PAGE FOUR
Editorial Opinion
A Peaceful Solution
On Sunday afternoon a boy sat in the almost deserted
lounge of the Hetzel Union Building. He was reading a
newspaper, his fingers tightly clutching its edges. His face
gradually lost its color and his eyes widened into a fright
ened stare. Suddenly he gasped, “Why should I be sent to
fight a war in Laos?”
The idea of fighting in Laos is not far fetched since
tiie Communists are always alert to spread their influence
and the West is always on the alert to guard against it.
Thus, the tug of war between the two Ideologies could
start in any uncommitted country with the threat of a
full-scale war always in the background.
Britain and France, fellow SEATO members also
pledged to the defense of the area against foreign inter
vention, have made the U.S. take a calmer view in Laos.
However, if the pro-Western Laos government can
prove that North Vietnamese, Russian or Red Chinese
troops are fighting with the pro-Comunists, students might
have to drop their studies to fight and perhaps die in the
Laotian jungles. •
If Laos falls to the Communists it could serve, as a
point of further Communist intervention into Cambodia
and South Vietnam. The West cannot tolerate this.
However, Moscow has said that they recognize as the
official Laotian head of government Souvanna Phouma,
the neutralist who was overthrown by pro-Western lead-
ers last month.
Yet it is encouraging that Moscow has said it is will
ing to negotiate and has called for a conference of the
participants in the 1954. Geneva meeting that ended the
fighting in Indo-China including Laos and divided Viet
nam into two parts.
Boun Oum, Laos pro-Western leader is in favor of
negotiating and has said he would let the International
Control Commission set up after the armistice settles the
fighting—but only if the commission composed of India,
Canada and Red Poland would recognize his government
as the leghl authority in Laos.
The commission stopped functioning in 1958 and then
Laos was once again split over fighting over which regime
—neutralist. Communists or pro-Western—should be the
official government.
Many political experts say that negotiations 'lead
nowhere. However, this is only true in a situation in which
neither side wishes to negotiate. In this case the West and
the East seem willing to do so.
We realize that a war on any scale can no longer be
used as a way to settle disputes. A total war could wipe
out mankind. A limited action war results in many deaths
and in the.end, the peace negotiators must settle it anyway.
We see negotiations as the way to settle disputes and
it is our hope that someday all international disputes will
be settled in this way.
Today’s college students have had two major wars
occur in their lifetime. They have been taught that war is
horrible and futile.
We say that the Laotian crisis must be settled by
negotiation for a coalition government. This could serve
as a symbol that the nations of the world can settle;then
disputes peacefully, and in the future will use the con
ference table as the battleground with words as the only
weapons.
Bargain to Europe
While it may seem unseasonal to think about summer
vacation now, any students or University personnel who
are planning to go to Europe this summer must act
quickly if they don’t want to miss out on the best trans
portation bargain available to them.
For the second year, Student Government Associa
tion plans to charter a flight to Europe so that Penn Staters
can travel at the lowest possible expense. The round trip
cost of $260 is $l5 lower than the cost last year.
The fare on the charter flight allows a considerable
savings over regular commercial flights, but Feb. 1 is
the deadline for applications.
University students and employees will have to act
fast to take advantage of this bargain.
THE DAILY COLLEGIAN. STATE COLLEGE. PENNSYLVANIA
Letters
Men In West
Get Sympathy
TO THE EDITOR: As a mem
ber of the North Halls area I
wish to extend my deepest
sympathy to the West Halls
Area Council and the men they
represent.
All of us in North Halls are
profoundly touched by the fact
that there is a ratio of only one
girl to every three boys in the
West Halls area.
We know that when the Dean
of Women hears of your plight
she will undoubtedly come to
the rescue. After all, she
wouldn't want her charges to
be shy because they are in the
minority.
When you receive the 400
coeds you desire for Thompson
(this will no doubt make all
the girls less shy) would you
be willing to let us borrow a
few here and there. These im
ports would be a welcome
change to say the least.
As members of an 1150 to 0
ratio, the North Halls area men
sympathize with you and are
forced to admit that a 3 to 1
ratio is deplorable.
