The Gas Men
'Gas,' as everybody knew and as everybody has repeated, is a very emotive word, 'napalm' slightly less so. Napalm, as anyone who reads the news- papers must have known, has been in use by the Americans in South Vietnam for some consider' able time. So it is surprising that any public out- cry should have been delayed till now, till in fact it could be linked to protests against the use of un- specified gases for purposes which the protestors have not gone into and the alternatives to which
• they have not examined.
Abroad the Foreign Secretary firmly main' tained his support for American policy. In the House of Commons the Prime Minister deviated a little to appease his left wing. Perhaps he had no alternative, but it is beginning to be time Mr. Wilson made a positive statement. The American commitment to Vietnam is a firm one, they will employ all sort of methods and a solution may be a long time ahead. Outbursts of criticism like the one this week will probably be frequent. TheY, cannot all be answered by saying 'we didn't know (even if we didn't, we might have guessed). Sonie time Mr. Wilson will have to distinguish between the greater and the lesser morality. He will have to say whether or not he supports American policy, not just in outline but with all its implica• tions. President Johnson, it is said, plays his cards very close to his chest so that no one can see then'''. Mr. Wilson seems to do the same to hide the fact that he hasn't got any.
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