# Thieu Sees Kissinger, Still Bars a Coalition

From Combined Services

SAIGON (AP)—Presidential aide Henry Kissinger conferred twice today with President Nguyen Van Thieu, and Thieu's information ministry said the president had once again stated his opposition to a coalition government including Communists.

President Nixon's chief foreign policy adviser and the South Vietnamese president reviewed Kissinger's secret peace negotiations in Paris for 3½ hours at a meeting attended by 13 other high-level U. S. and Vietnamese officials.

Kissinger and U. S. Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker returned in late

afternoon for another session with Thieu. It lasted 90 minutes.

There was no official word or leak from the U. S. side of what was being said. But a spokesman for the South Vietnamese government, Vu Khanh, read this communique at the information ministry's daily news briefing:

> "Political observers in Saigon remarked that at the arrival of the American delegation in Saigon, President Nguyen Van Thieu continues to meet with representatives of the Senate and the Lower House, the Supreme Court and various political parties and reasserted our firm position never to accept a tripartite proposal

or any other political solution which has not been agreed upon by the people of South Vietnam through democratic means."

Khanh said the communique was sent to him at 10 a.m., midway through the first meeting between Kissinger and Thieu, and he was ordered to read it at the evening briefing.

He said he did not know why the communique attributed its information to "political observers" instead of an official government agency. But reporters considered it a device for Thieu to make his position public without breaking any pledge of

*Continued on Page 5*

## INSIDE THE POST

Magazine Section Starts on Page 37.

Financial Section Starts on Page 54.

Schools Series continues on Page 37.

Sports Section Starts on Back Page.

<table><tbody><tr><td>Amusements</td><td>34-35, 45-52</td></tr><tr><td>Anderson, Jack</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>Book Review</td><td>32</td></tr><tr><td>Bridge by Sheinwold</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Buchwald, Art</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Buckley, William F. Jr.</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Cameras by Langer</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>Classified</td><td>61-63</td></tr><tr><td>Comics</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>Crossword</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>Daily Closeup</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Dance by Herridge</td><td>46</td></tr><tr><td>Dear Abby</td><td>42</td></tr><tr><td>Editorials</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>Entertainment for Children</td><td>50</td></tr><tr><td>Evans and Novak</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>Family Pets</td><td>66, 67</td></tr><tr><td>Fashions & the Home</td><td>42, 43</td></tr><tr><td>Fishing Anyone?</td><td>64</td></tr><tr><td>Franzblau, Dr. Rose</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Fritchey, Clayton</td><td>38</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><tbody><tr><td>Horoscope: Dixon</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Lyons, Leonard</td><td>39</td></tr><tr><td>Magazine</td><td>37-44</td></tr><tr><td>Merchant on Sports</td><td>74</td></tr><tr><td>Movies by Winsten</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>Movie Clock</td><td>48, 50, 51, 52</td></tr><tr><td>Music by Johnson</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Needlework Patterns</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Obituaries</td><td>60</td></tr><tr><td>Peanuts</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>Pierotti</td><td>40</td></tr><tr><td>Porter, Sylvia</td><td>38</td></tr><tr><td>Radio Programs</td><td>77</td></tr><tr><td>Sheppard, Eugenia</td><td>43</td></tr><tr><td>Stamps by Kronish</td><td>77</td></tr><tr><td>Stocks by Shulsky</td><td>54</td></tr><tr><td>TV Programs</td><td>79</td></tr><tr><td>TV by Williams</td><td>79</td></tr><tr><td>Wechsler, James A.</td><td>41</td></tr><tr><td>Wilson, Earl</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>Word Power</td><td>44</td></tr></tbody></table>

## Today's Air

Latest samplings taken by the Air Resources Dept. showed the air quality was acceptable.

The Post carries the wire services of the Associated Press (AP), Chicago Daily News (CDN), Chicago Sun-Times (CS-T), Los Angeles Times (LAT), Washington Post (WP) and London Express

Published daily except Sunday. 2d class postage paid at New York, N. Y.

76

bad for business.

The morals square man said he had generated the Mademoiselle massage parlor, 136 E. 58th St., late last night with several other officers. While the others were waiting their turn in the lobby, he said, he was taken to a private room with a water bed and psychedelic lighting for a rubdown by one of the establishment's female employes.

Once he'd been informed about the prices for the extra services, the policeman said, he had to tell the young lady she was under arrest.

Arrested and charged with prostitution was Jerry Saunders, 33; the manager of the parlor, Rennie Atwell, 22, charged with permitting prostitution on the premises; and five other women, charged with loitering for purposes of prostitution.

## Britain Protests Crash

## Of Boats Off Iceland

LONDON (AP) — Britain charged that an Icelandic gunboat crashed into a British trawler yesterday in disputed cod fishing grounds off Iceland.

DAY, OCTOBER 19, 1972

5

# Kissinger & Thieu: Still No Coalition

*Continued From Page 1*

secrecy he might have given the Americans.

There was no indication yet when Kissinger would leave Saigon.

There has been speculation that Kissinger would try to convince Thieu to accept—or at least negotiate—some sort of coalition or dual government with the Viet Cong.

A report from Hanoi in the French communist paper,

L'Humanite, which always faithfully follows the North Vietnamese policy line, gave a hint of Kissinger's progress at the Paris talks.

"At Hanoi, observers believe that something positive is coming out of the latest private meetings," L'Humanite headlined.

The French party paper repeated Hanoi peace demands in wording that surprisingly didn't mention Thieu.

Thieu has been presented as the main obstacle to peace in Communist propaganda. He was denounced again in Paris yesterday as a "traitor" by Hanoi spokesman Nguyen Thanh Le. "Until now, there is no sign that the Nixon Administration wants to end the war" Le also said.

L'Humanite correspondent Theo Ronco also omitted the usual reference to a three-part coalition government to replace the Saigon regime.

Instead he stressed a call for the "total disengagement of the U. S. from Vietnam. U. S. military support prevents the fall of the "puppet regime," he said.

But Ronco asserted that the Viet Cong "revolutionary government . . . gives all guarantees to open as soon as possible the road to national concord."

As for American war prisoners, he advised Nixon to "shut up" about them. Hanoi "will liberate all the remaining (prisoners) when the U. S. ends their aggression and engages itself not to begin again."

Another hint of approaching peace was seen in an editorial in the official Hanoi paper, Nhan Dan. Comment-

## GI Toll 2

**SAIGON (AP)** — Two Americans were reported killed in the Vietnam war last week, five were missing and four were wounded, the U. S. Command reported today. For the first time in seven years of weekly casualty reports, no deaths from nonhostile causes were listed.

South Vietnamese casualties were the highest in seven weeks: 576 killed, 2,421 wounded and 188 missing. The South Vietnamese command claimed 1,722 North Vietnamese and Viet Cong killed, 321 less than the week before.

ing on a recent "war crimes" conference in Copenhagen, Nhan Dan mentioned post-war payment of damages to be charged to the U. S.

Kissinger was accompanied to the Saigon meeting today by U. S. Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker, Deputy Ambassador Charles S. Whitehouse, William Sullivan, the Deputy assistant secretary of state for Far East and Pacific affairs; Gen. Greighton W. Abrams, the U. S. Army chief of staff; and David Engle

## The Unlisted No. 1

**TEL AVIV (AP)** — The latest English-language telephone directory has come out in Israel with nine Moshe Dayans listed under "D." There's Moshe Dayan the rabbi and Moshe Dayan the plumber, but nothing about Moshe Dayan the defense minister. His number is secret.

NEW YORK POST, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 1972

6

# City Loan Scandal: 1st Case to Jury

By MIKE PEARL

The case of the first of 21 men indicted as a result of investigations into the scandal-ridden Municipal Loan Program goes to the jury in State Supreme Court today.

A jury of 12 men will weigh the case against two high ranking loan officials: Joseph Di Sessa, 56, of 2459 Fish Av., and Eugenio Tutora, 42 of 1589 Waring Av., both of the Bronx. Both men are charged with grand larceny by extortion, bribe receiving, receiving unlawful gratuities and conspiracy.

If convicted on all counts they could get up to 16 years in prison.

The trial entered its third week today as Justice Frank Blangiardo was scheduled to charge the jury, after which they would begin deliberations.

Prosecuting attorney Austin Campriello claimed that DiSessa, who supervised inspection of the city-administered Municipal Loan rehabilitation projects in Manhattan, and Tutora, who held a similar post in the Bronx, had attempted to shake down Mario Crisafulli, a building contractor, for $5000.

Campriello said the two officials threatened Crisafulli with vetoing the contractor's application for an $80,000 loan. In January 1971, the assistant district attorney charged, Tutora received

$3000 from Crisafulli in a trailer at 334-338 E. 100th St., the site of the contractor's rehabilitation project.

In June, the state claimed, DiSessa received a second installment of $200 in the trailer from the contractor. Before a third payment was made, Crisafulli went to the DA's office, Campriello said.

Campriello presented four witnesses including Crisafulli. Tutora did not testify and his lawyer claimed that state's case was a complete fabrication.

DiSessa took the stand and admitted receiving the $200. But he said the money was a payment for 33 hours of estimating work he did for Crisafulli on Saturdays and at nights on his own time. Asked why he took this work from a man in financial trouble as Crisafulli admitted he was, DiSessa said it was "charity work."

The defense lawyers implied that Crisafulli, who has been indicted for perjury in another case arising out of the loan program, was lying to obtain favorable treatment from the DA's office. Campriello said even without believing Crisafulli the juror should convict the two officials on the basis of other evidence including testimony by a deputy commissioner in the loan program. Arnold Seltzer.

## Water

By STEVE LAWRENCE

Federal and state environmental officials here were under pressure today how much money New York would finally give out of the new $24.6 billion water pollution control bill. But they admitted it would likely be nowhere near as much as they had planned.

They agreed the new legislation, approved yesterday by Congress over President Nixon's veto, would determine how quickly the state cleans up its waterways. But while federal officials were doubtful there would be enough money to do the job, the state's Environmental Commissioner, Henry Dia mond, said he was delighted with the law.

"It's great," he said by telephone from Schenectady.

# Plymouth!

A gracious sweep of quilt for elegance at-home. Zip-front. Rich tri-colorings. Nylon tricot. 8-18. Vanity Fair

OCT. 18, 1972
Indianapolis Star

PAGE 4

# Kissinger Trip To Saigon
Stirs Breakthrough Hope

Washington (AP) — Presidential adviser Henry A. Kissinger made a brief stop in Paris yesterday for a meeting with second-level North Vietnamese officials and then flew on to Saigon and a conference with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu.

