Saigon To Call Its Own Truce

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30946, 30 December 1965, Page 9

Saigon To Call Its Own Truce

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

SAIGON, December 29.

A high South Vietnamese official said today that the Government would call a cease-fire for the lunar new year festivities next month.

Officials said the South Vietnamese plans had been made before the Allied Christmas cease-fire and were in no way a response to last night’s call by the Viet Cong for a four-day ceasefire during the holiday.

The officials could not say how long the Government cease-fire would last. This would be announced soon.

American officials had expected the Allies tacitly to accept the Viet Cong’s offer of a

truce, probably by issuing their own offer covering roughly the same period, from one minute after midnight on January 20 to January 24, the Associated Press said. Officials said both the Americans and Vietnamese announcements were expected soon.

A spokesman for the Buddhist Institute in Saigcu, probably the most powerful civilian political group in the country, said it would issue

a communique soon on the proposal. The Buddhists are expected to urge acceptance of a ceasefire as a means of bringing at least temporary peace. The Viet Cong has proclaimed cease-fires previously for Tet, the lunar new year and the most important holiday for Vietnamese. It is a time for families to reunite, to worship their ancestors and to give prayers for a better life.