Immediate Cessation Of Bombing Refused

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31737, 22 July 1968, Page 11

Immediate Cessation Of Bombing Refused

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) AUSTIN (Texas), July 21. President Johnson has closed the door to a halt in the bombing of North Vietnam, but has indicated he will review the position if Hanoi agrees to de-escalate the war in the South.

The President has now returned to his Texas ranch after two days of talks in Honolulu with the South Vietnamese President, Nguyen Van Thieu.

These ended with a communique reaffirming their search for peace, but refusing tc make any new concessions to achieve itThe communique was pessimistic about prospects for an early scaling-down of the fighting in Vietnam, or a breakthrough in the Paris peace talks.

The two Presidents offered to consider any action by Hanoi which they felt would be a sign of the Communists' good faith in moving towards a settlement. But their in terpretation of events since the Paris talks began on May 10 indicated no evidence to believe the clouds are about to lift

Conditions implicit in the communique were that Hanoi must reduce—or at least not increase—the massive infiltration of troops into South Vietnam. or take some other step to reduce the fighting. President Johnson dispelled

any fears that President Thieu may have had about the possibility of the United States weakening its resolve in the Paris talks. President Thieu, who has voiced concern over a possible shift in United States policy, said at a press conference: “1 have no apprehension, I have no doubt on the commitment of the United States people to the people and the Government of Vietnam.” President Thieu made his statement after a visibly angered President Johnson told reporters: "The big rumours about meeting here

to discuss stopping the bombing or pulling out . . . are just pure, absolute tommyrot.” United Press International reports that President Thieu said his South Vietnamese armies should be sufficiently strong to permit a phased deescalation of United States forces from Vietnam sometime in 1969. He insisted that he would never give political recognition to the Viet Cong. “The Vietnamese Government and the Vietnamese armed forces are trying to take over more responsibility,” President Thieu said.