Bertrand Russell's answers, were as follows:]
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Q: The The way tor solution of the Vietnam war.
‘A: The solution to the war in Vietnam lies in the- determination with which peoples throughout the world oppose American policy. American imperialism has- demonstrated that it is determined. to impose great suffering on the Vietnamese. The U.S. is in occupation of Vietnam. The only possible solution is the withdrawal of American forces. Any other solution would be a mockery of 25 years of sacrifice and arduous struggle for national © independence on the part of the Vietnamese: people. Opposition to the unjust. American aggression throughout the world will strengthen the American people's determination that the war should terminate.
The Vietnamese people will not yield to American bombardment or elaborate use of experimental weapons. As the number of American casualties increases, so will the opposition to the war in the United States. The war in Vietnam will end when the American resistance to it makes it impossible for it to continue.
The International War Crimes Tribunal, -through its exhaustive. investigation of the full nature of the. American war, will serve to arouse opinion’ and, in this way, contribute towards the world resistance to the American war, which resistance points: to the only possible solution -- an end to the American attempt to dominate Vietnam. The investigation of the Tribunal will‘ ignore no fact and the data it accepts as evidence will be independently verifiable. Our strong convictions are combined” with our determination that the investigation -should ‘be thorough.
Q: What are the prerequisite elements for peace. in Vietnam?’:
A: The preréquisite elements for peace in Vietnam are that the Vietnamese people should be allowed to settle their own affairs without: foreign. interference. Only an American withdrawal from Vietnam will permit peace. In 1954, negotiations led’ to. international agreements.’ The American occupation violates these agreements. It is impossible to ask for negotiations about the violation of the agreements reached through the earlier negotiations. To do this would be to ratify the earlier violation. This is why those who value peace must demand the withdrawad of the United States as the basic prerequisite.
restoration of peace in Vietnam?
A: The people of the world can best bring about the restoration of peace in Vietnam by supporting the just struggle of the Vietnamese people for their national. libera~ tion and autonomy. In specific terms, support for the International War Crimes Tribunal will enable us to document, beyond dispute, the truth about Vietnam. This. international investigation, in which the Japanese. National Committee will play a vital role, is the most important concrete activity for people throughout. the world with a view to ending. the war in Vietnam.
Q: What do you. you-expect from the East and West blocs for world peace?
A: I cannot equate the East and West blocs. It is perfectly clear, on the pasis of evidence, that American imperialism is playing an aggressive role throughout the world. Wherever people are exploited or hungry and seek to: change their social system and to make social advance, the United States uses military force to suppress the people's aspirations. For these reasons also, I consider the communist and socialist countries to be representing the legitimate aspirations of the world's peoples when they oppose American imperialism. When they fail to oppose American imperialism,. socialist countries diminish the prospects of world peace by encouraging the continuation of such . exploitation and aggression as I have mentioned.
Q: The people of Japan would be immensely encouraged if your Lordship could kindly give a brief message to them through the Kyodo News Service.
A: I send to the people of Japan an appeal. Your government is cooperating with the United States. President Johnson stated when he was in the House of Representatives:
"Uniess the United States possesses unchallengeable air power, we shall be hostage to every yellow dwarf with a pocket knife."
This was in 1948. In October, 1966, President Johnson said at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam:
"Tack that coon skin to the wall."
By "coon skin," he was referring to the people of Vietnam. The war in Vietnam is a racist war, waged against an Asian people with experimental chemicals and poison gas. The people of Japan must recognise a grave threat to themselves, a threat which is contemptuous of their human dignity. I appeal to. the people of Japan: oppose this vicious racist war. Do not allow the Japanese government. to support racism. Do not permit your authorities to betray your own interests by subordinating themselves to the United States as it bombards the people of Vietnam with four million pounds of bombs every day. Help our International War Crimes Tribunal with your personal and material backing. Struggle together with us to expose the truth about. the war in Vietnam, so that such atrocious acts will not be repeated in Asia.