—E. J. Dowling, '62
Gazette
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IB Irvin
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Inter]
Solution Failures
Fill Laos History
By J. M. ROBERTS
Associated Press News Analyst
A proposal for a new large-scale international confer
ence to seek a solution of the civil war in Laos reminds that
twice before—when the pro-Communist forces were weak
er than now, and when the Communist bloc was not sup
plying arms—such solutions have been reached and failed.
Both failures have accom
panied acceptance by Western
negotiators of the false prem
ise that Communists can take
part, instead of just trying to
take over, in a government.
In 1954 the
Laos Commu
nists, occupy
ing a border
area adjoin
ing the Com
munist sphere,
haggled and
haggled over
terms of the
Geneva ag
r e e meat ■ to
prevent inte- ROBERTS
gration of the country, finally
came to terms in 1958, but only
temporarily. Fighting broke
out almost as soon as the com
mission decided its work was
finished.
After the 1954 agreement, a
part of measures taken to end
the Indochina war between
France and Communists, the
Soviet Union, co-chairman of
the Geneva conference, let
things simmer in Southeast
Asia. Now she is actively sup
porting the rebels with sup
plies, and Red forces in North
Viet Nam and Red China are
on hand for intervention at any
lime.
This the United States says
she will not countenance.
To divert activity toward ne
gotiation and away from the
field of threats, Britain sug-
A Student-Operated Newspaper
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Publiihcd Tueaday through Saturday morning during tht Unlveralty yaar. The
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JOHN BLACK
Editor
Member of The Associated Press
and The Intercollegiate Press
City Editor; Carol Blakeslee) Assistant Editor, Gloria Wolford; Sporta Editor,
Sandy Padwe; Assistant City Editor and Personnel Director, Susan Linkronmt
Feature Editor and Assistant Copy Editor. Elaine Miele: Copy Editor* Annabel!#
Rosenthal; Photography Editor, Frederic Bovrers Moke-op Editor* Joel Myers.
Local Ad Mgr., Brad Davis; Assistant Local Ad Mgr., Hal Deisher; National
Ad Mgr., Bessie Burke; Credit Mgr., Mary Ann Crana; Ass’t Credit Mgr., Neal
Keiis; Classified Ad Mgr., Constance Kleatl; Co-Circulation Mgrs., Roetland
Abes, Richard Kitzingtr; Promotion Mgr,, Elaine Michel; Personnel Mgr.
Becky Kohudie; Office Secretary, Joanne Huyett.
STAFF THIS ISSUE; Headline Editor, Polly Dranov; Wire Edi
tor, Sue Eberly; Night Copy Editor, Barb Yunk. Assistants.
Sue Beveridge, Ann Irwin, Vicki Wentz, Winnie Boyle, Dottl
Spahr, Lillian Berger, Vicki Caplan, Linda Prunella, Jackie
Russiano, Barb Fritz, Brenda Brunner, John Gilbert.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 1961
GET THE fOLI tencx. OH
Me Y OUR GIA&M. *
gested revival of the Interna
tional Control Commission
India, Poland and Canada.
The United States said yes,
provided King Savang Vatha
na’s government agreed, but
the Soviet Union said no be
cause a neutralist government
is her choice. Now Cambodia
has suggested a 14-nation con
ference, including Red China,
and first signs suggested the
idea might prevail.
Such a conference could
hardly produce a solution, in
a situation where the Commu
nists are determined that there
shall be no solution except one
that gives them the country.
It just might, however, gain
enough time to let the Com
munists escape from a situation
threatening a large-scale war
which Red China might want
but which the Soviet Union
does not.
Observers are pretty much
agreed that the Pathet Lao, the
local Communist organization,
is stronger than ever, due part
ly to organizational efforts and
partly to the split between the
neutralists and the pro-West
ern faction of the king. This
puts them in just the position
that the Communists want, for
internal conquest without in
ternational war.
Unkept agreements have
kept the pot simmering for six
years, and a West divided on
policy seems unable to pro
duce anything better.
CHESTER LUCIDO
Business Manager