This newest twist in the hop-scotch-like travel by Kissinger immediately reinforced speculation by administration sources and diplomats in Washington that something is in the works regarding a peace negotiating development.

HOWEVER, the public stance by the White House and State Department remained as it has for several weeks—the Paris talks are in a serious and sensitive stage and there will be no open discussion of the situation.

In fact, the White House returned to its earlier policy of disclosing Kissinger's movements only after he had left Washington.

Press secretary Ronald L. Ziegler said first that the national security director had left for Paris on Monday to

meet with Zuan Thuy, the No. 2 North Vietnamese negotiator in Paris.

Later, at his regular late morning session with newsmen, Ziegler said the Xuan Thuy meeting was over and Kissinger was on his way to Saigon to see Thieu.

IN THE face of the renewed speculation over the meaning, if any, of Kissinger's latest trip, Ziegler tried to make the Saigon development a routine one.

He said that when Kissinger and the North Vietnamese met last week they agreed to return for yesterday's session. And, Ziegler said, Mr. Nixon told Kissinger when he returned to go on to Saigon after yesterday's meeting.

Kissinger is to return to Washington, after meeting with Thieu, but no date for his return has been announced.

Informed sources and diplomats said Kissinger's trip appeared part of a United States effort to convince Haiti of the seriousness of its Paris stance.

The American position is

said to center on working out some sort of cease-fire arrangement that would bring about the release of U.S. prisoners and a political settlement that would not give the appearance of President Nixon reneging on his pledge not to sell out Thieu.

A MAJOR task, and one that could explain Kissinger's current trip to Saigon, is to convince the South Vietnamese leader of the necessity of some sort of coalition or dual government with the Viet Cong, the sources speculated.

Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, the new Army chief of staff, arrived at Saigon several hours before the scheduled arrival today of Henry A. Kissinger.

The visits by Abrams and presidential adviser Kissinger at the same time prompted speculation that a major Inchina political-military review is under way, possibly tied to the peace talks in Paris.

Abrams, who served as commander-in-chief in Vietnam for four years, was sworn in as Army chief of staff in Washington Monday and ordered to Saigon for a first-hand assessment of the war.

28

The Boston Globe

Wednesday, October 18, 1972

VIETNAM BACKGROUND

# What the Administration Is

By Darius Jhabvala

Globe Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Henry Kissinger's latest trip to Paris and Saigon, like trips he has made in the past, has not provoked any substantive comments in official government circles.

The Administration has adopted a policy of refusing to discuss any details of the meetings over the past several months. This has led observers to wonder whether the Kissinger travels are being used as last-minute electioneering by the White House or are in fact advancing negotiations to a "sensitive stage."

The following is a cronology of recent private peace negotiations and

the Administration's comments on them: end, the announcement was a good omen.

JUNE 29 — President Nixon announced that the United States would return to the four-party talks in Paris after a two-month boycott.

"If these negotiations go forward in a constructive and serious way, this war can be ended and it can be ended well before Jan. 20 (the end of his current term in office). . . We would not have returned unless we thought there was a chance for more serious discussions and more constructive discussions than we have had in the past," he said.

To those who wondered when the bombing and mine blockade of North Vietnam — begun May 8 — would

JULY 19 — the White House announced that Kissinger was meeting in secret with North Vietnam's Le Duc Tho. Nothing more was added to that formal announcement.

But according to press reports US "sources" said that the latest talks were a "little more easy sounding, not so antagonistic."

JULY 27 — the President said that "At this point, the chance for a negotiated settlement is better now than it has ever been."

AUG. 1 and AUG. 14 — Kissinger held two more secret meetings in Paris.

# Top-level RAND study question

Associated Press

WASHINGTON — An analysis of the Vietnam war, widely circulated among Nixon Administration planners but never released, said 18 months ago that peace negotiations and Vietnamization "cannot be pursued simultaneously, with equal chance of success."

The study said any thaw in peace talks could undermine the "atmosphere of 'struggle for survival' on which Vietnamization depends" and recommended Vietnamization as the best opportunity for US disengagement from the war.

The Administration is on record as seeking a settlement of the war through peace talks while pursuing a policy of Vietnamization.

the chances that a viable non-Communist regime would endure in South Vietnam."

Thus, he said, North Vietnam might soften its negotiating stance as a tactic to undermine Vietnamization. The US seeks to strengthen the South Vietnamese government to a point where it can resist Communist pressure without direct US military involvement.

The RAND analysis was written by Guy J. Pauker, who spent years in Vietnam and Indonesia and became an influential adviser on Asian policies. He was a Harvard classmate of Kissinger.

His analysis was prepared as an unclassified document but was never released after it was submitted to the Department of

South Vietnam today," he wrote. "It is a fiction which can only perpetuate chaos and retard the Vietnamization program that will permit American disengagement."

In the last six months, faced with a Communist military offensive, Thieu has moved against domestic political opposition, suspended provincial elections and closed several newspapers.

Pauker's study offered these observations on the prospects of the Paris talks:

> "Neither side is willing to share power with the other, nor can one visualize a reasonable division of power between these two mortal enemies."

government not only rejects completely the idea of a coalition government with the Communists but will not even accept the Communists as a legal political entity in South Vietnam."

> —A coalition government created in a negoti-

Why does

Kissinger talks

AUG. 15 — Press secretary Ronald Zeigler refused to disclose any details of those talks. "We are in a very sensitive time now and it wouldn't be wise to speculate," he explained.

But Le Duc Tho offered a different interpretation. On leaving Paris for Hanoi, he said: "Since yesterday there has been speculation about my departure. But it may be said that these speculations do not correspond to reality."

AUG. 16 — Secretary of State William P. Rogers said in an interview:

"Now whether that happens (a peace settlement) before the election or shortly thereafter, I don't know.

But I am convinced it will happen." Subsequently, Rogers explained he was expressing a hope, not a prediction.

SEPT. 15 — Kissinger again met with Tho in Paris. The White House announced the fact of the meeting as it had done on previous occasions.

SEPT. 16 — Kissinger said that "the fact that these talks are going on would indicate a certain seriousness."

OCT. 5 — the President said at a news conference: "The negotiations at this time have been in the private channel (and are) very extensive ... I will only say that the negotiations are in a very sensitive stage."

OCT. 8 — the White House announced another Kissinger meeting in Paris. This time he stayed on for

four more days. That same day Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird said: "The negotiations are in a very sensitive and serious stage."

OCT. 12 — the day Kissinger returned to Washington, Senate minority leader Hugh Scott said: "The President of the United States has until the 20th of January to bring about, if he can within his four-year term, the end of American participation in this war. I believe he can."

OCT. 13 — Tho said in Paris: "There are still many difficult things to be settled." Zeigler, asked to comment on that statement, replied: "You can assume we will not challenge the Le Duc Tho statement."

OCT. 15 — However, Rogers said in a television interview: "The negotiations are at a very serious and sensitive stage."

## Two-track Vietnam policy

ated settlement "would not last. No devilishly clever Communist schemes would be necessary to bring about its downfall." The Saigon government is entirely dependent on US military and economic aid and "how could massive aid be justified for a government that would not continue the resistance

against Communist military or political efforts to gain control of South Vietnam?"

"The very fact that the United States meets weekly with the Communists and listens to their demand for the liquidation of the Saigon regime ... instills doubt in many South Vietnamese. ...

Consequently some elements among the South Vietnamese political elites must be prompted to 'take out insurance' by covert cooperation with the Viet Cong."

"If the Communists decided, while Vietnamization progresses, to counter this trend by inducing a real thaw in the Paris

talks, offered to discuss a cease fire and a process of self determination, and kept the public discussion of these issues going, the atmosphere of 'struggle for survival' on which Vietnamization depends could be rapidly dispelled."

at Scholl
s for your feet,

Western Europe, p. 2 Asia, p. 9 Communist, p. 10

VIETNAM: NEW KISSINGER TRIP TO SAIGON

Summary

The news that Henry Kissinger met yesterday in Paris with the North Vietnamese and then flew to Saigon to talk with President Thieu sparked new speculation abroad.

The concurrent travel to South Vietnam of General Abrams and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sullivan suggested to some commentators that political and military details of a settlement were being discussed among the parties concerned.

--The London *Daily Telegraph* said the General's "main mission will be to back up Dr. Kissinger in... persuading President Thieu that whatever new compromise formula for a cease-fire has been developed in Paris is one he can live with."

--Italian television judged, "Sullivan's presence at Kissinger's side is significant..."

The impression that Hanoi might be in a mood for meaningful negotiation was particularly strong in left-inclined French media.

Intellectual-left *Combat* of Paris remarked today, "If the U.S. were the only source of optimism, we would be skeptical. But the attitude of the North Vietnamese is indicative of the progress that has been made, even if it is publicly denied by Hanoi."

The Viet Cong radio said its guerrilla warfare was "making the U.S. - Thieu clique extremely apprehensive.... The best way for them to remedy their own situation is not to prolong the war further..."

Moscow TASS briefly noted the Kissinger trip.

*

*

*

No. 125

1

10/18/72

London: "Indicates Substantial Progress"

Reports that Mr. Kissinger and General Abrams were en route to Saigon today produced speculative stories in British media.

The independent *Times* of London carried a Washington report that Mr. Kissinger's "mission indicates that substantial progress is being made in the talks."

The story noted that "significantly, the activity on the diplomatic front has not apparently been hindered or affected by the intensive bombardment of North Vietnam." It asserted that "the view of Pentagon officials is that the heavy raids, far from hampering the talks, have in fact acted as a powerful stimulus towards keeping the North Vietnamese at the negotiating table." It added:

> "The continued talks and the widespread feeling that significant progress is being made have weakened Senator McGovern's campaign for the Presidency. The impression is that North Vietnam has not taken seriously the Democratic candidate's plan for a swift withdrawal from Vietnam, coupled with the termination of support to the South Vietnam Government."

A Washington-datelined story in the liberal *Guardian* said that "the unexpected departure of General Abrams for Saigon...also tends to support speculation that the military and security aspects of a cease-fire...are now nearing agreement.... A mood of optimism that the war is finally drawing to a close is undeniable here. But it is still far from clear what, if any, progress has been made in the Paris talks concerning the composition of the interim government."

"Entering an Active Phase"

The independent London *Financial Times* judged there was "no doubt that the peace negotiations have entered an active phase, and it is probable that one of the major issues at stake is the personal future of President Thieu."

No. 125

2

10/18/72

"Abrams Will Help Persuade Thieu"

The conservative _Daily Telegraph_ termed the continuation of Mr. Kissinger's itinerary to include Saigon "dramatic" and said it "inevitably heightened speculation that real progress was at last being made towards achieving a cease-fire agreement."

