Paris Prepares For Humphrey

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 13

Paris Prepares For Humphrey

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

PARIS, April 7.

French police adopted maximum precautions today to protect the American Vice-President, Mr Hubert Humphrey, due in Paris from West Berlin for talks with President Charles de Gaulle.

But observers believe that although police will be out in force, it will be hard to prevent incidents such as the egg and paint - throwing in Italy as Mr Humphrey drives through the city.

Left-wing organisations have already called foe demonstrations against the Vietnam war.

The French Communist Party newspaper, “L’Humanite,” today urged demonstrations when “the travelling salesman of American aggression in Vietnam” arrives. The National Vietnam Committee, headed by the philosopher and writer, Jean-Paul Sartre, has also called on

Parisians to give Mr Humphrey the “kind of welcome he received in Italy and Britain.”

In Berlin yesterday, Mr Humphrey ignored what police called a bomb plot against his life and he carried out his scheduled programme under a strong security guard. There were no major incidents but five student organisations called for a demonstration against American policy in Vietnam and against Mr Humphrey. Mr Humphrey was cheered by thousands of Berliners as he drove from the airport to the City Hall, where he defended United States policies in Vietnam and likened the strong stand there with the strong stand that saved West Berlin.

He said that of all people, Berliners should realise the value of friends and allies standing by their commitments.

“Just as Berlin, with the help of friends and allies, preserved its freedom, so today the people of South Vietnam, with the help of allies, are struggling to maintain the freedom and integrity of their nation,” Mr Humphrey said. “I am sure Berliners know that the American commitment to freedom in one place is no less than their commitment to freedom in other places,” he said.

Mr Humphrey read a personal message from President Johnson in which the President expressed the conviction that Germany one day would be reunited.