Crocker Snow Reports From Germany; West German Aid to South Vietnam

Greetings from West Germany. This is Crocker snow speaking from the studios of Radio do each of our cologne. The city with the world famous Gothic cathedral. It's not a very well-known fact but it is one that nonmilitary aid provided to South Vietnam by West Germany is second in total amount only to that provided by the United States. The divided country of Europe helping a divided country of Asia West Germany has pumped more than 25 million dollars of aid into South Vietnam to date through a number of specific projects. For example a multimillion dollar credit guarantee in conjunction with the French government for the construction of a major industrial complex four and a quarter million dollars worth of medical supplies and 30 Volkswagen ambulances. A small number of teachers agricultural experts and medical advisers and in recent weeks some 100 social workers. Such projects as these haven't been a

spur of the moment development. West German aid to South Vietnam began several years ago with Australia Canada Nationalist China France Japan Malaysia New Zealand Great Britain and the US. The Federal Republic was one of the 10 countries assisting South Vietnam even before the Asian nations blanket plea for aid more than a year ago. Since that time more than 25 other nations have joined this effort. West German aid is of a nonmilitary nature. The reasons for this are clear enough. The West German bund to spare the country's army is not really a national one unlike any other NATO's army. It falls completely under the command of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe thus under present conditions. The Bonn government could not send German troops to South Vietnam even if they wanted to. There is another very practical reason for West Germany's lack of military aid to South Vietnam.

German troops fighting anywhere would once more raised the specter of German militarism and with it a storm of predictably adverse and damaging communist propaganda. In fact the communists have already tried to manufacture such an issue twice recently using the occasion of the death of a naturalized American from Germany fighting in Vietnam for stories trumpeting German troops in Asia. To get a better picture of the extent and effect of West German aide I talked with the ambassador of the Republic of Vietnam to this country and the ambassador a career diplomat who was born in North Vietnam and went to school with Ho Chee min and General Giap has served in Paris London Washington and Korea. Since one thousand forty eight. Presently he is the South Vietnamese ambassador to the Scandinavian countries as well as West Germany. He

operates out of the South Vietnamese embassy in the diplomatic community about gotos burg just south of the West German capital in Bonn. It is there that I talked with him first Mr. ein Could you describe to me the history of German Vietnamese relations and also in particular with particular reference to the fact that both countries are divided. The Republic of Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany could you tell me about how this has affected the relations of the two countries. Well I'm used to snow relations between Vietnam and Germany. I have only been good in fact Germany was among the first countries to recognize the because Vietnam the friendship between the two countries has been intensified by I mean the things we hold in common. Being a divided country like Vietnam and moreover Tritton by the same puerile Germany how the US really thorough

understanding of problems that the government and the people of Vietnam must cope with in resisting the coalition aggression from North Vietnam and from communist China. Furthermore having had experiences with the communist in such events are the blockade of Berlin and the setting up of the shameful new war. It's a quite natural in that the people of Germany appreciate fully our difficulties and provide Vietnam accordingly with effective it. The Federal Republic of Germany has been contributing medical and economic it to Vietnam. The German assistance extends into the field of technology finance education and social work as well. More recently being aware of the urgent needs of the

people of Vietnam in their struggle against aggression supported and directed from the outside by the International Communist the government had decided to call upon the whole nation to find a way to have South Vietnam on the People to People basis. Following this decision the federal government has sent to Vietnam 600 tons of the most urgently needed medical supplies. The first consignment of the total 1000 700 tons of West German medical supplies under bonds program for South Vietnam. To get this program underway the hospital ship has a goal and will be leaving this country for Vietnam some time is in the near future. The government and the people of Vietnam of so much to the government and the people in their Germany for their assistance which has helped strengthen our

economy keep up the morale of the population. And since God peace and freedom in Southeast Asia. Ambassador Ryan you mentioned the hospital ship Helgoland which will be leaving from Hamburg I believe sometime late this month for the South China Sea. Could you tell me in a little more detail your view and your government's view upon this particular project of the federal and the German Red Cross. Being faced with the serious problem of the war victims and the ease that almost daily increase in number. We went heartily the decision of the government to send the hospital ship Heligoland to Vietnam. These form of human Italian aid will help to relieve the suffering of the indebted to DVDs and at the same time we give hope to a war torn nation. In this context the study of the free

nations is far more than just a face. Now do you regard the aid so far given by Western Germany and planned to be given by West Germany to your government do you regard this aid as appropriate and sufficient. Or as Ambassador are you trying to urge more aid from from the Federal Republic. We have stated above that the diversity before the diversity and the importance of Germany to Vietnam. We have our own so just stressed the social and humanitarian. A spate of these assistance so far the principle focus of the aid is in the social and humanitarian field. It is only aimed at helping our government to overcome the problems under urgent circumstances of stock during adversity. But we control it got it occasionally

and economic development is a pathway to our future. We hope that the feed on Republic of Germany will help us in those fields by forming the. B by forming the basic economic structure and by training our people to man the factories oyster for instance. This then is the most important task of it all in which we are now engaged. And this task will be there when peace comes to us. I see I did not quite gather what your answer is though do you feel that the aid presently given you feel it is mostly in the social and humanitarian field do you think it is sufficient or are you urging more. No I mean that in the eye for the moment. We need social and it couldn't be it. The more the better of course.