The paper considered that General Abrams' "main mission will be to back up Dr. Kissinger in what promises to be a diplomatic task in persuading President Thieu that whatever new compromise formula for a cease-fire has been developed in Paris is one he can live with."

"Meeting May Be Stormy"

A Washington dispatch in the conservative _Daily Mail_ suggested that the encounter with President Thieu "may well be a stormy one."

"There is every sign that the deal being worked out by the Americans and the Communists calls for President Thieu's resignation and his replacement by a coalition which will include the Viet Cong...."

"Certainly, there is little doubt that the search for peace is building up to a climax."

BBC: Thieu Abdication "Unlikely"

BBC correspondent John Starr reported from Paris that it seemed unlikely that President Thieu would accede to the North Vietnamese demand that he abdicate.

In a transatlantic interview on BBC Radio this morning, Anthony Lewis of the _New York Times_ said he doubted that a country which had been bombed for four years would now adopt a conciliatory stance. He said the current Kissinger trip was a political gambit.

No. 125

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10/18/72

Paris: "North Vietnamese Attitude Indicates Progress"

French media treatment today indicated that the new developments had occasioned limited, cautious speculation. Left-oriented commentators called attention to a supposedly altered attitude in Hanoi.

Independent-left *Combat* asserted today that "in Saigon Mr. Kissinger is trying to obtain a softening of Mr. Thieu's position." It remarked:

The paper analyzed the relationship between peace negotiations and the U.S. election campaign thus:

"It is obvious that Mr. Nixon does not need peace to be re-elected... The North Vietnamese are not enthusiastic about the McGovern peace plan, which has the major inconvenience of leaving them facing the south without a political settlement after the departure of the Americans."

"Hanoi consequently prefers to negotiate with Nixon."

The paper said that while there is no American-North Vietnamese accord, "there may be one or several drafts." It speculated that in one such draft "the exchange of concessions might be the following: withdrawal of American and North Vietnamese troops and liberation of the prisoners in exchange for the formation of a government of three elements--actually, the progressive abandonment of Thieu by the Americans." The paper concluded that "negotiations are believed to be stumbling, not over the grounds for agreement, but over formula for application of the agreed points..."

"The cradle of peace has been designed but it has not yet been determined how to get the baby into it."

No. 125

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10/18/72

Journalist on Mood in Hanoi

Jean LaCouture of _Le Monde_ and the left-wing intellectual weekly _Le Nouvel Observateur_ reiterated his finding of a changed attitude in Hanoi (WTCI No. 124, October 16).

Last night on Paris-based commercial Radio Luxembourg he asserted that in Hanoi the general impression was that peace was near despite appearances to the contrary.

On the same program, Jon Randal of the _Washington Post_ reported a similar mood in Saigon.

The two agreed that settlement would not be achieved before the U. S. election.

Frankfurt: "Abrams Presence No Accident"

Mr. Kissinger's departure for Saigon following his meeting in Paris with Mr. Xuan Thuy was widely reported in major West German papers and on both television networks.

The military affairs commentator of right-center _Frankfurter Allgemeine_ wrote today that the "series of meetings and trips nourishes speculation that the war will end soon." The writer contrasted Mr. Kissinger's position now with that of Premier Mendes-France in 1954 in that "Kissinger has no need to threaten.

"His policy is supported by merciless air warfare and naval blockade. It is not merely accidental that while the Paris negotiations are apparently entering a decisive stage, General Abrams is in Saigon. His presence there underlines the alternative to peace--continuation of technological warfare."

Yesterday, he wrote that the U. S. has always been "mistrustful" of a coalition in Saigon, and added:

"But Hanoi is also worried. Hanoi is afraid that without the consolidating presence of a genuine third force, a coalition

No. 125

5

10/18/72

would fail to curb the panic and fear which would pervade
the political scene after Thieu's resignation.... Nothing
would be more awkward for Hanoi than post-armistice
chaos in Saigon. Thus Thieu cannot be excluded from the
interplay of forces, at least at this moment."

"No Betrayal of Allies"

Reporting President Nixon's remarks to POW families, the Washington
correspondent of left-center Frankfurter Rundschau today called "the use"
of the POW issue "macabre." She said he had used the issue to "justify his
bombing policy," Hanoi "to strengthen its negotiating position," Saigon "to
pressure the U.S.," and Senator McGovern "to catch votes."

Headlines over accounts of the meeting included: "Nixon Calls Dialogue
With Hanoi 'Intensive'" (Die Welt, Hamburg) and "Nixon--No Betrayal of
Allies" (General-Anzeiger, Bonn).

West Berlin: "Thieu a Problem for Nixon"

Independent Tagesspiegel of West Berlin today observed that "for those not
directly involved," the Vietnam issue seemed to come down to "the single
question of President Thieu....

"President Nixon, to whom Thieu is hardly more important
than other figures who have appeared in Saigon in the course
of this war, nevertheless faces a crucial problem. The
present Vietnamese chief of state has become a symbolic
figure whose overthrow would cause repercussions in
Saigon and negative reactions among conservative Ameri-
can voters.

"It is true that... McGovern, who offers America outright
surrender in Vietnam, at present stands no great chance of
being elected. But Nixon would not care to risk his re-
election unnecessarily.

"Thus, Thieu's political destiny will be fulfilled only after
the election. In the long run his overthrow will no more

No. 125

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10/18/72

solve the Vietnam problem than that of the military
dictator, Diem, whom the Communists at one time
played up as the hate symbol, while today he is depicted
as a martyr to American intrigue."

Rome TV: "Sullivan's Presence Significant"

State-run Italian TV's foreign affairs analyst commented last night:

"The pace of negotiations is quickening.... Sullivan's presence at Kissinger's side is significant... This spectacular series of consultations leads to the belief that the negotiations now are dealing with concrete aspects of settlement of the conflict while some differences between Washington and Saigon remain to be eliminated."

Independent *Corrière della Sera* of Milan remarked today that "the White House announced Kissinger's new trips with its usual spectacular management..."

Influential, left-of-center *La Stampa* of Turin commented this morning:

"Once again, President Nixon has set out on a diplomatic offensive with the usual Hitchcock-style direction... Big news is expected...."

"Hanoi's Interest Aroused?"

Independent *Il Messaggero* of Rome wrote:

"The events of the last 24 hours lead one to believe that this rapid secret negotiation is occasioned by the election deadline, and that it has reached a decisive stage which arouses real interest among the North Vietnamese."

Socialist *Avanti* of Rome wondered, "Is this Nixon's campaign 'escalation' or it there really something serious afoot?"

No. 125

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10/18/72

Vienna: "Can 'Supervision' Stop Communists?"

Independent Die Presse of Vienna wrote yesterday that the Vietnam war "seems at last to be approaching its end" despite "massive bombings" while negotiations are in progress and the problem of "eliminating Thieu" without loss of face for the U.S. The paper continued:

"There is also the matter of 'international supervision' of the envisaged armistice by China and the USSR, as the two competing Communist powers, and by France. The commission's task would be to protect the tripartite Saigon government which is supposed to safeguard the transition to a final government.

"This sounds good in theory and will perhaps be really effective against violence and mass executions. But can it prevent Communist subversion? Have we forgotten that such commissions existed in 1945, for instance, in Budapest and Bucharest? Three Western powers and only one Communist power were represented on those commissions. What did those commissions achieve? Or have we written South Vietnam off? If that is so, we should say so openly. The 'commission' will change nothing."

Rotterdam: "Armistice Will Not Mean Peace"

Independent liberal NRC Handelsblad of Rotterdam concluded yesterday:

"It is becoming increasingly clear that an eventual armistice in Vietnam will not be the same as peace. Both the Communists and Thieu have already worked out plans for terrorist campaigns in the villages for the purpose of taking over the real power in that important part of the country."

"Observers in Saigon believe that a real coalition government in Saigon will make it easier for the Communists to get control of the villages."

No. 125

8

10/18/72

# "Thieu's Position Weaker"

Independent _Algemeen Dagblad_ of Rotterdam speculated:

> "It would seem almost certain that Hanoi will continue to insist that Thieu should be dropped, and that the U. S. will not be prepared to forgo a chance for peace by supporting Thieu at any cost.... Thieu's position has not been strengthened by the Paris discussions."

## Tel Aviv: Thoughts on U. S. Policy

Independent _Maariv_ of Tel Aviv compared U. S. Vietnam and Middle East policy. It said:

> "It is strange that while Washington, with the help of intensive bombing, is urging Hanoi to sit down and discuss a cease-fire and peace, it rebukes Israel for bombing terrorist bases which support terrorist actions against Israel, and expresses concern that such bombing will prevent the possibility of talks."

## Calcutta: "Bombing Inconsistent With Peace Mission"

The English-language _Hindusthan Standard_ of Calcutta asserted:

> "The bombing of the residential areas of Hanoi, where foreign missions are located, is hardly compatible with the secret quest for peace. Mr. Kissinger is engaged in, which is said to have reached a crucial stage."

## Bangkok: "U. S. Must Not Compromise Our Future"

The British-edited _Bangkok Post_ declared yesterday that "the form and content of any peace settlement is vitally important to Thailand and the rest of the region." The paper warned that in its "eagerness" to reach a settlement before the November elections "the U. S. should make sure that it does not compromise our future and that of the region."

No. 125

9

10/18/72

It added:

"The U.S. must be commended for its determination to reach a speedy end to hostilities in Indochina. However, the world is still suffering from the ill-thought settlements to the Second World War and the last thing this region can afford is a peace settlement which imposes archaic or unworkable conditions.

"The Thai Government must ensure that its voice is heard during these negotiations, for once a settlement has been reached it will be too late."

### Vientiane: "Possible Effects on Laos"

Right-oriented Sieng Seri of Vientiane, commenting yesterday on the scheduled start of the Pathet Lao peace talks with the Royal Lao Government, discounted Pathet Lao fears that "the Americans would raise all kinds of obstacles to sabotage the discussions." It said:

"The Americans badly want to end the war in Indochina. They are doing all they can to reach this goal. If peace returns to Laos, the Americans will surely thank God for it, since it may have beneficial repercussions on the situation in Vietnam.

"What worries us, however, is that the continuing war in Vietnam may have a bad influence on the talks in Vientiane."

### VC Radio: "U.S. -Thieu Clique Apprehensive"

The Viet Cong radio asserted yesterday that its guerrilla warfare was vigorous and was "making the U.S. -Thieu clique extremely apprehensive. American news agencies reported that the U.S. puppet generals and field grade officers speculated apprehensively about the possibility that the liberation troops would attack the suburban areas of Saigon and even Saigon itself....

