To obtain that objective, we must be willing to explore every possible avenue of negotiation, in Paris or elsewhere. Recently representatives of North Vietnam and the National Liberation Front have stressed that if the United States would only set a date for withdrawal, discussion on the release of prisoners could begin at once. Some Americans have jumped to the conclusion that all the United States is required to do is set a withdrawal date and the prisoners will be released. Careful reading of the statements from the other side indicate that their representatives have promised only to enter into "discussions” about release of prisoners upon the setting of a date. The difference between "discussions" about prisoners of war and release of prisoners of war is considerable and likely masks additional demands by the other side, including perhaps the complete abandonment of our South Vietnamese allies and demands for reparations. Nevertheless, recognizing that the key to unlocking the cells of all our American prisoners will be found only in discussions and negotiations with the other side, our representatives in Paris should continue to explore fully each offer from the North Vietnamese and their allies, and should consider new initiatives by our side. In just such a spirit of open inquiry, the subcommittee held the series of hearings which are recorded in this volume. Our witnesses included persons who are both for and opposed to American involvement in the conflict in Southeast Asia. Among those who testified were a former prisoner in North Vietnam, wives and mothers of POW/MIA's, representatives of peace groups with contacts in Hanoi, Americans who have spoken to Communist representatives in Paris, representatives of the American National Red Cross, spokesmen for the administration, and Members of Congress. A wide variety of viewpoints, opinions, and recommendations were put forward during the hearings. As a result, the understanding of subcommittee members was, I believe, raised and their concern for the prisoners deepened. The subcommittee intends to keep constantly abreast of the POW/ MIA situation and to hold hearings and receive reports on the subject regularly in the future. Further, it is my hope that those who read these proceedings will be inspired to rededicate themselves to the cause of prisoners, their humane treatment, and speedy release. CLEMENT J. ZABLOCKI, Chairman, Subcommittee on National Security Policy Havens, Charles W. III, counsel, National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia_____ North, Mrs. Carole, chairman, National League of Families of Ameri- Vinson, Mrs. Joan, national coordinator, National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia_-_-_- Borman, Col. Frank, former special representative to the President on Eaton, Ramone S., vice president, American National Red Cross___ Starr, Harold W., secretary and counselor, American National Red Blanton, Hon. Ray, a Representative in Congress from the State of Tennessee (represented by Hon. Ed Jones, a Representative in Kemp, Hon. Jack F., a Representative in Congress from the State of 112 177 Jacobson, Michael F., representing the Washington Committee To Put 199 Villastrigo, Mrs. Edith, member, Washington Committee To Put the 205 Weiss, Mrs. Cora, cochairman, Committee of Liaison With Families of 215 Thursday, April 1, 1971: Fascell, Hon. Dante B., a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida__ Page 276 Friedman, Max, press correspondent and Baltimore regional coordinator, National Student Coordinating Committee for Freedom in Vietnam and Southeast Asia---- 295 Otto, David A., professor of biology, Stephens College, Columbia, Mo__ Tuesday, April 6, 1971: 279 Nutter, Hon. G. Warren, Assistant Secretary of Defense, for International Security Affairs____. 316 Sieverts, Frank A., Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State for Prisoner of War Matters__ 326 Sullivan, Ambassador William H., Deputy Assistant Secretary of 322 Tuesday, April 20, 1971: Barnet, Dr. Richard J., codirector, Institute of Policy Studies, Washington D.C‒‒‒‒‒‒ 359 Meacham, Stewart, peace secretary, American Friends Service Committee 374 Members of the audience_. 411 Rottmann, Larry, volunteer coordinator for Veterans Against the 406 Stockstill, Louis, journalist and writer. 384 Weiss, Mrs. Cora, cochairman, Committee of Liaison With Families of Servicemen Detained in North Vietnam, New York, N.Y__‒‒‒‒‒‒ 354 STATEMENTS AND MEMORANDUMS SUBMITTED Statement submitted by Col. Norris Overly, concerning individuals and 21 Text of statement by the president of the American National Red Cross concerning the Geneva Conventions relating to prisoners of war----- 84-85 Statement submitted by Hon. Robert N. C. Nix, a Representative in Congress from the State of Pennsylvania, relating to the problem of American prisoners of war in Vietnam____ 98-100 119-120 Text of letter to Hon. Richard M. Nixon signed by Members of Congress, 134-135 138-139 175 Quote from Madame Binh concerning withdrawal of U.S. troops from South war 215 244-249 Text of excerpt from Congressional Record, March 1, 1971, by Hon. Richard H. Ichord, a Representative in Congress from the State of Missouri, concerning testimony before the Committee on Internal Security relating to activities of subversive groups- Citations concerning the Student Mobilization Committee_-- 281-283 296-298 299-300 Text of article from the Washington Star, March 18, 1971, entitled "Ex- 300-301 Text of article from Baltimore Evening Sun, entitled "Hanoi Says POW's 306-307 Text of article from Washington Post, entitled "Soviets Describe American Excerpt from guide to subversive organizations concerning "Save Our Except from statement by North Vietnamese in Paris concerning release Page 307 308 342-343 Memorandum supplied by Department of Defense relating to battlefield releases or exchanges of prisoners of war_. 349 390-391 Letter from Col. Norris Overly, U.S. Air Force, to Mr. Louis Stockstill, 403-404 Letter from Larry Rottmann, Vietnam Veterans Against the War, concerning OCS torture instruction--- 423 Appendix I: APPENDIX Statement of Hon. Eligio de la Garza, concerning the problem of 425 425-426 Statement of Hon. John E. Moss in support of House Concurrent Reso- 427-462 463-464 464-468 468-478 Statement of Hon. Walter B. Jones transmitting statement of Joseph Appendix III: Material submitted for the record: Article from American Bar Association Journal, January 1, 1971, by Charles W. Havens III, entitled "Release and Repatriation of Vietnam Prisoners". 479-486 487-491 492 492-496 Article submitted by Hon. Jonathan B. Bingham from Washington 496 496-499 499-511 Material supplied by Stewart Meacham, American Friends Service 511-517 517-521 521-542 542, 545 Text of statement by Minister Xuan Thuy at 100th plenary session of 545-567 567-577 Statements by Departments of the Army, Navy and the Air Force on procedures followed relative to presumptive findings of death----- 578-583 |