Vol. 5, No. 2 January 13, 1967
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ANTIWAR APPEAL GIVEN AMERICAN GI'S IN JAPAN
An unusual, but probably one of the most heartfelt messages received by American GI's during the Christmas holidays was the handbill, written in English, which was distributed to them in Japan appealing to them to try to pull out of Vietnam. The message appealed to the American servicemen to "go back to your native towns where your parents, brothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts are anxiously waiting for you."
The leaflet was sponsored by the Japan Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee, the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society, Japan Peace Committee, and the Japan Council Against A- and H-Bombs.
As reported by the December 26 Japan Times, the message began: "Merry Xmas! Dear Gl. Fortunately you have been able to survive up to now. But if sent back to Vietnam again, you may be killed tomorrow."
Following this arresting opening, the leaflet continued:
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_ "All the people in Vietnam are Vietnamese people. For what purpose are you forced to slaughter the same: human beings? :
"Can you imagine your parents» brothers, sisters, babies and sweethearts being slaughtered by foreign invaders? .
"No matter how just the invaders try to make their motive for invasion appear surely your heart can only be filled with rage, and so with the same feelings as you would naturally have -- the Vietnamese patriots who are under the same mentioned bitter circumstances are determined to fight through until victory is won to free their people from foreign invasion.
"L.B.Johnson, Dean Rusk, R.S.McNamara, W.C.Westmoreland are waging the war in the interests of U.S. war industries and big business who are all living in the lap of luxury while you are bleeding -- fighting an unjust war.
"Cease this senseless war in Vietnam and go home to your country and loved ones!"
The message ended with the following appeal: "Go home to your country with healthy bodies -- for many Merry Xmasses comfortably at home now and in the future."
The Japan Times did not report whether the four organizations that collaborated in issuing and distributing the leaflet intended to follow up with more along the. same line. Nor did the newspaper report the reaction of the American