Demos

Hats off to the students of Victoria.

The article in "Forign Affairs" by Clark Clifford. Secretary of Defence under President Johnson, makes it clear that their splendid support for the demonstrators against the war in Vietnam has had a substantial effect on the history of world events.

They helped prevent the militarisation and commitment on any large scale, of New Zealand youth in this war of American aggresion.

They played a significant role in forcing the chiefs of the U.S. military/industrial complete to take the first (as yet minor) steps to pull out of Vietnam and end the frightful carnage there.

In so doing, they aided the cause of freedom and national liberation in S.E. Asia.

They will not regret it. Self-government, higher living standards, better health and education in these Asian lands, even though requiring revolutions for their achievement, do not threaten New Zealand, but on the contrary provide us with expanded opportunities for trade and cultural exchange.

That the students did this in the face of the sinister growth of Brigadier Gilbert's secret police, and the possibilities of victimisation and discrimination in their future careers, speaks volumes for the moral courage, as well as the moral judgement of today's generation of youth.

Ron Smith.