Saigon Proposal For Troop Withdrawal

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 15

Saigon Proposal For Troop Withdrawal

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, July 20. The Government of South Vietnam said today it will ask the United States and allied forces to withdraw from the country if Communist troops and agents are evacuated, the Associated Press reported.

A three-point programme called on the Hanoi Government to withdraw its guerrillas and cadres north of the 17th parallel, dissolve the so-called National Liberation Front and “respect the spirit of the Geneva agreements.”

If these conditions are fulfilled, the Government said, “the United States and South Vietnam bombings in the north will immediately stop. The Government and people of South Vietnam will ask allied forces to withdraw from South Vietnam so as to let the population in both areas decide for themselves and at the same time rebuild the nation in peace and security.” The statement said South Vietnam and its allies “are always ready to stop all military action if the Communists directed by the northern government would agree to put an end to their ambition of forced expansion.” Three Conditions It listed three conditions for the Hanoi regime: “It must withdraw to the north all of its soldiers and political cadres now illegally operating in South Vietnam. “It must dissolve the so-called South Vietnam Liberation

Front and end all military, sabotage and terrorist actions in South Vietnam. “It must respect the spirit of the Geneva agreements so that the South Vietnamese people can decide about their lives by themselves according to democratic principles and without any interference from any sources.” Earlier today, a similar statement was made by Tran Van Van, head of the 80member, civilian-military advisory council to the South Vietnamese Government. He was speaking at “Shame Day” ceremonies marking the twelfth anniversary of Vietnam’s partition at the 17th parallel. Van said peace can be restored only if the Communists withdraw north of the 17th parallel. “Temporary Line” “The 17th parallel should be recognised as a temporary demarcation line,” he said. “Then both sides should try to work toward a satisfactory solution for reunification. The south will take its traditional initiative with the support of the free world, particularly of the United States.” Van’s statement did not constitute a new development in South Vietnamese policy. The Saigon Government has long held the view that the Viet Cong and their North Vietnamese supporters must withdraw from South Vietnam before peace talks can be held. But it was considered significant that Van spoke of “reunification” at a time of increased United States air warfare against North Vietnam and Hanoi’s partial mobilisation of reserves. The Communists have been demanding withdrawal of American and other foreign troops from Vietnam before they will join in peace negotiations.

Van’s statement that the south would undertake reunification efforts with United States support could be interpreted as another rejection of the Communist demand.