The American liberal would, I am sure, indignantly reject any supposition that he looks down upon the non-white races and that in his heart of hearts he has contempt for the underdeveloped countries and their population. In his rather narrow view all that the “underdeveloped man,” in this case the South Vietnamese, wants is food and peace at any price; therefore American presence in Saigon, the liberal says, which is motivated by selfish imperialism, merely delays the desired and reasonable dénouement.

A similar contempt is apparent in President Johnson's offer of one billion dollar aid to Southeast Asia if only Peking and Hanoi show willingness to settle the war in Vietnam.

The most basic question raised by the war in Vietnam is not one of tactics but of war itself. Our problem is not whether to use gas, napalm, phosphorous or defoliants—nor even whether torture should be permitted: it is quite simply whether we should be resorting to arms at all.

I am well aware this question is not new, especially within the religious communities. With a few alterations here and there, the exchange in ancient Rome between Celsus and Origen (debating whether Cliristians should serve in the army) would be considered timely in any contemporary journal.

In the days following President Johnson's April 7 Vietnam policy speech at Johns Hopkins University, it has seemed more difficult than ever to gain a morally secure vantage point from which to view American involvement in that “dirty and brutal and difficult war.“

There was a chorus of acclamation which included U Thant, the leaders of many nations, and a generous press. Joseph Alsop credited the President with a “great speech” of “noble aims, high aspirations, and warmly humane feelings,” the high paint of which was the quotation from Deuteronomy: “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death….“

Several days later, the morning mail brought the simultaneous complaints of Human Events and the Fellowship of Reconciliation against Mr. Johnson.