VIETNAM MEDIATION ‘UNIMAGINABLE’

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 15

VIETNAM MEDIATION ‘UNIMAGINABLE’

f.V.Z. Press Association—Copyright) PARIS, Sept. 2. President de Gaulle expressed the opinion yesterday that no mediation was imaginable now in the Vietnam war.

His view was given by the Minister of Information, Mr Peyrefitte, after a meeting of the Cabinet. The subject came up after a meeting on Tuesday between the United States Under-Secretary of State, Mr George Ball, and President de

Gaulle. There was some published speculation in Paris that Mr Ball might have asked the President to mediate in the conflict. The Minister of Information said President de Gaulle told the Cabinet: “It goes without saying that there can be no question of any mediation because, as it now stands, no mediation is imaginable.”

The talks between the President and Mr Ball permitted both sides to expose their respective viewpoints on Vietnam and also on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Mr Peyrefitte said. The President said that the question of “organisation of the alliance is open and will have to be raised one dav or another.” Asked for a more specific time. Mr Peyrefitte suggested that it may be 1969. when the alliance treaty comes up for renewal.

The Minister added that the talks between the President and Mr Ball were friendly and “altogether normal in the framework of our relations with the United States."