END OF VIETNAM WAR TN A YEAR’

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31092, 22 June 1966, Page 13

END OF VIETNAM WAR TN A YEAR’

(N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) SAIGON, June 21. Lord Walston, the British Under-Secretary* for Foreign Affairs, said today he could see an end of the war in Vietnam within the next 12 months, the Associated Press reported.

But he added at a news conference: “I cannot see a real building up of a peaceful democracy here for a very long time indeed.”

“demonstrated very clearly” that there was no possibility' for the Viet Cong to win. “I've been very much struck wi‘h the change in attitude; and morale from when I was here 15 months ago," he said.) The question then was: “Can we win the war?” Now the question was: “When will the war be won?” Lord Walston added: “I can see an end to the shooting and bombing war) within the next 12 months.” ] He went on to say that it I would be more likely that the

’.“war will slowly fade away” ?and that the number of guerrilla incidents would be rej duced. 1 j Lord Walston said there appeared no sound reason for (thinking North Vietnam was coming to the stage of asking [for peace talks. j “North Vietnam has come i to accept that they cannot win {a military war,” he said. “The ■ strain on the economy of the north must be very great indeed.” ) Lord Walston will leave i late today for Vietiane. laos.

He also said there was “no possibility at all” of British troops going to Vietnam.

Lord Walston met reporters at the end of a four-day visit to South Vietnam during which he talked with Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky and other top Government Ministers.

Lord Walston said that from a purely military view the situation In Vietnam was going very well for the allies. He said the allied side had