THANT URGES V. CONG VOICE

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30965, 22 January 1966, Page 13

THANT URGES V. CONG VOICE

GV.Z. Press Association —Copyright) NEW YORK, Jan. 21. The United Nations SecretaryGeneral, U Thant, appealed yesterday for a voice for the Viet Cong and China in any Vietnamese peace talks, and representation for all parties in a post-war government of the country.

Speaking at a news conference he also appealed indirectly for an indefinite extension of the United States bombing lull against North Vietnam.

U Thant said the political

climate was more favourable for a settlement than it was last year, or even a few weeks ago, due chiefly to the United States bombing moratorium. The bombing lull had improved the “psychological climate” for a settlement, he said SOME AGREEMENT U Thant said both sides in the war appeared to be in agreement on certain general principles. These were: Both parts of Vietnam should not enter into military alliances or seek military assistance. Both want unification of the country. Both sides must be free to settle their own affairs. U Thant said he wondered whether the time had not come to raise the question of “what type of government” should take over in Vietnam to enable its people to exercise their right to decide their own affairs. NO U.N. ROLE

He said he saw no possibility of a role f. c the United Nations in bringing about peace talks. Peace negotiations should be among the parties actually doing the fighting, but a role in the talks should be reserved for China, U Thant said. China’s exclusion from the United Nations, he argued, prevented the United Nations or him from taking a leading overt role in seeking peace.