RUSK REJECTS BOMBING HALT

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31412, 4 July 1967, Page 7

RUSK REJECTS BOMBING HALT

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright)

WASHINGTON, July 2.

The United States still saw no sign that Hanoi would agree to an honourable settlement of the Vietnam war, the Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, said in Washington on Saturday.

He again rejected demands for a halt in the United States bombing of North Vietnam unless the Communists reduced their own military activities.

“We see no sign that Hanoi is willing to move to an honourable settlement. “We do not believe that the prospects for such a settlement are enhanced by proposals which ask us to stop half the war while the other side continues unabated its half of the war,” he said. Mr Rusk expressed confidence that the United States and its allies would continue to improve their position in Vietnam “although there may be ups and downs.” When Hanoi was prepared to stop its aggression against South Vietnam, “peace would come very fast,” he said.

In Sydney yesterday, the Australian Minister of Defence, Mr A. Fairhall, said that the American Government had agreed to invite quotes from Australian Indus-

try on some contracts for “technically advanced” defence equipment. Australia was also being invited to quote on off-shore procurement contracts for Vietnam.

Mr Fairhall said he had spoken with the retiring United States Deputy Defence Secretary, Mr Cyrus Vance, and other American defence officials, about the problem of developing an Australian logistic organisation.