"In the present situation the people's guerrilla warfare movement has developed right in the suburban areas of Saigon. This development is of important significance. It proves that the more stubbornly Nixon the master and

No. 125

10

10/18/72

his servant Nguyen Van Thieu continue the war, the more their battle
positions are nibbled away and the more their den is threatened. The
best way for them to remedy their own situation is not to prolong the
war further, but rather to put an early end to the war in order to avoid
heavier setbacks."

Moscow Notes Kissinger Trip

Moscow TASS yesterday noted that Mr. Kissinger had met with Mr. Xuan
Thuy in Paris and would fly to Saigon "at the request of President Nixon."

No. 125

11

10/18/72

RADIO - TV
DEFENSE DIALOG

RADIO TV REPORTS INC. WASH., D.C., SUMMARIES NOT TO BE QUOTED.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1972 (BROADCASTS OF OCT 17)

SUMMARY OF NETWORK NEWS IN THIS ISSUE

JOHN CHANCELLOR, NBC: There was only scattered ground action in combat today in VN and much attention was being directed to the forthcoming meeting between Kissinger and Thieu. Saigon is filling up with American generals and admirals.

WALTER CRONKITE, CBS: Enemy troops overran six villages and an artillery base in the Central Highlands. By nightfall, however, SVNese soldiers had recaptured the base and one of the villages. Military sources in Saigon say that today's attacks are part of a new enemy offensive to seize control of as many villages and hamlets as possible. Earlier this month the communists seized a cluster of hamlets close to Saigon. RICHARD WAGNER, CBS: For more than a week the tiny hamlet of Zom Soi Three was pounded by SVNese air and artillery strikes but the deeply dug-in NVNese troops would not give it up.

HARRY REASONER, ABC: Henry Kissinger has been steadily on the move in recent months seeking a settlement of the VN War. Today in Paris Kissinger held his 20th private meeting with the NVNese then flew to Saigon for talks with President Thieu. JIM GIGGANS, ABC: Kissinger's Paris negotiations have filled Saigon with innumerable reports. But a good many VNese read these reports with a combination of despairing hope and deep-seated pessimism. For despite private talks, President Thieu's public stance has not changed.

CRONKITE, CBS: S. Koréa tonight is under martial law. In Seoul tanks and troops with bayonets patrolled the streets, universities are closed and censorship has been imposed. Park is said to be upset over some political opposition to the talks with N. Korea and over Japan's recognition of China.

HOWARD K. SMITH, ABC: Ever since they began, the secret VN talks, the ones that matter, have been a White House preserve handled by Henry Kissinger. On his latest trip to Paris and Saigon, Kissinger took with him the State Department's foremost expert on VN, William Sullivan, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. TED KOPPEL, ABC: Interviewes Averell Harriman about William Sullivan and what his going to Paris and Saigon with Kissinger means.

REASONER, ABC: Enemy troops are reported to have gained control of more government outposts in the Central Highlands near Pleiku City.

NELSON BENTON, CBS: John Hart is in with some more film from his three weeks in NVN, and some more talk about what he saw and heard while he was there. JOHN HART, CBS: When I was there over a week ago there was a great deal of optimism. The journalists were most optimistic. The two diplomats that I talked to were the second most optimistic, and then the NVNese only in private were optimistic. They fed that optimism by talking about something happening very soon and saying they were optimistic and saying they were near some kind of break, but who knows what's happened in the week between then and now. It was interesting after one interview with one of the leaders there, he came back or sent his people back to point out one of the VNese subtleties in one of his answers. The meaning of the subtlety was that peace is something concrete now. He certainly wanted to plant that idea, for what reason, I don't know.

PREPARED BY THE AIR FORCE (SAFAA) AS EXECUTIVE AGENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF KEY DOD PERSONNEL MATTERS WITHIN THEIR OFFICIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PUBLICATION CALL MR. HARRY ZUBKOFF, OX 52884

## NBC NIGHTLY NEWS NBC-TV 6:30

### Kissinger On Way To Saigon

JOHN CHANCELLOR: Henry Kissinger, the President's VN negotiator, was back in Paris today and is now on his way to Saigon.

Kissinger met today with Xuan Thuy, the head of the NVNese delegation to the Peace Talks.

Kissinger was in Paris only last Thursday talking with the NVNese. Today's meeting was a bit different.

For one thing, William Sullivan, a deputy assistant secretary of state and an Asian specialist, sat in on the talks. For another thing, Kissinger, Sullivan and several experts in Kissinger's staff left tonight bound for the office of President Nguyen Van Thieu in Saigon.

The White House says for the record, this is part of regular consultations.

But our White House correspondent Richard Valeriani has learned that there may be more to it than that.

RICHARD VALERIANI: Administration sources report there has been important movement at the secret peace talks in Paris, and they said that Kissinger's meeting with Xuan Thuy today was useful in contributing to that movement.

The sources said that the attitude of SVNese President Nguyen Van Thieu was now a crucial factor in the negotiations and that's why Kissinger has gone to Saigon.

The sources would not elaborate on that statement, nor would they discuss the substance of the secret talks. But they did suggest that Hanoi is now relaxing its insistence that Thieu be replaced immediately as part of any political settlement. That would be a key concession on the part of the NVNese.

The sources said no deal has yet been struck with the other side, and they emphasized there is no assurance that a deal can be made. But, they said, the US and NVN are now closer to a settlement than they have ever been.

These sources cautioned, however, that if there is a settlement, it probably will not come before election day.

## Scattered Ground Action In SVN

CHANCELLOR: There was only scattered ground action in combat today in VN and much attention was being directed to the forthcoming meeting between Kissinger and Thieu.

Admiral Noel Gayler, the new Commander of the Pacific Fleet arrived today. Gen. Creighton Abrams, the new Army Chief of Staff, got in last night. Abrams will attend the Kissinger-Thieu meeting along with the American Commander in VN, Gen. Frederick Weyand and Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker.

Thieu and Kissinger will have a top level audience for their talks.

## CBS EVENING NEWS CBS-TV 7 PM

### Kissinger Back In Paris and Saigon

WALTER CRONKITE: Henry Kissinger was back in Paris today for still another meeting with the NVNese.

But in contrast to last week's extensive talks, which spread over four days, Kissinger spent just a few hours in Paris this time, meeting with Hanoi's Xuan Thuy. Then Kissinger left for Saigon to confer with SVN's President Thieu.

The role that Thieu would play, if any, in the future of SVN, has been a key point in these secret negotiations to end the war

## New Enemy Offensive In Cen. Highlands

CRONKITE: In the war today, enemy troops overran six villages and an artillery base in the Central Highlands.

The purpose, they say, is to strengthen the communist position at the negotiating table, and perhaps to try and influence the US presidential election.

The Saigon sources based all of

2 Wednesday, October 18, 1972

this on recently captured enemy documents.

## Battle For A Hamlet

**CRONKITE:** Earlier this month the communists seized a cluster of hamlets close to Saigon. Since then most of the enemy soldiers have been driven out of the area. But the struggle to regain these hamlets has been costly and bitter.

Richard Wagner reports on the battle for one of them.

**RICHARD WAGNER:** For more than a week the tiny hamlet of Zom Soi Three was pounded by SVNese air and artillery strikes, but the deeply dug-in NVNese troops would not give it up.

The 250-pound bombs and napalm were called in by the SVNese practically on top of their own position.

Between air strikes the SVNese Fifth Division soldiers attacked the communists with small arms and used the lulls to carry out their wounded.

This is the way the fighting has gone in all the hamlets, which the NVNese captured in the Saigon area. Air and artillery reduce the area to rubble and the SVNese troops go in and root the NVNese out of their bunkers. It produces lots of casualties.

When the air and artillery lifted, Fifth Division troops pushed into the hamlet and blasted the bunkers still suspected of holding NVNese soldiers. But as they so often do, most had slipped away.

What importance this fighting possessed attached to what Zom Soi Three represented rather than to any strategic or military reason.

By coming here and to other hamlets like this one, the communists have shown that no part of SVN is completely safe from attack, and that includes the country's capital city.

The hamlet is almost secure now. Just a few communists are left and they're being flushed out in house-to-house fighting by the Fifth Div. soldiers.

They held Zom Soi Three for eight days and carried their dead away with them as they retreated from this insignificant hamlet, 25 miles from Saigon.

Richard Wagner, CBS News, Zom

Soi Three, SVN.

## South Korea Under Martial Law

**CRONKITE:** South Korea tonight is under martial law, the second American supported democracy in Asia to follow that route in recent weeks, and Washington is admittedly disturbed.

The move by S. Korea's President Park took Washington by surprise, as had the similar move last month in the Philippines.

## ABC EVENING NEWS ABC-TV 7 PM

### Outlook For Peace From Saigon

**HARRY REASONER:** Henry Kissinger, the chief foreign policy advisor to President Nixon, has been steadily on the move in recent months seeking a settlement of the VN War.

Today in Paris Kissinger held his 20th private meeting with the NVNese then flew to Saigon for talks with President Nguyen Van Thieu.

A major communist condition for ending the war is that the VC insurgents have a voice in the Saigon Government.

Wire service reports out of Paris indicate that concessions have been made on the future organization of political power in Saigon.

There have been urgent sessions at the highest level in SVN's capital this week.

**JIM GIGGANS:** For several days President Thieu has been holding emergency meetings here at the Presidential Palace with nearly every top official in his government. And with each report of yet another meeting, many VNese dare to hope that peace will be the result.

Peace, the word is on the lips of so many VNese these days.

Henry Kissinger's Paris negotiations have filled Saigon with innumerable reports. But a good many

3 Wednesday, October 18, 1972

VNese read these reports with a com-
bination of despairing hope and deep-
seated pessimism.

For despite private talks, Pres-
ident Thieu's public stance has not
changed.

Government-sponsored signs and
placards denounce the idea of a co-
alition government.

And at nearly every opportunity
the President or one of his support-
ters, like Senator Nguyen Van Ngai,
reiterate the government position
on peace.

Do you believe that a coalition
government could work in VN?

SENATOR NGUYEN VAN NGAI: No.
(unintelligible) would never work
(unintelligible).

GIGGANS: Why do you say that?

NGAI: I think if we accept a
(unintelligible) it would pave the
way for the communist takeover of
SVN.

GIGGANS: Many VNese view the
high level talks taking place here
at the American Embassy, as well as
those at the Presidential Palace,
as evidence that the government soon
may soften its public position,
leading VNese intellectuals, such as
Saigon University Professor Chou
Ton Won (?) to feel a government
compromise has to be made.

