Political Issue Bogy

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 13

Political Issue Bogy

(Special Crspdt. N.Z P.A )

PARIS, May 10.

The stage appears to be set for the first meeting of the American and North Vietnamese delegations in their quest for peace in Vietnam.

Peace in South Vietnam is the ultimate aim, but it may be months before this is achieved. Everyone here, officially and unofficially briefed, expects a long, long haul. But, at least, prospects that the preliminary talks will get off the ground were bright last night after the arrival and initial statements of both delegation leaders, America’s Mr W. Averell Harriman, and North Vietnam’s Mr Xuan Thuy.

Observers here believe the starting point of the talks will be the North Vietnamese statement that its representaives have come to Paris to discuss a cessation of America’s bombing of the North and other acts of war by the United States, and other matters of interest to both parties.

There is a belief that on the bombing question agreement could quite easily be reached—and fairly quickly—if the North Vietnamese themselves are prepared to accept and carry out a comparable reduction in their infiltration of troops and arms into the South. Informed sources believe that agreement to this extent is more than possible because of the general concensus that the war is costly, both in terms of lives and money.

They say the crucial stage will be reached, however, when the subject of recognition of the political forces in South Vietnam is reached The American Administration is not prepared to contemplate recognition of the National Liberation Front, the political arm of the Viet Cong, just as the North Vietnamese Government is not prepared to recognise the Government of the Republic of South Vietnam.

This could result in long, drawn-out negotiations spreading over months. Paris sources believe it is unlikely that the Geneva Conferences of 1954 and 1961 will be reconvened, although it is

possible that Britain and the Soviet Union, as co-chairmen, could play some role if preliminary talks developed into more solid negotiations. It is understood that the United States will be anxious for Russia to counter-sign, as it were, peace development’ as they occur. Countries allied to the United States in its military efforts in South Vietnam are placing some importance on statements by the American Administration that there will be consultations, not just briefings, with their Paris embassies on developments during the talks. The Australian Government has, in fact, sent to Paris a diplomat from Canberra (Mi H. D. Anderson, Assistant Secretary in the External Affairs Department) with this in mind. It is understood that Mr Anderson’s task will be to maintain liaison with the Americans and to inject the Australian point of view if necessary.

Mr Anderson arrived yesterday, but has already been in touch with New Zealand Embassy officials, who will also be keeping a close eye on how the talks progress.