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Salient. Victoria University of Wellington Student's Newspaper. Volume 31, Number 5. April 2 1968

Conference crisis

Conference crisis

A split among people opposed to the government's policy in Vietnam was averted last week.

Professor John Roberts had written a letter to the Minister of Finance, Mr R. D. Muldoon, dissociating himself from the conference.

Professor Roberts said he felt that the Committee on Vietnam had compromised the standing of the conference by deciding to demonstrate.

He said he would not have participated in the delegation to Mr. Muldoon over the decision to refuse an allocation of overseas funds for the fares of speakers had he known that the conference was to become an organ of political pressure.

In the circumstances he felt that he must apologise to the Minister.

A group of C.O.V. and conference leaders contacted him and said they had no part in the demonstrations.

He decided to withdraw this letter.

Professor Roberts said: "Everyone who is concerned to improve the sophistication and ethical standards of New Zealand's foreign policy owes both gratitude and respect to those who organised the conference."