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ee i ree a) We ee See ie paper ot — ur has noi the Phoenix already accomplished is thternational law. Is in its voyage to North Vietnam? Only partially. It was a great achievement, but it- focused mainly on North Vietnam, while most of the fighting is in the South. So, in addition to providing for the North Vietnamese surgical instruments requested by the Red Cross, we need to take medical aid to suffer- ing civilians on both sides of the conflict in the South. The effect of the Phoenix voyage to Haiphong shows that there are reserves of compassion in the American people which are aroused by the spectacle of its government so intent on destruction that it even forbids ministering to the needs of suffering people. There is nothing very subtle about this action. Despite its strong humanitarian thrust, it ts also e@ divect confrontation with the President's stern deter- mination. Journalists tell us that the President is angry when crossed. Would you not get further by more tactful persuasion? This question deserves a long answer, but J can say is much briefly: the Friend who studies modern sociol- ogy, political science, early Quakerism, or the civil rights movement will see that “tactful persuasion” is much less effective than nonviolent direct action. It was a con- gressman who reportedly said that if most American Quakers committed civil disobedience to end the war it would end. If that political analysis is correct, it places an enormous burden on those who still argue for letter- writing and conferences only. violent confrontations with constituted authority. Mod, ern students of politics would admit that political deci- sion-making is not an exercise in sweet reason; it is naive * . * . Wont to imagine that substantial changes take place"without - forces in motion. Martin Luther King, Jr., has given a “premendous assist to all Friends who want a better world by showing the value of direct action. In order to get’ justice for black Americans recognized by President Ken- . we nedy, King went to Birmingham; and when 2 voting law was needed, he went to Selma. oo ~ One of the things the world badly needs js more -5t , . : en ee ee ere, and Their ed not civil disobedient incon sistent with the respect.for law which must grow 1 the process of building a community of man! In ratifying the Geneva Convention Relative to th Treatment of Civilians in Time of War (February + 1956), the United States acknowledged its humanutaria obligations to permit “the free passage of all consigr ments of medical and hospital stores . . - intended on! for civilians of another High Contracting Party, even | the latter is its adversary.” Therefore, in preventin Friends from ministering to the sufferings of our brother the U. S: is itself violating the spirit, if not the letter, ¢ world law. A Quaker Action Group, several Yearly an Monthly Meetings, Young Friends of North America, an many individual Friends are obeying the higher law ¢ international community as well as the leading of th Spirit which is superior to all governments. . My hope is that as the Phoenix sails once again su more Friends will act in accordance not with the “loca Jaw of a nation-state engaged in a bloody war but : heartfelt empathy with their brothers. If that Quak love is liberated to act, our little boat will feel it. ee i ee ee ee George Lakey is project leader for the contemplated voyage 0 mercy to Vietnam by the yacht Phoenix for which negouations wen being fonducted by the voyage’s sponsor, A Quaker Action Group at the time of the Journal's going to press. (See note under “Friend. Friends.”) . te eee nee The early stream of prophetic Quakerism did not spend much time on public-relations techniques, but it. did accomplish substantial changes by its series of non-- we a nee ee eee ee ee ee