B’nai B’rith Women Urge Negotiation, Not Escalation, in Vietnam War

A plea for “vigorous effort at negotiation” instead of further military escalation by the Administration in Vietnam was expressed today in a resolution of the B’nai B’rith Women.

Overwhelmingly approved at the organization’s triennial convention, the resolution said the American commitment in Vietnam “must not overshadow our fundamental commitment to our own nation, its inhabitants and our national welfare.” The women charged that escalation had turned Vietnam into “an American war, not a South Vietnamese war.” Concern was expressed that “further escalation is in prospect with a danger of World War III ever present.”

According to the resolution, “some of the assumptions” on which American military involvement was initially based seem no longer valid. The resolution said American effort on behalf of the South Vietnamese was compromised “in light of the fading support of the Thieu-Ky Government.” It also said that the “Domino theory which implies the loss of Southeast Asia to Communist domination if the United States does not attain victory in South Vietnam, is increasingly open to question.”

Mrs. Michael Shapiro, of Washington, was elected international president for a three-year term. succeeding Mrs. Arthur G, Rosenbluth, of Hewlett, N.Y. Other new officers elected were Mrs. Nathan Holstein, of Pittsburgh, first vice-president; Mrs. Milton T. Smith, of Austin, Texas, second vice-president; Mrs. Louis Kash, of Los Angeles, third vice-president, and Mrs. D. J. Wasserstrom, of Kansas City, treasurer.