PROFESSOR CHOU TON WON: We VNese, we have to live together whether we like it or not. Whether we are anti-communist, communist or neutral, we have to live together in our country, unless we want to get out and go to the US.

So, anybody who wants to live in
VN, being a VNese, has to think
about compromise with other VNese.

GIGGANS: The war continues here
and there have been no government
assurances that it will end soon.
But a good many VNese are saying
that now more than at any other time
in the war, there appears to be
reason for hope.

Jim Giggans, ABC News, Saigon.

Kissinger Secret Talks Meaningful

HOWARD K. SMITH: Ever since they began, the secret VN talks, the ones that matter, have been a White House preserve handled by Henry Kissinger.

The State Department has dealt
with the formal talks that don't
matter much.

Well, on his latest trip to Paris
and Saigon Kissinger took with him
the State Department's foremost
expert on VN, William Sullivan,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

The inclusion is meaningful as
ABC's diplomatic correspondent Ted
Koppel reports.

TED KOPPEL: Almost exactly ten
years ago, the US was engaged at
the Geneva Conference in trying to
hammer out a coalition government
for Laos.

The chief American negotiator
at that time was Averell Harriman.
Harriman selected as his deputy a
relatively obscure and low ranking
foreign service officer by the name
of William Sullivan.

Nothing has happened in the past
decade to diminish Sullivan's repu-
tation as one of this government's
most clear thinking and knowledge-
able IC experts.

Averell Harriman still regards
Sullivan as the man to call in when
the negotiations get serious.

Would it be accurate to describe
him as a nuts and bolts man.

AVERELL HARRIMAN: Yes, among
other qualifications he is nuts and
bolts, but he has imagination as
well, imagination how to put the nuts
and bolts together, if you want to
put it that way.

He understands the nuts and bolts
and the same time he understands the
machine that we're trying to make.

KOPPEL: Governor, what do you
deduce about the current state of
the talks, by the fact that Dr.
Kissinger has taken Mr. Sullivan
with him to Paris.

HARRIMAN: I think he needs some
help in working out the details. So
I think they're down to talking de-
tailed methods of getting over some
very difficult hurdles.

KOPPEL: Governor Harriman, if
you were still negotiating in Paris,
would you still want Bill Sullivan
at your side?

HARRIMAN: Yes, I still think
that he's one of the best men that
I've ever dealt with. I was very
much encouraged when I heard that he
was going to Paris. If I had been
able to do so I would have cheerd.

KOPPEL: Such high praise from a
long standing critic of this admin-
istration's VN policies says more
about the current phase of peace

4 Wednesday, October 18, 1972

negotiations than anything the
White House could have said in its
own behalf.

This is Ted Koppel, ABC News,
at the State Department.

## Enemy Gaining In Central Highlands

REASONER: In the VN War, enemy troops are reported to have gained control of more government outposts in the Central Highlands near Pleiku City.

SVNese officials said the commu-
nists are operating under a direc-
tive ordering them to capture as
much territory as possible to give
the impression that they can control
the countryside and thus to streng-
then their position at the negotiat-
ing table.

## Martial Law Declared In S. Korea

SMITH: In S. Korea today Presi-
dent Park Chung Hee declared martial
law, suspended the Constitution,
banned all political activity.

Park said that revision of the
S. Korean Constitution is needed
because of the new East-West atmos-
phere of detente, including the
current negotiations between North
and South Korea.

In Washington US officials ex-
pressed dismay.

## CBS MORNING NEWS CBS-TV 7 AM

Optimism In NVN

NELSON BENTON: John Hart is in
on a part time basis again today
with some more film from his three
weeks in NVN, and some more talk
about what he saw and heard while
he was there.

John, the news is that the
White House says Henry Kissinger's
in Paris again meeting with Xuan
Thuy. What do you make of that?

JOHN HART: I've no idea. I'd
love to know what they're talking
about.

When I was there a week ago,
over a week ago, there was a great
deal of optimism. The journalists
were most optimistic; the two dip-
lomats that I talked to were the
second most optimistic, and then

the NVNese only in private were
optimistic. They fed that optimism
by talking about something happen-
ing very soon and saying they were
optimistic and saying they were near
some kind of break, but who knows
what's happened in the week between
then and now.

BENTON: Well Le Duc Tho, the
Politburo member, is, I guess, back
in Hanoi.

HART: A plane comes in from
Peking every Monday, so he got in
yesterday. And he could go back
to Paris, if he's going back, he
could go back as early as tomorrow
on the ICC plane. I wouldn't think
that's too likely.

Since he normally takes that
Monday plane, he could go out on
Saturday on a Soviet plane.

BENTON: Do you think the people
you talked to sent you back with
some information? You can back with
the information that perhaps Presi-
dent Thieu of SVN might be accept-
able in a tripart...

HART: Well, this is (confusion
of voices) flat out. I have no
idea, Nelson. I just don't know.

That was part of a long conversa-
tion with a man in some authority
there. I have no idea.

It was interesting after one
interview with one of the leaders
there, he came back or sent his
people back to point out one of the
VNese subtleties in one of his
answers, and it's too long for me
to explain it here, but the meaning
of the subtlety was that peace is
something concrete now. He certain-
ly wanted to plant that idea, for
what reason, I don't know.

MICHELE CLARK: John, there's
been some reports here that there's
an internal struggle going on in
the government in NVN that might be
helping along this attitude toward
peace.

Did you have any indication of
that?

HART: Just a small hint in the
shell. A man I talked to mentioned
that there was some disagreement as
to how long the war should go on,
and that kind of matches with an
article that we probably both read
in the Washington Post this weekend,
but nothing more than that.

BENTON: You brought some more
pictures along this morning. Maybe

5 Wednesday, October 18, 1972

we can take a look at those.

HART: This is a group of militia people.

It's hard to take pictures of military installations here but our government guides wanted us to see this one. The militia guns of Mulberry Island. They were practicing when we arrived, 14.5mm Chinese made anti-aircraft guns.

Then tea in the bunkhouse that is shared by the seven men and three women of the unit, decorated with a pennant for shooting down an F-4 Phantom on May 10th of this year. And what was the pilot's name? Well, he died.

These men and women work in factories three months out of four, spending the fourth here, rotating with other teams.

They say they practice eight hours a day when there's not an alert, and when there is it's not practice.

They use tiny models of American airplanes on a high pole for practice between alerts.

The slogan promotes a big competition going on here to get the 4000th US plane. The government newspaper claims it's well over 3900 now. So here they are.

Here's 20-year-old Do Tan Yen, who laughs a lot and points the gunner in the direction of the airplane. She likes to play ping pong and read war books.

Does she read any romantic novels? Oh yes, she says, the "Clock of the Earth," the romantic novel about the fighting people of SVN.

The gunner is Phon Dui Son, a 24-year-old bachelor whose girlfriend is away with the volunteers, repairing a road, carrying bullets for soldiers or one of the many other things the volunteers here do.

Son likes to play football after duty at night.

The second gunner is Nguyen Throng Vin (?) who plays football with him and reads technical books and whose ambition after the war is to be what he is now, an electrical repairman.

The loader is Nguyen Ti Yen (?) who is 21 and who has a boyfriend in the army she's not seen for two years.

She's known as the singer of the group. Her favorite romantic song is the Song of Hanoi, part of which goes: Our capital is seething with

the struggle against the US aggressors.

On gun No. 1 the spotter is 28-year-old Nguyen Duc Ti who says he molds spoons at the factory. He married one week ago and he wants to have four children.

*****

6 Wednesday, October 18, 1972

RADIO - TV
DEFENSE DIALOG

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1972 (BROADCASTS OF OCTOBER 13)

PART
II

RICHARD VALERIANI, NBC-TV, Tom JERRIEL, ABC-TV, and Marvin KALB, CBS-TV, all report on the progress being made at the secret peace talks in Paris. There is no report coming from the Administration, just a lot of speculation by reporters. However, KISSINGER did return from Paris and briefed the President for four hours last night and on Friday morning. NVNese delegate to the secret talks, THO, also left for Hanoi.

GARRICK UTLEY, NBC-TV, reports a photograph was released in NVN showing the bomb damage that was caused to the French compound in Hanoi - bomb damage suspected as being caused by US jets.

GARRICK UTLEY, NBC-TV, Harry REASONER, ABC-TV, and Walter CRONKITE, CBS-TV, all report US F-111 fighter bombers attacked only ten miles from Hanoi. Other bombers were grounded because of the monsoons.

GARRICK UTLEY, NBC-TV, and Walter CRONKITE, CBS-TV, both report the enemy forces captured a town in the central highlands. It was once a Green Beret camp and the action now suggests the enemy may launch further attacks on Pleiku and Kontum.

GARRICK UTLEY, NBC-TV, and Walter CRONKITE, CBS-TV, both report the Navy announced there was a racial fight aboard the Kitty Hawk stationed in the Tonkin Gulf off VN. Thirty-three men were hurt, three seriously enough to be flown ahosre to hospitals.

HOWARD SMITH, ABC-TV, comments on the secret peace talks and says the US appears to be in the relaxed mood these sessions. Apparently both the US and the enemy are willing to move in their positions for peace.

WALTER CRONKITE, CBS-TV, reports the US command halted the turnover of all jets at Bien Hoa to the SVNese. US airmen will remain at the base, at least for a while yet.

PART II

NBC NIGHTLY NEWS NBC-TV 6:30 PM

OCT 13

Kissinger Briefs Nixon On Talks

GARRICK UTLEY: All this week the news has been dominated by the private peace talks in Paris, the speculations and the hopes that it would lead to a settlement of the war by election day.

Today, it does not appear likely.

It became evident as Henry KISSINGER briefed President NIXON on his four days of talks with NVN's THO. And it was evident in Paris as THO left for Hanoi saying serious difficulties still prevent a settlement.

Those difficulties are obviously over the formation of a new government in SVN which means who will run the government.

RICHARD VALERIANI: The White House provided no details of the breakfast meeting at which KISSINGER and General HAIG briefed the President and Secretary of State ROGERS on their extended secret peace talks.

But news secretary Ron ZIEGLER did say later the Administration would not challenge a NVNese statement that there are still many difficult things to settle.

The most difficult thing remaining to be settled is still the question of political power in Saigon.

The extended talks in Paris apparently focused on this issue with the American side exploring in depth Hanoi's recent statement on the nature and function of a coalition government.

Administration sources said the State Department is now involved in what one official called a lot of paper work on coalitions.

