The issue of May 6, 1965 is unavailable in our archives. The following is a selection from the May 5 issue.

EDITORIAL: THE despatch of over 9,000 US paratroopers and marines to the Dominican Republic has created a major crisis in the Caribbean. The despatch of troops followed an internal revolution by the supporters of the exiled President, Dr Juan Bosch, against a three-man right-wing junta, which has President Johnson’s support. ... The situation is undoubtedly serious and has been so described by the UN Secretary-General. But it does not, in any case, justify armed intervention by the USA. President Johnson’s justification for taking sides in another country’s civil war follows the familiar pattern of American excuses for intervention in other nations’ internal affairs. ...

Equally untenable is the US plea that it acted to protect American and foreign lives in the Republic. For, published reports about the fighting which took place in Santo Domingo do not suggest that there was any danger to American lives or, for that matter, to any foreigner. ... The armed intervention by America, instead of resolving the crisis in the strife-torn Republic, has only helped to further intensify it. It has seriously jeopardised the entire concept of progress, democracy and social justice which President Johnson invoked in his television remark on the situation. ... The US must get rid of this attitude. ... President Johnson must realise that the world has ... moved away from the age of gunboat diplomacy.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play