Dossier DD/7/5 - Letter from George K. Tanham - 24 April 1968

Letter from George K. Tanham, National Chairman of American Friends of Vietnam. Tanham writes of the recent wave of terrorist attacks of the period of the Lunar New Year, as well as of a previous massacre of unarmed mountain tribesmen at Dak Son on 05 December, where 252 people were killed, another 100 were kidnapped, and 500 were missing.

Tanham writes that despite the terror tactics designed to intimidate the South Vietnamese, in recent presidential elections 83% of eligible voters went to the polls, which showed an unwillingness to permit the National Liberation Front to take over by default. Further neighbouring nations including the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea have also expressed their support for the allied effort in South Vietnam. Tanham calls for the support of the American Friends of Vietnam to support the society's efforts in achieving a stable, just and democratic society and that despite Vietnam receiving American military and economic assistance, the country also needs the support of an informed American public.