University of Virginia Library

Frightening Games
In Paris And Saigon

The diplomatic and not-so-diplomatic
wrangling which has marred the peace both in
Saigon and Paris teaches us once again that a
just and lasting settlement cannot just
happen, especially when distrust is so much in
evidence. The North Vietnamese halt to the
prisoner releases is a sad and deplorable act
which we might well have expected, in light
of their attitude during the negotiations.
However, the United States and South
Vietnam do not appear, at least through news
accounts, to be above reproach in creating
this situation.

Hanoi claims that the U.S. has been much
more interested in obtaining the POW's than
in carrying out the other points of the Paris
agreement. The Communists cite the slow
pace of American removal of mines from
Haiphong harbor as well as our lack of
pressure on the Thieu regime to stop
harassment of Communist delegates to the
Joint Military Commission.

We cannot attest to the veracity of the
claims. But we can surely denounce any
diplomatic games which, while possibly
buying time for South Vietnam, are
endangering the peace agreement and
curtailing the prisoner release program.
Should the United States be even partially
responsible for the latest Communist move,
and we are not saying that such is the case, it
would be both wise and timely for us to stop
playing games, and make every effort to
undermine Communist propaganda ploys to
hold up prisoner releases.