New Year Cease-fire

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 9

New Year Cease-fire

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) SAIGON, January 13.

South Vietnamese armed forces will stop fighting for three days next w r eek during the lunar new year holiday, the official Government press agency reported today.

The agency said this had

been confirmed by the Chief of the General Staff, Lieuten-ant-General Cao Van Vien.

The Viet Cong, in a clandestine broadcast, have already proposed a four-day cease-fire beginning at midnight on the night of January 20-21. In other years there has been no public response by the South Vietnam Government to the Viet Cong’s call for a cease-fire at new year. But in practice there has generally been a lull in fighting as Vietnamese on both sides celebrate the major holiday of the year. The Viet Cong made their new cease-fire proposal a few days after the uneasy Christmas cease-fire.

This truce was largely honoured by the Viet Cong during the 12-hour period they had proposed, but not at all during the rest of the 30hour cease-fire which the South Vietnamese and their allies decided to observe. In proposing the truce, the Viet Cong’s Liberation Radio made a passing reference to the American, Australian and other forces, saying that all foreigners were expected to observe the customs of the country.. American officials have said the United States would endorse any decision by South Vietnam to observe a new year’s cease-fire, and the other Allies would be expected to follow suit.