J.w.v. National Commander Rejects Criticism of Reform Rabbis

The position of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States with regard to the American policy on Viet Nam was outlined here today in a statement issued by Milton A. Waldor, national commander of the organization, who took issue with Rabbis Maurice N. Eisendrath and Jacob J. Weinstein, the two leaders of Reform Judaism. The two rabbis criticized Mr. Waldor who, upon his return from a visit to Viet Nam, urged the U.S. to reach “a decisive victory by whatever means.”

“I regret that these two distinguished leaders of Reform Judaism apparently did not take the trouble to apprise themselves of JWV’s policies and statements concerning our Government’s actions in the Far East,” Mr. Waldor said in his statement. “If they had, they would not have issued such a distorted and inaccurate statement.

“JWV’s policy, publicly expressed, is to urge and support peace negotiations. If any or all such peaceful negotiations are refused and rejected by the Communists, JWV supports the Governmental measures necessary to consummate a successful conclusion of the hostilities. Historically, on the record, JWV has opposed and continues to oppose the use of atomic weapons in Viet Nam. Any other implication is false and inaccurate,” Mr. Waldor stressed.

Declaring that he “shares the desire of all well-meaning people that this war be brought to an end as quickly as is reasonably possible,” the JWV national commander added: “But we cannot bring this about unilaterally when we are not the aggressor, when the other side refuses even to consider a peaceful solution. I hate war as much as anyone, but this kind of submission is not an acceptable alternative.”