U.S. Said To Have Urged Support For Thieu

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 15

U.S. Said To Have Urged Support For Thieu

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, April 15. The United States has taken what some officials regard as a significant step toward shoring up President Thieu’s position as leader of South Vietnam’s factionridden Government, the “New York Times” News Service reports.

The action came 16 days ago at a secret meeting of more than a dozen allied military commanders and since then has not been discussed publicly by American and South Vietnamese officials. According to reliable sources, the Deputy Ambassador, Mr Samuel Berger, who is second only to the Ambassador, Mr Ellsworth Bunker, in the United States mission in Saigon, appeared at the meeting and urged South

Vietnamese generals to rally behind President Thieu in a show of unity. Initially, Mr Berger's speech touched off an angry—but behind-the-scenes reaction from some of Vice-President Nguyen Cao Ky's followers, who have often disagreed with President Thieu’s approach to government But some sources say that the atmosphere has “cleared considerably” in the days since the speech, and that there has been increased cooperation within the Government. Although several different versions of Mr Berger’s terse, five-minute speech are circulating, sources who were present say his comments were addressed mainly to the South Vietnamese generals and that these were the highlights:— Mr Berger said that while South Vietnam might have suffered a psychological set back in terms of world opinion during the enemy's lunar new year offensive, he was convinced that South Vietnam won a major military victory and was in a stronger position now than it was before the offensive began. He added that “certain rumours” had reached Washington that some people in South Vietnam would like a change in Government. Any move in this direction, he said, would undo the gains that had been made and result in a major setback for the allied The Deputy Ambassador concluded by emphasising that there was a need for unity under President Thieu, and that South Vietnam should present a solid front to the enemy. It was generally agreed by sources that the speech made a major impact on the South Vietnamese Government —as much for who was in the meeting room at the time, as for what was actually said. Among those at the meeting were General Cao Van Vien, commander of South Vietnam’s armed forces, and all four of the country’s corps commanders. General Vien is not considered a major ally of VicePresident Ky but has, according to several Vietnamese

sources, been caught up in a series of disagreements with President Thieu. The corps commanders included General Le Nguyen Khan, who heads the Third Corps region around Saigon and is generally regarded as one of the Vice-President’s closest allies. General William Westmoreland, commander of all United States forces in Vietnam, was present as was General Creighton Abrams, who is to succeed General Westmoreland in July. Major-General A. I. MacDonald represented Australian forces at the meeting, and Lieutenant-General Chae Myung Shin attended in his role as commander of Korean forces. The meeting was held at Nha Trang, which is about 190 miles north-east of Saigon on the South China Sea. According to one highlyplaced source, the meeting was called by General Westmoreland so that top held commanders "could swap ideas” on tactics and plans. Mr Berger, a former Ambassador to Korea, attended, and General Westmoreland asked him to speak. It was then, this source said, that the Deputy Ambassador pressed for unity under President Thieu. When news of the speech reached Saigon’s highest political circles. President Thieu was said to have been

"highly pleased," particularly so because the speech was addressed to the military leaders. Several persons close to the South Vietnamese Government say that one of the President's chief worries is that he does not have some military and police units firmly under his control. For example, the controversial national police chief, General Nguyen Ngoc Loan, is in Vice-President Ky’s political camp.