For the Record

The Vietniks, bereft of a live issue for the past couple of years, are in full cry again over aid to South Vietnam and Cambodia. Sen. George McGovern is against any further aid at all: “There may very well have been violations [of the peace agreement] on both sides, but our obligation is not to an ally in South Vietnam, our obligation is to the agreement itself.” . . . Thousands demonstrated in Washington on the second anniversary of Ceasefire Day and the fleet of foot caught Bella Abzug twice: once flaying the Administration for continued support of “the dictators” Thieu and Lon Nol, the second time calling President Ford’s $105-billion defense budget “an attempt to continue the nuclear arms race that threatens to exterminate all humanity unless we stop it.” . . . Meanwhile American intelligence sources estimate that Red China and Russia poured $1.3 billion in economic and military aid into North Vietnam in 1974 while one-third of Thieu’s planes are reported grounded for lack of fuel. . . . South Vietnam reports that since the 1973 ceasefire she has suffered 160,000 casualties, including 29,000 killed. Saigon says 112,000 Communists were killed in the same period, but U.S. intelligence believes those figures are inflated. . . . North Vietnam and the Vietcong celebrated Ceasefire Day by announcing they would permit no search for the 1,300 Americans still missing in action in areas they control, in contravention of the treaty to which Sen. McGovern feels so obligated.

Joining the anti-South Vietnam chorus is a newcomer to that position, Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington, presidential contender, who told a Los Angeles audience the other day that he will oppose all further aid to South Vietnam, and that he now favors defense cuts. While in California Jackson conferred with liberal actor Warren Beatty at some length—Beatty was a major McGovern organizer and fundraiser in 1972—but apparently failed to convince him of his present doveishness. Beatty says he was impressed by Jackson’s contrition but, “There’s still a long way to go.” . . . Jackson raised a packet for his race at a Los Angeles dinner of Democratic fatcats, and letters soliciting support will be going out to 400,000 people early this week. The mailing is being handled by liberal Alabaman Morris Dees, who launched the successful McGovern fundraising drive four years ago. . . . On the Republican side, Sen. Barry Goldwater says he believes Gerald Ford will run in 1976 and says that if he does he will get the support of conservatives. On a successful Rockefeller candidacy: not a chance, says Goldwater. “You’d have the united effort of the conservatives in the party against him. I don’t think he’d have any chance at all.” . . . Other Republicans not so sure Ford intends to run again. Evans & Novak say 70 per cent of the important Republicans they have canvassed (senators, congressmen, state chairmen, and national committeemen) see no Ford in our future after ’76.

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The Vietniks, bereft of a live issue for the past couple of years, are in full cry again over aid to South Vietnam and Cambodia. Sen. George McGovern is against any further aid at all: “There may very well have been violations [of the peace agreement] on both sides, but our obligation is not to an ally in South Vietnam, our obligation is to the agreement itself.” . . . Thousands demonstrated in Washington on the second anniversary of Ceasefire Day and the fleet of foot caught Bella Abzug twice: once flaying the Administration for continued support of “the dictators” Thieu and Lon Nol, the second time calling President Ford’s $105-billion defense budget “an attempt to continue the nuclear arms race that threatens to exterminate all humanity unless we stop it.” . . . Meanwhile American intelligence sources estimate that Red China and Russia poured $1.3 billion in economic and military aid into North Vietnam in 1974 while one-third of Thieu’s planes are reported grounded for lack of fuel. . . . South Vietnam reports that since the 1973 ceasefire she has suffered 160,000 casualties, including 29,000 killed. Saigon says 112,000 Communists were killed in the same period, but U.S. intelligence believes those figures are inflated. . . . North Vietnam and the Vietcong celebrated Ceasefire Day by announcing they would permit no search for the 1,300 Americans still missing in action in areas they control, in contravention of the treaty to which Sen. McGovern feels so obligated.

Joining the anti-South Vietnam chorus is a newcomer to that position, Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington, presidential contender, who told a Los Angeles audience the other day that he will oppose all further aid to South Vietnam, and that he now favors defense cuts. While in California Jackson conferred with liberal actor Warren Beatty at some length—Beatty was a major McGovern organizer and fundraiser in 1972—but apparently failed to convince him of his present doveishness. Beatty says he was impressed by Jackson’s contrition but, “There’s still a long way to go.” . . . Jackson raised a packet for his race at a Los Angeles dinner of Democratic fatcats, and letters soliciting support will be going out to 400,000 people early this week. The mailing is being handled by liberal Alabaman Morris Dees, who launched the successful McGovern fundraising drive four years ago. . . . On the Republican side, Sen. Barry Goldwater says he believes Gerald Ford will run in 1976 and says that if he does he will get the support of conservatives. On a successful Rockefeller candidacy: not a chance, says Goldwater. “You’d have the united effort of the conservatives in the party against him. I don’t think he’d have any chance at all.” . . . Other Republicans not so sure Ford intends to run again. Evans & Novak say 70 per cent of the important Republicans they have canvassed (senators, congressmen, state chairmen, and national committeemen) see no Ford in our future after ’76.