All this talk about coalitions has apparently made SVNese President THIEU somewhat nervous.

Even though he was reportedly assured recently by General HAIG that he was not being sold out.

But THIEU has recalled his Ambassador from Washington for consultations.

Despite the intensification of the peace talks, there are still no oversigns of a settlement.

And with no information coming from the White House, there is no

way of knowing how much domestic politics has to do with the accelerated pace of the negotiations.

## Difficulties Remain In Peace Talks

UTLEY: KISSINGER's counterpart in the negotiations is THO, a member of NVN's ruling inner circle.

Today, THO left Paris for Hanoi and consultations.

He didn't say when he would be back.

LLOYD DOBBINS: When THO leaves for Hanoi, he usually holds a news conference but today he had nothing to say and French security police prevented news men from getting close to him.

But an unnamed French man was quoted by the Associated Press as saying THO has told the people with him that in the peace talks many difficulties remain.

Among the people to whom he apparently made that comment were the Russian and Chinese Ambassadors and the VC and NVNese delegates to the public peace talks who had come to see him off.

THO is flying to Hanoi by way of Moscow and Peking. And if he follows his usual pattern he'll talk with officials in both capitals.

With Henry KISSINGER in Washington and THO on his way back to Hanoi, the secret peace talks have come to an end, at least for the moment.

THO was asked, would he be coming back and he said he would if there was a reason.

## Photograph Shows Damage Caused By Bombing Of French Embassy

UTLEY: This photograph was released today by the NVNese news agency.

It shows some of the damage to the French diplomatic compound in Hanoi from Wednesday's bombing attack.

The US admits American planes could have bombed the buildings accidentally or said they could have been hit by exploding NVNese anti-aircraft missiles.

## F-111's Bomb Very Near Hanoi

UTLEY: The American command in Saigon announced today that F-111's the very expensive, all weather

2

Monday, October 16, 1972

PART II

plane which has had so much trouble
in the past, bombed within ten
miles of Hanoi yesterday.

But the Associated Press reports
that all American planes are opera-
ting under restrictions in the Hanoi
area.

## Enemy Captures Town In Central Highlands

UTLEY: On the ground in SVN,
the enemy captured Ben Hec (?) in
the central highlands.

Something that has never happened
before in the VN war.

Once it was a Green Beret camp,
this time it was defended mostly by
Montegnard (?) tribesmen.

And the capture could mean a
drive on the provincial capitals of
Pleiku and Kontum.

## Black And White Sailors Fight Aboard Aircraft Carrier

UTLEY: The Navy reported today
that there was a fight Thursday
between black and white sailors
aboard the aircraft carrier Kitty
Hawk off the coast of VN.

Thirty-three men were hurt, two
seriously enough to be flown ashore
to a hospital.

## ABC EVENING NEWS ABC-TV 7:00 PM
OCT 13

Kissinger Talks To President On War

HOWARD SMITH: A good many Ameri-
cans would like to know what went on
this week in Henry KISSINGER's sec-
ret talks with Hanoi officials in
Paris.

Last night and this morning, one
American, the President, found out.

TOM JERRIEL: Dr. KISSINGER spent
over three hours briefing President
NIXON on the latest Paris talks
Thursday night, then continued the
discussions today over breakfast for
ninety minutes.

Secretary of State ROGERS and
KISSINGER's deputy, General Alexander
HAIG, also participated today.

Reporters permitted in briefly,
could judge nothing from their ex-
pressions or their conversation to
indicate whether peace is substan-
tially closer because of the unpre-

cedented four days of secret talks.

Once the result of the latest
talks are analyzed at the White
House, KISSINGER will be returning
to Paris with General HAIG, probab-
ly shuttling off to Saigon.

To keep the third point of the
triangular problem in touch.

Apparently KISSINGER and his
counter-parts from NVN went about
as far in Paris as they could with-
out returning home for further in-
structions.

Today, shortly before chief
communist negotiator, THO, departed
for his home base in Hanoi, he re-
marked to reporters in Paris, there
are many difficult things left to
resolve.

The pessimistic words didn't
match his mood however, the NVNese
official was smiling and waving
as he departed saying, I will be
back.

Presidential spokesman Ron
ZIEGLER said the White House would
not challenge the difficulties ahead
description. Dependable sources say
a great many difficulties remain
and the talks still have a long way
to go.

However, I'm told, during the
latest round of talks, some differ-
ences were narrowed. The progress
is not being emphasized though, be-
cause it does not constitute any
single dramatic breakthrough.

## US Jets Hit Radar Sites Near Hanoi

HARRY REASONER: The US command
reported that radar guided F-111
jets hit targets within ten miles of
Hanoi yesterday, while other planes
were grounded by monsoon rains.

In the central highlands of SVN
troops - republican troops were dri-
ven from the former Green Beret out-
post of Ben Hec.

A military spokesman announced
that the Air Force has put off de-
activation of the Ben Hoa air base.

Apparently in response to stepped
up enemy activity in the Mekong Del-
ta.

One hundred seventy American
flyers will remain on active duty at
the last US air base in SVN.

## US May Be Relaxed At Peace Talks

HOWARD SMITH: What in detail is
happening in those secret VN talks
is unknown but this general fact is

3

Monday, October 16, 1972

PART II

known.

The tables have turned in the
talks, dramatically and rather sud-
denly.

For years the US has been the
anxious party, urging new terms on
Hanoi, who has remained adamant.

Lately, the signs are the roles
have been traded. The US is now the
more relaxed party. It is Hanoi
that is urgently pushing.

Victor Georgia (?), the famous
British communistologist (?) cites
a marked change in the tone of Non
Don (?) which is Hanoi's official
newspaper.

It indicates, he comments, that
the talks have turned into, quote,
a last ditch communist effort to
save what can be saved.

The impression in this country of
NIXON's striving to get a settlement
before elections is out of date.

As his critic, Senator HATFIELD
noted, VN is a defused issue.

Some seventy percent of the
electorate now supports NIXON'S VN
policy.

Indeed, as EVANS and NOVAK say in
their column today, a settlement
just before the elections would be
awkward for Mr. NIXON. It would
look political in nature.

He no longer feels he needs that.

The decisive factor, long urged
on Hanoi by China and Russia is,
NIXON seems likely to be reelected.
Then it is goodbye to new concilia-
tory US offers and hello to four
more years of war, possibly inten-
sified by a President who feels he
has a mandate.

In fact, the US side is not that
relaxed about it.

It is still willing to move a
long way to end the war which gets
in the way of everything from re-
building the cities to rebuilding
the armed forces.

But the new fact is, for the
first time, Hanoi is willing to
move too.

CBS EVENING NEWS CBS-TV 7:00 PM

OCT 13

Kissinger Back In D.C.

WALTER CRONKITE: Henry KISSINGER
is back home in Washington and THO

is on his way back home to Hanoi.

KISSINGER, and his aide General
HAIG today briefed the President
and Secretary of State ROGERS.

But for the public, there is
still no positive word from either
side on what, if any, progress has
been made in their unprecedented
four days of talks in Paris.

However, a usually reliable
Swedish news man in Paris claimed
they had reached some basic agree-
ments.

Sources in Paris and Washington
indicated that Hanoi is actively
considering some new American pro-
posal.

But none of these sources claims
that peace is about to break out
over night or that there are not
more negotiations still ahead at
the very best.

MARVIN KALB: Some sense of the
KISSINGER talks in Paris surfaced
here tonight.

KISSINGER is understood to have
presented a new plan to the NVNese
for breaking the deadlock. Pre-
sumably it focuses on a standstill
cease fire, with the THIEU govern-
ment controlling the territory it
now has and the communists control-
ing the rest.

This is regarded here as a step
toward a coalition government in
which both sides would share power.

There would be theoretical guar-
antees against either side then
seeking to take power from the
other.

Officials strongly suggest pro-
gress was registered in Paris this
week but they caution against spec-
ulation a breakthrough is imminent
meaning, before the presidential
election.

One major task now is pursuing
Saigon's President THIEU to accept
coalition and coexistence with the
communists.

The President, President NIXON
that is, apparently believes that
that is the only way around the
political impasse in SVN. THIEU
regards it as a fate worse than
death.

Racial Fight Breaks Out On Navy Ship

CRONKITE: US Navy officials re-
port tonight that a fight involving
black and white sailors broke out
yesterday aboard the aircraft car-

4

Monday, October 13, 1972

PART II

rier Kitty Hawk stationed off the coast of VN.

Thirty-three men were injured in that brawl, three of them seriously.

But the Pacific fleet command says that order has been fully restored and the Kitty Hawk is continuing to perform its mission in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Navy officials say they don't know what touched off the incident but they are looking into it.

## US Halts Turning Over Jets To SVNese

**CRONKITE:** The US Air Force today called a halt to plans that would have turned over eighteen dragon fly jets to the SVNese air force.

There were reports from Saigon that the action was taken because of growing concern over a possible enemy offensive.

The Pentagon denied that but said only that the move was taken to meet certain operational capabilities.

Thus, a hundred and seventy American pilots and crewmen will remain with their planes at Bien Hoa air base fourteen miles northeast of Saigon.

## Enemy Overruns SVNese Town

**CRONKITE:** In the central highlands, communist forces today overran the former US Green Beret base at Bien Hec.

Military officials said the capture of Bien Hec may be preliminary to a new enemy drive toward the provincial capitals of Pleiku and Kontum.

## US F-111's Keep Flying Over NVN

**CRONKITE:** In the air war, the US command disclosed that F-111 jets attacked targets within ten miles of Hanoi yesterday.

5

Monday, October 16, 1972

... Western Europe, p. 2

Asia, p. 8

Communist Countries, p. 10

# TALK OF VIETNAM COMPROMISE

## Summary

Foreign media over the weekend and today reported several new developments prompting some optimism about the future of the Paris negotiations on Vietnam.

These included reports that the U.S. had proposed a scaling down of the fighting, that President Thieu had called home diplomats from Washington, London and Paris, and that Le Duc Tho was consulting in Moscow and Peking before reporting to Hanoi.

The London *Daily Telegraph* said that in last week's private talks in Paris, Mr. Kissinger "apparently presented a revised formula for a Vietnam cease-fire.... It is presumed in Washington that this is now being debated by the North Vietnamese Politburo."

Much treatment and comment assumed that major hindrances to agreement had been overcome:

- *Die Welt* of Hamburg headlined, "Washington Overcomes Deadlock in Discussions With Hanoi," and *Sueddeutsche Zeitung* of Munich wrote, "International Supervision of Cease-Fire in Vietnam Foreseen."

