University of Virginia Library

Harriman Censures
U. S. Foreign Policy

By Tim Walthal
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

W. Averell Harriman, veteran diplomat
and politician of more than 50 year, told
an overflow crowd in Cabell Hall
auditorium last Friday night that the
United States should get out of Vietnam.

Mr. Harriman, a distinguished-looking
figure at 78, wore on his lapel a small,
blue and white button which read: "I am
an effete snob for peace."

Despite billing for his speech as
dealing with "Russia and Vietnam," Mr.
Harriman addressed himself to the more
general topic of Soviet-American relations.

Many of Mr. Harriman's remarks were taken
from a book he has coming out in January. The
major thrust of the former Russian
ambassador's remarks on Russia was that things
have changed. He was critical of what he
termed "old cold war warriors who believe
things are just as they were with Stalin..."

He emphasized President Tito's
independence and the Sino-Soviet split as major
causes for more recent changes within the
Kremlin.

But at the same time, Mr. Harriman
disagreed with those who saw no differences
between the United States and the Soviet
Union except economic theory. He cited
Rust's imperialism and her desire to see a
communized world as basic a irreconcilable
differences which separate Russia from the
United States.

Still, Mr. Harriman said he believed there are
"specific areas where we can come to an
agreement: where our interests overlap." He
considered the SALT talks on nuclear
disarmament the most important discussions at
present.

Mr. Harriman said he felt the Middle East
situation was the most dangerous at the present
time, because of the constant threat of war that
might involve us there.

Mr. Harriman was sharply critical of
American lies in Vietnam all along the line. He
related that as ambassador at large for President
Johnson he visited over 50 countries and that
with very few exceptions there was not a single
head of government that would defend the
United States' position on Vietnam.

"In Vietnam," Mr. Harriman said, "we took
a wrong turn ... we shouldn't have allowed the
French to come back into Vietnam ... They
were allowed buck ... then we supported them
and it was a mistake."

Following that, he pointed to a "tragic
blunder" in 1954 when we "pushed the French
out and took over the full military, economic
and political support... We have no business in
Vietnam; we're not going to succeed if we
stay."

Mr. Harriman was particularly disparaging of
the present leaders in South Vietnam, Messrs.
Thieu and Ky. He said he felt these two were
not willing to negotiate and that they held a
"veto" over our policies which has prevented us
from negotiating. He characterized their rule as
a "repressive" and "unpopular" military junta.

Mr. Harriman characterized President
Nixon's Vietnamization policy as a
"continuation of the war, not a plan for
peace."

Mr. Harriman's advice on ending the war was
to first let it be known "that we're going to get
out and stay out; that our objective to have a
neutral non-aligned Indochina." Then, he
advocated working out some agreement to limit
reprisals, including supervision by some
international body.