Room 56-423

June 1, 1967

To the Editor
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
Hew York, New York

Dear sir:

Your thoughtful editorial of May 31, commenting on the different and

conflicting nature of the U.S. commitments in Vietnam and in the Middle East,

is a significant contribution to clarity in national policy. Clearly, the
existence and legitimate interests of Israel, like those of her neighbors,

must be protected by international action.  Restoration of effective U.S.

presence at the danger points and U&sponsored. guarantee of free naviqation are
urgently needed.

But the present crisis must he seen as primarily a crisis of power and
prestige for the U.TJ.  For this the U.S. Government bears the main burden of

responsibility.  Mothinq has contributed more to humiliate the UPI than our
C&vernment's repeated rebuffs in connection with the Vietnam war.

The Johnson Administration has chosen to disregard the United Nations as
well as world opinion in the name of our pretended Vietnam commitments.   It

is hard to see how a Government which day after day, against the exnressed

advice of the UK, is bombing the cities of Vietnam, can honestly undertake to
oppose illeRa unilateral actions by other governments or can be trusted to
make good its legitimate commitments  elsewhere in the world.

The moral and political leadership of the United States in world affairs

can be restored only by arrestirq and reversing the present course of our
Vietnam policy.

Noam Chomsky, Prof. of IIumanities

Salvador E. Luria, Prof. of Ciolop?~

PMlip Morrison, Prof. of Physics