WASHINGTON: Two American Senators yesterday [Feb 21] declared that the only way to end the Viet-Nam fighting and free U.S. prisoners was Congressional action to cut off all war funds. Democratic Senator George McGovern of South Dakota said: I think the way out of South Viet-Nam does not lead through Cambodia and Laos, it leads by a flat statement that we are getting out, and once we make that statement, we won’t need to be fighting in Laos and Cambodia in order to accomplish our withdrawal.” The Senator ... was speaking on a nationwide television programme.

...Republican Senator Mark Hatfield of Oregon said in another programme that he hoped a Congressional mandate cutting off Viet-Nam funds would be approved this year. The two Senators last year sponsored a measure to end the fighting and cut off war spending which was defeated by a 55 to 39 vote. The two may this year put forward a similar amendment. Senator McGovern accused President Nixon of deceit by telling the American people that U.S. troops were fighting for South Viet-Nam’s self-determination and that the South Viet-Namese people were behind the Saigon Government.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2021