Asia Experts Express Concern for Vietnam

NEW YORK, Dec. 19-Edwin O. Reischauer, University Professor, and Oscar Handlin, Charles Warren Professor, of American History, are among 14 Asia scholars who have signed a moderate Vietnam statement under the auspices of the Freedom House Public Affairs Institute.

"To accept a Communist victory in Vietnam. . . would gravely jeopardize the possibilities of a political equilibrium in Asia, seriously damage our credibility, deeply affect the morale--and the policies--of our Asian allies and the neutrals," the report states.

"These are not developments conducive to a long-range peace. They are more likely to prove precursors to larger, more costly wars."

"The moderate segment of the academic community must now be heard, lest other voices be mistaken for majority sentiment," it says.