Friday, May 12, 1972
Soviet Ship Turns Away - Laird
WASHINGTON (AP) --At least one Soviet ship heading for Haiphong has changed course since President Nixon ordered the sealing of North Vietnamese harbors, Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird said Wednesday. The secretary said a Russian freighter had been scheduled to enter Haiphong "yesterday or today" but did not. He also indicated more ships may have changed course. The defense chief also said in a 53-minute news conference in a crowded Pentagon press room "that all action will be taken that is necessary" to stop deliveries to North Vietnam, and he indicated this meant by air, sea or ground. Laird appeared to have gone past presidential adviser Henry A. Kissinger's statements Tuesday in discussing what the United States might do to prevent supplies from reaching the North. For instance, Kissinger had said no attempt would be made to prevent ships from entering the mined harbors, but Laird said Wednesday repeatedly that all steps necessary would be taken to stop deliveries. He was emphatic in making this point and said "I consider the entire land mass of North Vietnam would be a delivery." This would seem to indicate any effort to fly supplies in would be met with American force. Laird was asked in various ways what would happen to Soviet or other nations' ships which might try to deliver material and in every case his answer was typified by this response: "We will take those steps that are necessary to prevent the delivery of supplies that can be used to help the North Vietnamese to carry out their military aggression in Southeast Asia. "I don't know how I can be any more forthright or make it any clearer." He also said there is no evidence the Soviets have tried to sweep the mines from the harbor entrances. In noting "there is some evidence of some change of course" by Soviet ships, Laird said there is still a full period of daylight before the mines will be activated. When asked about the change of course, Laird said "There was one scheduled that did not choose to go in." He did not elaborate. Laird said there had been no movement in or out of the harbor at Haiphong since U.S. planes began seeding the harbor entrance with mines. According to Laird, 36 ships are in the main North Vietnamese harbor of Haiphong -16 of them Soviet vessels, five belonging to China, four British and the others from various Communist nations. So far, Laird said, Moscow has not responded officially to the President's ordering of the harbor mining and the interdiction of rail, road and water supplies. The defense secretary indicated as well the United States will not allow the mines to be removed and will do all possible to keep the harbors closed. Laird also said the United States will take "all steps necessary" to keep the harbors closed by mines. He denied the closure is a blockade in the international legal sense. Laired also said the President had offered just and generous peace terms to Hanoi, including a proposal for a cease-fire, but he said "we have some distance to go to get that cease-fire. I hope the enemy will recognize the wisdom of accepting the President's proposal." Despite the intensified American air and naval support, including the new actions in the North, Laird said the outcome of the war still "will be decided on the ground" by the South Vietnamese. The Soviet Union came under strong criticism by Laird for its supplying of Hanoi. Moscow, he said, has set no apparent upper limits on the types of equipment being shipped. He said American military aid, on the other hand, "must be used for defense purposes and cannot be used to carry on aggression or carry on an offensive act. "This is the basic difference between the Soviet program and the United States program. "The Soviet program is being used to help the violation of the 1954 (Geneva) accords and the 1968 understanding. They are carrying on aggressive acts in violating of these accords and understanding." When asked direct questions on the possible contingencies planned by the United States in the event that attempts are made to continue to bring in supplies to North Vietnam, Laird would only say: "We will take whatever action necessary" to prevent the supplies from reaching Hanoi's forces. And he said he meant to leave the impression that this could include firing on ships trying to work their way through the minefields."Soviet Ship Turns Away - Laird", by (AP), published in the Pacific Stars and Stripes on Friday, May 12, 1972 and reprinted from European and Pacific Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense publication copyright, 2002 European and Pacific Stars and Stripes.