◆ SpookStack

Repriotes with permission from The Christian Centayy Hanoi and the Trek of the Phoenix Preliminaries “Thou shalt pot kill—except thine enemy” is how the Filth Commandment is usually interpreted. But for the nine pacifists who sailed the so-foot yacht Phoenix, laden with medical supplics, into the North Vietnam harbor of Hai- phong during Hoiy Weck this ycar, as well: as for their sponsor (A Quaker Action’ Group~A.Q.AG), the Old Testament version still’ holds: “Thou Shalt Not Kill.” Besides, they contend men as “th imit constructive relationships and pre vents reconciliation among men, that the true “enemy” is not other men but disease, poverty, war and ignorance. The Phoenix sailed first from Tokyo to Hiroshima, where A-bomb victims, physicians and civilians helped the crew - select, purchase, package and load the medical supplies. During this part of the woyage and the subsequent sailii Hone Eo: Hong Ko man of Wisconsin, mother of six, and I were in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where we had gone by plane to interpret the voyage to North Vietnam represcnia- tives there; to provide information on the crew, cargo, markings, schedule and route; and to obtain permission to sail : ‘Into Haiphong harbor. Betty then few to Hong Kong for the last part of the To HAIPHONG Wie on to Hanoi to Prepare : Aucust x, 1967 An Isolated Capital In many ways Hanoi is isolated. From the west the only approach is by the International Control Commission plane which makes a circular tip stopping at saigon, Phnom Penh, Vientiane and Hanoi on Fridays and alternate Tues- days. Many flights do not get to Hanoi because of bad weather or U.S. homb- ing: my Bight encountered neither. ¥ was met by five Red Cros: officials who greeted me warmly and ushered me into a private roam in the terminal, where we got acquainted, drank tea and filled out customs papers. It was through the North Vietnam Red Cross that I made .. the arrangements for the Phoenix's ar- rival and our week's stay. Hanoi is a beautiful piace, cities in southern France with parks, Takes, wide ireclined streets and boule vards, There are few cars; most people . walk, ride bicycles or travel by bus or streetcar, F saw few school-age children: most of them have been evacuared to + gurrounding villages because of antici-- pated US. air atcacks.. Commerce is decentralized as much at possible, with much activity taking place at night Most goods are moved on human . shoulders, on bicycles or on carts pulled © by oxen or people. The city is a cultural center with many museums, nightly opera performances, theaters which pre- sent plays and va prays an LOVE imilar to by CARL P. ZIETLOW de houses offering films made in Nor Viewan. Arrival and Reecption Artiving in Haiphong after midnig! the Phoenix and its crew were worn welcomed by about 40 people from t national and Haiphong Red Cross 30 eties. That welcome of flowers a! fricndship was in sharp contrast to t welcome of flack and fire that grect other Americans earlier that evening they bombed the outskirts of the city. 3n all our communications we made dear that our rid was for civilian ca: altics of the war, and we were assur that our intent would be honored. 1 consigned the supplies | to the nator Red Cross at the dock, folowing | with a symbolic ceremony at the surgi hospital in Hanoi. The crew and I wanted to meet p ple, sce the effects of the war on cit dans, visit some bombed villages, ser the aspirations of the North Vietnam and discuss future projects with R Cross officials and the Committee | the Defense of Peace. The North Vi namese wanted to hear from us abe Quakers, Representatives of the pe: committee, of the Red Cross, of varic mewspapers and magazines and of bor, women's, youth and children’s | Ganizations atiended a meeting at whi “we described the Quakers’ beliefs; th