But I I trust that the interview Joe. Printing out people and developing the MiSeq industrial. It is more important for our own people. I see. Now is there any attempt by your government to urge any sort of direct military aid from the Federal Republic to your country and I mean by this either military machines military equipment or straight troops is there any effort at this up to now the Vietnamese government has never asked the figure on the public of Germany to send troops a munitions our military equipment into Vietnam. Is there any prospect of this in the future. I kind of see a future that depend on the situation but up to now and we have enough man and I mean you and we how

they handle not just for the moment and we we don't. The Vietnamese government is an appropriate now to ask God to aid to the freedom of the Gemini. All right now Ambassador considering the continuing social unrest that has been taking poison in South Vietnam in the last in the recent months particularly in the northern cities of Don and Qusay considering the social unrest. Do you think that this is having a bad influence on the aid to the economic and social aid which countries like the federal government the federal public here are giving to your country. In other words to rephrase the question do you think that the social situation in South Vietnam now the conflict between the Buddhists and the government for example is this tending to make the European countries that you have contact with in particular West Germany. Is this tending

to make them a little bit disillusioned in giving aid to South Vietnam. It's a true Mr. Snow that the Republic of Vietnam has made with the internal difficulties. The point trace press has given considerable attention to the recent political conflicts within South Vietnam and tend to exaggerate the importance and the scope of the dispute due to a lack of understanding of the situation in Vietnam. It is significant to note here that this pirate demonstration and as you Titian know important groups are leading individuals in South Vietnam how to express this lifeless support of the Communist or of the so-called neutral East peace. Such demonstrations of various groups in South Vietnam reflected to some extent the degree of freedom it is pressing. Once a view in South Vietnam. In short the recent

development is largely the continuing search for a lasting unity among the many factions in South Vietnam. The government is also well known with its groundwork for achievement of a democratic regime. In this light it is certain that the other friendly countries will continue to add to South Vietnam or even to increase their heat to strengthen South Vietnam's military and economic programs. We will make the best possible use of the assistance granted to us from abroad to defeat the aggressors and to build true democracy for our nation. In other words in other words to reach to rephrase this then you feel that the situation in South Vietnam now the social and political situation is not having a bad influence on countries such as the Federal Republic in their aid programs.

Really I don't think so. And at the moment. Now you are asking me that question. There is no more social unrest in South Vietnam. And my report from my government report from a government and a report from the press that you can read as I can. Show us that whole thing. He's white and there is no mall and race. No most social not any law degree and ki ein the South Vietnamese ambassador to West Germany despite the fact that West German aid to South Vietnam is entirely of a nonmilitary nature. The very fact of any aid at all has been a source of some controversy here after the country's initial shipment of medical supplies in May. A report from a German correspondent in Saigon saying that the supplies were being sold on the black market just 24 hours after arrival. Added fuel to the

controversy. The report was later proved false. The supplies had not even arrived at the time the correspondent was writing. But episodes like this one and student protests about the overall Western position in South Vietnam have cropped up regularly. Those student demonstrations have not yet shown signs of becoming anything more than that. One common official attitude towards this trend to date as hear expressed by a well-known West German journalist student throughout the world and at all times have been known to demonstrate against anything against the government and against the absence of a government against rigid draws and against lax legislation against the church and against a lack of Christian spirit against famous writers and against in famous writers and with the general pretty electrum against anything that could comment to bracket the establishment. It is the privilege of students constituting as

they do a stratum were for mentoring intelligence in any country to protest before they comprehend and to act before they take responsibility. It was students who prepared the revolution in Russia and who then were shocked by the results. It was students who in post-war Germany staged a spectacular exit from the east burning University and transferred to the American sponsored Free University in West Berlin. And now some of these same students protest against the war in Vietnam. What does this prove. Nothing in particular. There is merely evidence that it is the privilege of students to be against something before they are in favor of something. And further that in our specific German case they keep minding something that's none of their business. It's not German but American young men who fight and die in Vietnam. And if the Americans were not fighting in Vietnam fighting as they did in the past also for

Berlin where would that leave those rebellious young German men most likely in communist concentration camps. It's all very well undignified to stand up for a sacred cause in principle but where this defense of a sacred principle is conducted from a plushy seat of spectators overlooking the arena from a comfortable distance this is reduced to mere juvenile enthusiasm. Remote from reality. No young man should be kept from standing up for a sacred principle. On the contrary he is entitled to engage in impassioned activity but I do find reports on occasion of acts of protest staged on European territory against the war in Vietnam are not inspiring but simply boring. German students should direct their protests if any against what they feel is wrong in Germany and their immediate environment. American students have every right to demonstrate for or against this fight

because of their country that is fighting there. Our German students should do some serious thinking on the question whether they of all people. I entitled to an uproar over something that indirectly benefits them in Berlin and the Federal Republic. Such an opinion as this one expressed by a well-known German journalist is common of official statements about student demonstrations here. But despite this it is evident that it is not only German students who have shown an aversion to events in Vietnam. They have simply been the most vocal about it. A public opinion poll held in mid-July indicated that 48 percent of the population opposes the American position in South Vietnam and only 26 percent are in favor of it. But the population reactions aside the fact remains that the Federal Republic of Germany in a nonmilitary way strongly supports the American position.