- *France-Soir* of Paris said that in spite of "major political and economic obstacles, a compromise appears likely..."

- The *Straits Times* of Kuala Lumpur concluded today that "the Americans and the North Vietnamese are down to specific and substantive questions at last. They may have peace almost within reach."

Hanoi radio said that "in recent days, Nixon as well as Rogers and Laird stated that the peace negotiations in Paris were making satisfactory progress," but that "this is only a farce pulled off and directed by Nixon."

Peking reported that Chou En-lai had received Le Duc Tho on his way home, and TASS noted his Moscow stopover.

*

*

*

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10/16/72

## British Emphases

British media, which on Saturday reported "difficulties" ahead for peace negotiations, by yesterday had regained some optimism on the outlook.

For example, Saturday's *Times* of London headlined, "Difficulties Still Bar Indochina Agreement." The *Daily Mail* said, "Peace Is Far Off, Admits Nixon." The *Guardian* wrote, "Keeping Mum on Talks," and the *Daily Telegraph*, "Nixon's Silence on Peace."

By yesterday, however, new developments prompted fresh speculation on progress at Paris-- reports that the U.S. had proposed a scaling down of the fighting and that President Thieu had called home diplomats from Washington, London and Paris. Media also noted the Swedish radio story that Paris sources were saying an agreement had been reached.

## "Revised U.S. Formula?"

The conservative London *Daily Telegraph* today reported from Washington that Mr. Kissinger had "apparently presented a revised formula for a Vietnam cease-fire at his talks in Paris... It is presumed in Washington that this is now being debated by the North Vietnamese Politburo."

The correspondent saw little likelihood of a settlement before election day, but reported that "there are evidently grounds for hope that Tho will get new instructions...and return to Paris for another meeting with Dr. Kissinger...."

"There is evidence that the 'doves' in the North Vietnamese Politburo may be in the ascendancy...."

The correspondent said President Nixon has "a further card up his sleeve. He can start turning over to the South Vietnamese Air Force the planes it would need to bomb the north."

## "Unprecedented Grounds for Hope"

The sister *Sunday Telegraph* observed that "optimism has been misplaced so often that it is hard, even after all last week's evidence of serious nego-

No. 124

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10/16/72

tiations between Washington and Hanoi, to believe that Vietnam peace is
now just around the corner.

"Yet there are unprecedented grounds for hope. North Vietnam has not only reached a military stalemate in her attempts to conquer the south. For the first time, she has reached a political stalemate as well, in that she can no longer get any worthwhile leverage from the American electoral scene.

"If no one upsets the chessboard at the last minute, the long-awaited agreed draw in this grim marathon could be only a few moves away."

The paper's Washington correspondent reported that "it was reliably learned that President Thieu's personal future is not the immediate issue. This is, rather, the question of the structure of an interim government for South Vietnam following a cease-fire and the actual mechanics of a suspension of military operations."

He said "the Americans are understood to have put forward new proposals for a scaling down of the fighting...the forces on either side pulling back into enclaves pending further negotiation..." He concluded:

"President Nixon is not prepared to ease up on the bombing of North Vietnam before the American election next month unless a settlement is reached beforehand. This is now thought improbable."

"Hanoi Apparently Ready to Bargain"

The independent London Sunday *Observer* carried a report from French journalist and Indochina specialist Jean LaCouture, just returned from Hanoi. He wrote:

"North Vietnam is approaching a peace settlement with head held high. It is apparently very ready to strike a military and political bargain with Washington to end the war.

No. 124

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10/16/72

"It is prepared to do this not because of any intolerable sufferings that might force it to beg for mercy, but because the conditions are almost ripe to win the two major goals of the Vietnamese revolutionaries: the withdrawal of all American forces from Vietnamese territory, and the radical re-casting of the Saigon Government."

LaCouture said this impression was confirmed by his encounters with Vietnamese leaders, including three interviews with Premier Pham Van Dong, whom he called "the central figure in the negotiations." He concluded:

"The Vietnamese people have never seemed surer of reaching their goals or more convinced that right is on their side and that--as Mr. Dong puts it--'they are over the worst of it.'"

The paper front-paged a report of intensified speculation about new peace moves following President Thieu's summons to three of his principal emissaries to return to Saigon for consultations. The story also cited the Swedish radio report from "secret sources in Paris" of an agreement for an internationally supervised cease-fire and a tripartite coalition government in Saigon. The report said that North Vietnam had withdrawn its objection to the inclusion of Mr. Thieu in the coalition.

The conservative independent London Sunday Times ran a brief front-page report from Washington by Henry Brandon that "peace settlement before the U. S. Presidential election on November 7 is now discounted in the White House. With all polls showing that people have more confidence in Nixon's 'end-the-war' planning than in Mr. McGovern's, the President is under no great pressure."

## Report of Chou En-lai View

The independent Times of London on Saturday carried a Peking dispatch from Louis Heren reporting that Prime Minister Chou En-lai, in the course of an interview with a group of Times officials, had expressed doubt that a Vietnam settlement would be reached as long as the U.S. continued to blockade and bomb the North. The Premier was quoted as citing a Chinese saying: "If people do not fear death, how can you conquer them with the threat of death?"

No. 124

4

10/16/72

## West German Speculation

West German papers carried speculative stories reflecting some optimism about the Vietnam talks. Headlines included, "Big Power Guarantees for Transitional Government in Saigon?" (Frankfurter Allgemeine); "Washington Overcomes Deadlock in Discussions with Hanoi" (Die Welt, Hamburg); and "International Supervision of Cease-fire in Vietnam Foreseen" (Sueddeutsche Zeitung, Munich).

### "Waiting for Le Duc Tho"

The Washington correspondent of independent-right Frankfurter Allgemeine said the Administration "is awaiting in suspense the outcome of Le Duc Tho's consultations in Hanoi.

"The key problem continues to be the establishment of a transition government in Saigon and its protection by big-power guarantees against a Communist takeover.

"President Thieu is disquieted and unyielding. Although Washington will not admit it, his future is one of the most important stakes in the diplomatic poker game being played by Henry Kissinger on behalf of President Nixon. Kissinger's intensified efforts were prompted by indications of Soviet and Chinese pressure on Hanoi to see things as they are in regard to the prospects of Nixon's re-election and by indications that Hanoi has realized that its large-scale offensive has failed. It is up to Hanoi now to negotiate seriously on the basis of the American proposals. If Hanoi releases the American POWs, the bombing of North Vietnam will be ended. Protests, even by the American public, do not impress the Nixon Administration."

### "Washington Urging Saigon"

The lead story in right-center Die Welt said that although speculation about "the impending agreement between Washington and Hanoi is obviously premature, Washington seems to be urging Saigon to make political concessions.

No. 124

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10/16/72

"On the other hand, massive bombing of North Vietnam demonstrates American determination to prevent Communist military gains during this sensitive state of negotiations."

TV: "Cease-Fire Would Be Break for Communists"

A Saigon correspondent of West Germany's second television network reported yesterday on a weekly roundup of correspondents' reports that "diplomatic sources" in Saigon were unwilling to predict that a cease-fire in exchange for a coalition government was possible in the near future. The Communists, he said, "because of the heavy losses they have suffered are supposed to need a break more than the Government's troops..."

"Two years of cease-fire beginning now--giving the Communists a chance to dig into their present positions-- and South Vietnam would be lost, diplomats say..."

Paris: "Compromise Likely, Obstacles Remain"

Vietnam received scant attention in French media over the weekend and today.

Pro-Gaullist France-Soir today ran a report from its Washington correspondent that "it is admitted in Washington that everything is indeed far from settled, and that major political and military obstacles remain to be overcome. The cease-fire question, particularly, seems to have divided the Paris negotiators."

The correspondent said that "a compromise appears likely by which the Americans would accept a coalition government in Saigon, with President Thieu remaining as head of the faction representing the present government. That would be in exchange for a total military withdrawal by the North Vietnamese and the Americans, and guarantees that the political and military agreements involved in the settlement would be observed."

Rome TV: "Rogers Says Raids Will Continue"

State-run Italian TV noted last night:

"The protagonists of the peace negotiations are back in their respective capitals to receive new instructions and

No. 124

6

10/16/72

resume the negotiations after a period of reflection. Meanwhile, the North Vietnamese psychological warfare against the U.S. is getting sharper and U.S. Air Force raids on the north are intensifying... Tonight Rogers explicitly confirmed that the raids will continue."

A Rome radio newscast this morning stated: "The protagonists of the Paris talks are still keeping everything secret. Rogers said in a TV interview that the negotiations are in an important stage..."

Vienna: "Both Sides Need Armistice"

The military affairs editor of Vienna's independent *Die Presse* wrote today that although the spokesmen of both Saigon and Hanoi were issuing statements to the contrary, "an armistice would be most opportune for both sides."

He discounted reports that General Giap was preparing another offensive, asserting that Giap lacked an air force and therefore could not achieve "lasting success." He also stated that Giap had failed to assess correctly "the zeal of the U.S. Air Force and the tenacity of the 18-million nation south of the 17th Parallel."

Socialist *Neue Zeit* of Graz stated that the North Vietnamese assertion that the bombing of the French mission in Hanoi was deliberate "was certainly not true" since "no one would wish to antagonize a power acting as an intermediary.

"But Washington took risks. This shows how confident Nixon feels. Le Duc Tho did meet again with Kissinger as if nothing had happened. Hanoi is obviously interested in an agreement before the Presidential elections. McGovern, who promised unlimited concessions, has absolutely no chance to win, and Nixon, when re-elected, will be much tougher in the negotiations."

Independent *Salzburger Nachrichten* on Saturday called Senator McGovern's Vietnam plan "an over-bid" on President Nixon's proposals which "would deprive South Vietnam of any chance to reach a compromise with the Viet Cong....

No. 124

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10/16/72

"McGovern has coined the formula, 'Better to lose face than to lose the nation's soul.' This is pushing it too far, even for a preacher...'"

### Zurich: "Kissinger Momentum Continues"

Switzerland's prestigious *Neue Zuercher Zeitung* ran a Washington correspondent's report that "the momentum touched off by Kissinger's unusually long stay in Paris has not come to an end...."

"Kissinger's talks with Le Duc Tho focused on an armistice, which, if followed by the release of the POWs, could lead to a complete withdrawal of all troops allied with South Vietnam--primarily the Americans and South Koreans."

"This plan can be implemented only if the military situation is more or less stabilized. That would permit negotiations between the two Vietnams and finally a peace treaty..."

