Evening star., 1953-11-30
LanieI Is Put on Spot
By Indo-Chinese Red
Offer 10 Negotiate
By the A.seeie,ed Pres.

PARIS. Nov 30.-A reported
offer by Ho Chi Mimi, Commu-
mist rebel leader, to negotiate for
an Indo-C Chinese armistice set
new fires burning today under
the hard-pressed government of
French Premier Joseph Laniel.
Hos purported statement,
published yesterday in the
Stockholm newspaper Expressen,
touched off panicky and furi-
Gus resistance among anti-Com-
munist nationalist leaders in the
Indo-C Chinese capital of Saigon.
Many demanded a break in re-
lationS with France.
But it also was expected to
rally new support to strong seq
nlentS of French political and
public opinion which have de-
rlanded a quick end TO the
costly seven-year Far Eastern
conflict.
Government Cautious.
n Officially, Mr.. Laniel's govern
nlent was cautiously noncommit-
tai. A spokesman said until
the cabinet studied Hos mes
sage, the government could take
no position. Previously Mr..
Laniel has said France will
not refuse to negotiate If the
occasion presents itself"
Earlier Marc Jacquet, French
Secretary of State for Indo-
Chinese Affairs. said the offer
was interesting but could not be
considered basis for negotia-
tions. A cabinet communique
promptly said Mr.. Jacquet's
statement "can in no case be
considered as corresponding to
the position of the French gov
ernment."
AS quoted by the Stockholm
newspaper. Ho Chi Mimi said his
Wet Mimi forces would "be
ready to meet" an armistice pro-
posal from France F'if, having
learned the lesson of these years
Of war, the French government
wishes to have an arinistice and
settle the question / " negotia-
tlonS. The paper, Stockholm's
largest newspaper and a sup
porter Of the Liberal Party. said
Hos message was in reply to five
questions submitted November 5
10 the Wet Mimi offices in
Pieping.
HO Blasts u. S.
Ho said for an afmistice to
come about the French 90 have to
stop hostilities" and France must
really respect the independence
OF Wet Nam" He S. aid efforts
of neutrals to effect ah armistice
would be welcome" but ''nego-
tiations for an armistice are es-
sentially an affair between the
government of France and that
OF the Democratic Republic of
Wet Man," as the Communists
call their rebel regime,
He also blasted the United
states, asserting that "Ameri-
can imperialism is pushing
French colonialism to carry on
and extend the war of recon-
quest in Wet Nam with view
to making France become weak
er and weaker, and taking her
place in Wet Nam"
In line with the message, a
Peiping radio broadcast today
said that tpeace-loving people
in the rest of the world are de-
manding an end to the (Indo-
China) war by peaceful nego-
tiation." The Chinese Com
munists are supplying the Wet
Mimi with 5000 tons or more
of war material monthly, Wine
the United States is giving the
French-led forces in Indo-C China
half a billion dollars worth of
equipment and supplies an
nually.
In Paris, Premier Nguyen Van
Tam of the French-sponsored
Wet Nam government under ex-
Emperor Bao Dal, saio he was
agreeable to opening armistice
negotiations on condition the
Wet Mimi gave "the most serious
arantee beforehand. He
warned also that "any truce
which. might result should not
be put to profit by the Wet Mimi
to reinforce its military poten-
tial."
Tu,ea N&{a. caon Ha