1908

A letter from Fred Hodgson's housekeeper, Mrs. Sonja Ward of 12 Kenwood Avenue, Verona, N. J., dated November 20, reported that Fred was operated on at the St. Vincents Hospital in Montclair for a cataract of one eye and was in the hospital for four days. Then his family decided that, since his younger son was a practical nurse, it would be better for Fred to stay in Andover with this son John and wife.

His present address is: Fred H. Hodgson, c/o Mr. and Mrs. John Hodgson, R.F.D. #1, Box 441 C, Newton, near Andover, N. J., 07860; but a letter to his home address, 12 Kenwood Avenue, Verona, N. J., would reach him through his housekeeper, Mrs. Sonja Ward. As is well known to his classmates, Fred

was an eminent consulting biologist on pollen allergies and since 1924 had made a profession of the processing and sale of pure pollens to hospitals and specialists on allergies.

Last May, Royal P. Carter, "Nick" to us of 1908, who has been a resident of the Philippines most of the time since gradua- tion, starting as a supervising teacher in Luzon, has written two long letters to LeonWoodward of Swanzey on conditions in the Philippines and Far East with special reference to U. S. involvement in the war in Vietnam; these Leon has forwarded to this class editor. Nick has also been a close student of conditions in Europe and the involvement of European nations in the Viet- nam War and efforts to bring peace through SEATO, the South East Treaty Organization.

Some of Nick's remarks are pungent and sarcastic but have been examined and approved by Class and College officers, and classmates will find them interesting and informative.

Eisenhower by placing too much confidence in his Secretary of State, Dulles, permitted Dulles to form SEATO, South East Treaty Organization, under which France, England, and America guaranteed the independence of the developing nations of South Asia and promised to defend these nations from Red China and Communism. As a result of this treaty America is now fighting in South Vietnam.

The "not so grand" Le Charles has withdrawn from SEATO and instead of honoring his obligation openly opposes American aid to South Vietnam. England also, claiming financial difficulties, is retiring from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Orient, leaving only Hong Kong.

The Red Chinese are already infiltrating Thailand, Burma, and Malaysia. Laos and Cambodia are decidedly pro-communist. The only plausible reason for Ho and Mao to continue the war is to force America to spend 25 to 30 billion a year to carry on the war. The intention is to strain the U. S. economy. Ho and Mao are not fools. They know that they may not win the war but they will win the peace.

Mutual Defense Treaties. The danger to America is that, according to Secretary of State Rusk, America has about 35 so-called "Mutual Defense Treaties." The trouble is thai with most of them "mutual" is a misnomer. There is nothing mutual about them. They only obligate America to defend them if they get into a scrap. America obligates herself to defend them but if America got into a jam what could they or even would they do to help her?

Preliminary peace talks with Hanoi have started in Paris for appearance sake. "Papa Ho" may advance many obstacles, playing hard to come to an agreement, but "Papa Ho" is no fool and L.B.J, promised him the only condition essential to Ho to sign a peace treaty, namely, that within six months after signing a peace treaty, all American troops will leave Vietnam. It does not matter what the other conditions are.

There is an interesting article in the December issue of the National Geographic Magazine, "The Mekong - River of Terror and Hope" with an excellent map on page 745 of all the countries involved in the Vietnam War. And on page 748 a statement from a seasoned European diplomat. The Laotians dislike the Thais, the Thais hate the Cambodians, the Cambodians detest the Thais and the Vietnamese, and the Vietnamese look down on the Cambodians, Thais and Laotians. There- seems to be a great deal of truth in that.

Class Notes Editor 13 Pembroke Rd. Danbury, Conn. 06812

Secretary, : 120 Broadway, P. W. Brooks and Co. New York, N. Y. 10005

Treasurer, 17 Harland Place, Norwich, Conn.

Bequest Chairman,