P.Y.5., Romford L.P.Y.S., L.S.E. Socialist Society, Labour Worler, U.C.P.A., The Week, Socialist Leader,Rebel, Socialist Current, Humber-— side Voice, Northolt ¥.C.N.D., Richmond Y,C.N.D., C.A.3.7., Folksingers for Freedom in Vietnam ete, The Ad Hoc Committee is open to any other organisation supporting the general theme of the March 24th demonstration, Vietnam Trade Union Conference, The V.5.C, is calling a working conference of trade uionists to organise work in the trade union field to fight for a solidarity line. We intend to- bring together a representative meeting of V.S.C. supporters wae are active in the trade unions for this purpose. Because of the nearmess of the tiarch demonstration it is not intended that this should be a mass conference - that can come at a later stage. The most important task the working conference can consider is the preparation for intervention in the major trade union conferences which take place between Easter and August, and then at the T.U.C. This conference, which is sponsored by Hugh Scanlon, A.E.F.Y.U., Emie Roberts, A.E.F.W.U., Bill Jones, T.26.0.U., Lawrence Daly, N.U.ii., and Gordon Norris, N.U.S., will take place in London on March 5rd, Further information from Sabby Sagall c/o V.S.C.
liorthern Universities Vietnam Conference. A weekend conference is to be held in Sheffield on Jamuary 27-28th. It will be based on the Northern Universities and, although non-student organisations have been invited to attend, the emphasis will be on the student movement. A major part of the discussion will be on the future fom of protest activity in the U.K. and we expect to raise considerable support for March 24th, # Further information can be obtesined from: Sheffield University Vietnam Action Group, 6 Victoria fd., Sheffield i0,