"In Paris, Kissinger and Le Duc Tho apparently discussed the delimitation of armistice lines.... Election campaign considerations no longer compel an early solution as urgently as they did before. McGovern's peace plan for Vietnam has not apparently changed the general mood."

### Tokyo TV Cites Rogers

Tokyo's publicly financed NHK-TV reported this morning that Secretary Rogers said in a television interview yesterday he was confident that the Paris peace talks would succeed but that he declined to reveal the nature of the talks. It said he pointed out that the talks had reached "a very serious and sensitive stage."

### "Peace Chances Seem Ripe"

Independent-moderate *Mainichi* of Tokyo declared yesterday that "judging from the atmosphere surrounding the Paris talks, it is a safe bet that the negotiations did not end in a total rupture." It added:

"The opportunity for peace, which seems to be ripe now, may be the last chance for both sides for some time to

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10/16/72

come, unless George McGovern defeats Richard Nixon on
November 7, which seems unlikely under present cir-
cumstances."

The paper asserted that "the most honorable way for the U.S. to get out of the war is to end it as quickly as possible, even if substantial concessions are necessary."

Independent-liberal _Asahi_ declared on Saturday that the "October 11 air raid over central Hanoi by U.S. warplanes" which "resulted in a direct hit on the French diplomatic residence... is now being subjected to world-wide criticism." The editorial also stated:

"The number of war aims given by the U.S. for its military involvement in Vietnam is more than can be counted on the fingers of both hands. But one by one, they have crumbled till now it seems that the only reason for Washington's military presence in Vietnam is to give protection to and secure the present Saigon regime.

"But that very regime is now trying to impede Washington's progress as the latter tries to move toward a negotiated settlement of the war. Indeed, this is a quite bizarre situation in the 'American war' in Vietnam."

## Seoul, Manila News Play

South Korean media reported Secretary Rogers' television interview and President Thieu's summons to his ambassadors. Many papers carried a story credited to the _Washington Post_ reporting that a new post-Vietnam Western Pacific defense line is planned by the U.S. for Saipan and other westerly islands.

Manila's restricted media reported President Thieu's calling ambassadors to Saigon. One television station quoted Senator McGovern as saying in San Diego that he was convinced his election could produce an end to the Vietnam war even before his inauguration.

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10/16/72

## Kuala Lumpur: "Down to Specifics at Last"

Malaysia's largest-circulation daily, the *Straits Times* of Kuala Lumpur, speculated today:

> "The Americans and the North Vietnamese are down to specific and substantive questions at last. They may have peace almost within reach. Neither Washington nor Hanoi will say a word that might encourage false hope or destroy promising progress, and there could hardly be more convincing assurance than that."

It added that formation of a provisional government in Saigon "remains the key, and hopeful as all the signs may be, there will now be a pause before progress is resumed."

## Caracas Paper on Bombing Incident

Moderate *El Universal* of Caracas said of what it called "the indiscriminate bombing" of Hanoi "that this happens every day in Vietnam and the world pays no attention. Now it will... The truth is that the U.S. had long since gone too far in Vietnam. What happened this time is that American bombs fell too close to European diplomats."

## Santiago: "New Argument for McGovern"

Marxist *Puro Chile* of Santiago said Friday the bombing of the French diplomatic mission in Hanoi was "a new argument for McGovern, who states that Nixon is not sincerely interested in peace in Vietnam... The powerful U.S. information machine has been unable to refute this charge."

## Hanoi: "Nixon Trying to Deceive World"

Hanoi radio on Saturday broadcast a summary of a commentary titled "Like Master, Like Servant" from that day's Army paper, *Quan Doi Nhan Dan*, which said that President Thieu in his Thursday speech had "resorted to a lie and shouted his protest against peaceful negotiations for an end to the war, whereas in recent days, Nixon as well as Rogers and Laird stated that the peace negotiations in Paris were making satisfactory progress."

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The broadcast said the commentary, citing Western news agencies, asserted: "This is only a farce pulled off and directed by Nixon. Nixon has repeatedly dealt out many deceitful themes, releasing such news as that peace was in the offing and that he had successively sent Bunker and Haig to meet Thieu to arrange for a future cease-fire.

"However, at the same time Nixon put into Thieu's mouth the most stubborn, war-maniacal and fascist words. Nixon tried to create the false impression that the U. S. Administration wanted to reach a solution, but had met with Thieu's opposition. In doing so, Nixon on the one hand attempted to deceive the world's people as well as the Americans to support his race for the U. S. Presidency, and on the other, he could continue to carry out his wicked intention of prolonging the war of aggression and maintaining the U. S. neo-colonialist system in South Vietnam.

"The Vietnamese traitor Nguyen Van Thieu's extremely warlike words on October 12 clearly reflect the stubborn attitude of Nixon--Thieu's boss. In any event Thieu is merely a mouthpiece for Nixon, and he will say what the latter wants him to say and in the manner he is told to say it."

## Peking: Chou Receives Le Duc Tho

Peking domestic radio reported yesterday that Chou-En-Lai had "received and feted" Le Duc Tho during his stopover enroute to Hanoi. The report stated that Le Duc Tho "described the favorable situation in Vietnam's war of resisting U. S. aggression..."

Chou, the report stated, "expressed strong indignation and sternly denounced the bombing of Hanoi by U. S. imperialism and its barbarous crime of destroying 37 cities in the DRV.... He declared that the Chinese and Vietnamese people will always unite together, fight together and win victories together...."

## Moscow on Le Duc Tho Stopover

Moscow TASS on Saturday reported briefly in its international English service that Le Duc Tho had stopped over in Moscow en route home and had told Soviet officials of the "Vietnamese people's struggle against the U. S. aggression on the military, political and diplomatic fronts."

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W173

VIETNAM-NEWSWEEK

NEW YORK (AP) !-, "AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE" LEADING TO
A SETTLEMENT OF THE VIETNAM WAR HAS BEEN REACHED BY THE UNITED
STATES AND NORTH VIETNAM, NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE SAID SUNDAY.

THE WEEKLY NEWSMAGAZINE SAID U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR HENRY
KISSINGER AND HANOI'S LE DUC THO AGREED ON SOME BASIC POINTS
OF A SETTLEMENT.

"ON THE POLITICAL SIDE," NEWSWEEK SAID, "KISSINGER MADE
A major compromise by accepting Hanoi's long-standing demand
for a coalition government in Saigon. In turn, Hanoi made
a significant concession-agreeing to deal directly with Saigon
on Vietnam's political future."

THE MAGAZINE SAID THAT FRANCE ISMENTIONED PROVINENTLY TO
ACT AS A NEUTRAL SUPERVISORY POWER, AND GUARANTEE AN HONEST
NATIONAL ELECTION IN SOUTH VIETNAM FOLLOWING A CEASE-FIRE
AND A SHORT-LIVED INTERIM GOVERNMENT.

ONE STUMBLING BLOCK, NEWSWEEK SAID, WAS WHETHER THE INTERIM
COALITION GOVERNMENT WOULD BE AHTRIPARTITE BODY CONSISTING
OF SAIGON LOYALISTS, COMMUNISTF AND NEUTRALISTS-AS DESIRED
BY HANOI-OR ONE COMPOSED OF JUST TWO BODIES-AS SOUTH VIETNAMESE
PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN THIEU INSISTS.

THE NEWSWEEK REPORT BY ITS SAIGON BUREAU CHIEF, NICHOLAS
PROFFITT, SAID CURRENT SPECULATION ABMUT SOUTH VIETNAM'S NEW
CONSTITUTION MAY BE ONLY GUESSWORK AT THIS TIME, BUT THAT
SOME ANALYSTS IN SAIGON EXPECT "IT WILL PROVIDE FOR A WEAK
EXECUTIVE-THE BETTER TO ALLOW THE COMPETING FORCES TO MANEUVER
FOR STRENGTH."

THE REPORT SAID THAT "ONE LIKELY CANDIDATE, IN THE EYES
OF WASHINGTON, IS GEN. DUONG VAN 'BIG' MINH, A POPULAR MAN
WHO WOULD LEND AN AIR OF RESPECTABILITY TO THE NEW GOVERNMENT."

NEWSWEEK SAID THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT WOULD SERVE AS A "COALITION
COMMITTEE," PROBABLY COMPOSED OF 18 TO 30 MEMBERS CHARGED
WITH ARRANGING ELECTIONS FOR A NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.

SERVING ABOVE THIS GROUP, NEWSWEEK SAID, WOULD BE AN "EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE"-A SMALLER BODY THAT WOULD RUN THE DAY-TO-DAY AFFAIRS
OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

(MORE)

0430G## 05-02

VZCQWLS RBP NEW YORK--VIETNAM-NEWSWEEK-2

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, NEWSWEEK SAID, WOULD BE CHAIRED
BY A VIETNAMESE ACCEPABLE TO BOTH SIDES. THE AGREEMENT REACHED
BY KISSINGER AND LE DUC THO, THE MAGAZINE SAID, PROVIDES THAT
NO COVERT COMMUNIST MEMBER WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS CHAIRMAN
OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND THAT THIEU WILL NOT BE PERMITTED
TO LEAD THE GROUP OR BE A MEMBER OF IT.

THE MAGAZINE SAID THE COMMUNISTS ARE EXPECTED TO STAFF THEIR
BLOC WITHIN THE COALITION COMMITTEE WITH MIDDLE-LEVEL POLITICIANS.
THIEU ALREADY HAS SELECTED THE MEN HE WILL NOMINATE, IT SAID,
NAMING THEM AS NGUYEN VAN HUYEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
SENATE; TRANLVAN HUYEN, A LEADER OF THE VIETNAM QUOC DAN DANG
(VIETNAM NATIONALIST PARTY); TRAN QUOC BUU, A LABOR LEADER;
PRIME MINISTER TRAN THIEN KHIEM; GEN. CAO VAN VIEN, CHAIRMAN
OF THE JOINT GENERAL STAFF; AND RETIRED LT. GEN. TRAN VAN DON.

IN ADDITION, NEWSWEEK SAID THAT WHILE THIEU HAS SO FAR REFUSED
THE IDEA OF A THIRD, NEUTRALIST BLOC IN THE INTERIM GROUP,
KISSINGER AND LE DUC THO HAVE DISCUSSED SOME POSSIBLE, NEUTRAL
MEMBERS.

IT SAID THAT ONE MAN AGREED UPON BY KISSINGER AND LE DUC
THO WAS AU TRUONG THANH, A FORMER ECONOMICS MINISTER IN THE
GOVERNMENT OF PREMIER NGUYEN CAO KY, AND NOW DIRECTOR OF THE
JAPANESE SANYO CORPORATION IN FRANCE.

(END)