German technical and economic assistance to South Vietnam is more than that provided by any of the 35 nations of the world involved in aid to South Vietnam with the exception of the United States of course. The most recent and one of the most publicized of this country's various aid programs is the dispatching of a hospital ship in conjunction with the German Red Cross. The ship the Helgoland is just now underway for the South China Sea. After extensive refitting in Hamburg I talked with the secretary general of the German Red Cross about Red Cross involvement in this and other projects in Vietnam. As there is nothing the National Committee upset at us and there are some national societies upset across the International Committee of said Cossar rice to a specialist at present assessed wall and to find solutions

between parties which are participating in this conflict. On the other side said national society is try to go into hospitals. Social felt under siege amongst serious national societies to be fined as a specific cross cross subsidy for that idea of New Zealand to Philippines and some other societies in particular share what partners the German Red Cross play in this effort or what partners would expect a boy till now as the chairman of a cross didn't take part. Unces actions. But to now we try to send a hospital ship and they had a goal and this ship will be so fast steps.

How did this idea originate. I suppose the idea came first at been nine thousand one hundred sixty four as their reason. That ship was proposed to my opinion that it is very difficult to build up in a short time a hospital. We saw it as that the ship is more appropriate tool for them to take part on all of this endeavor us than to ascend. Only some doctors and some medical Carsons and for that reason no order in all organizations in Chamonix or deliberated. As this question decided that realtor ships are best thing to do. On the other side we know that it is only possible for a limited time and deliberate in getting to a censorship

for about two years yet. If so government or if anybody outside the US you will see a section for a longer period then it would be necessary to build it up. Will but this takes at least in my opinion to filter the years. At present your plans are to have the ship there for about two years. Yes and could you characterize the ship. How big is that. And how many people will be on it as a ship is about the city's thousand tons and on the ship be passed on the lobster ship itself or about 40 persons then we will haven about ten doctors about 20 assists and about 10 also pass and Searle on the ship or for a hospital. It means said all of the guests

there will be about 80 to 100 persons on the ship on the other side of the ship pace. About a hundred and fifty minutes on the ship. But the most important point is that from so ship there would be erected a dispensary once a country as this dispensary is to our opinion very important and to be here somebody here could experience this. As a film in the past I see. Where will the ship be based you know that year. Well till now we are intending to base the ship good inside on but turn the children lead it is possible that the Suppose he should have to ship could be changed and whose decision will this be will be the decision of the Republic of South Vietnam or the German Red Cross as it is only there was a decision of the chairman that it grows nicely.

Are all of the personnel that are presently on the ship or will be on a ship are all of these people volunteers. Only one ts on the ship and only search on and across is responsible for them. I see how did you go about recruiting the people we're recruiting people into the same NASB all base doing all these cases we have on our truck any sation and besides the trauma newspapers radio and so on. He says the sting certifies that people Was there any trouble getting a sufficient number. Well the number was extremely high but the number of qualified people is always limited. But you feel you were all set up with personnel know about housing so naturally we would always have problems because it is necessary Poor change for people in shorter periods perhaps after half

a year or so I say so you must continue recruiting people be able to continue its long case our separation lasts. When do you expect this ship. At present when do you expect the ship to leave Germany. Well it's only a technical profession says shipper bill. Many see equipment and sort of building of such ship is finished and how long will the trip be to the South China Sea. I was a little last perhaps 25 days actually. So it's safe to assume that perhaps in September the ship will be in South Vietnam operated. I am convinced. Are there any precedents in the history of the Red Cross either the German Red Cross or other national organizations any precedents of the sort of effort. Well yeah these are great number of presidents Espada said some of that process comes down to we never sent a

ship but we built up a hospital in Korea from 53 to 59. And to be sent to a great number of doctors are tools that can work in 61 62 but then we had a great tour operation in my OP or after the earthquake of at the year end and also operations in sheer again you had a bar in between the French an audience and many other cases as far as the ship is concerned I remember on this a case of any shirt ship which was sent to about 50 city. What sort of medical equipment on the ship at present. Let me try to take the most modern medical equipment which is now a better shot money for

different departments in the section and force a surgical section and a college kind of guy you want to get the other cheek and also assess normal departments in a modern hospital. So you have all the advanced equipment such as X-ray vision yes and yes most advanced equipment available in Germany. That was Secretary General of the German Red Cross talking about the hospital ship Helgoland. Presently underway for the South China Sea Island is the latest of a series of aid programs to South Vietnam provided by the government here and the people of the Federal Republic. These programs have been so far and to all appearances will still remain nonmilitary in nature but it befits the solidarity of German-American

relations that the country has contributed more than any other nonmilitary aid to South Vietnam. Next to the United States this is Crocker snow speaking from the studios of Radio Deutsche of Ela cologne West Germany.