DIPLOMATS STUDY N.L.F. PEACE PLAN

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 13

DIPLOMATS STUDY N.L.F. PEACE PLAN

(N.Z.P.A.‘Reuter—Copyright)

PARIS, May 9. American and Saigon diplomats today studied a detailed peace plan, tabled by the Viet Cong’s National Liberation Front, which might lead to discussions on the crucial question of North Vietnamese troops in the south.

The plan—immediately backed yesterday by Hanoi’s delegation to the peace talks in Paris—also outlined the Front’s views on how to prepare for new elections after the fighting stops. It proposed that neither side should impose its political regime in the meantime, and that there be no reprisals. The plan repeated two basic points that the United States and Saigon have often rejected, but the terms in which they were put forward made American and South Vietnamese diplomats stop to consider each passage of the formula. The two' points were: Insistence on unconditional withdrawal of United States troops ftom South Vietnam; and a demand that a provisional coalition government be installed to prepare for new elections. The new document added, however, that the question of the Vietnamese armed forces in South Vietnam shall be resolved by the Vietnamese parties among themselves. This was the closest that Hanoi and the N.L.F. have come to expressing willingness to talk about - the presence of North Vietnamese troops in the south, or conceding that the question had to be resolved. Spokesmen for both delegations later declined to say explicitly whether “Vietnamese armed forces” included Hanoi’s troops. The United States has called for direct talks with North Vietnam on a mutual withdrawal of forces. Another element which appeared to be new was the Front’s reference to international supervision of the withdrawal of United States and allied troops. The mere suggestion of such supervision attracted attention in Paris, providing some common ground with repeated American calls for international control. The Front also proposed a

North-South Vietnamese agreement on the status of the demilitarised zone separating them. Restoration of the zone has been a major allied theme.

The Associated Press reported from Saigon that it seemed certain that South Vietnam would quickly reject the new N.L.F. call for a coalition Government Apparently the fear in Saigon is that if the Communists get a foothold they would soon dominate the Government

From Washington it is reported that the Secretary of State (Mr William Rogers) will leave on Monday for Vietnam where he will have talks with America's war allies which could lead to a decision on the timing of a unilateral withdrawal of some United States troops. Mr Rogers, President Nixon's close friend and most trusted adviser, will pay a four-day visit to Vietnam for an assessment of the war, and South Vietnam's ability to take on a greater share of the war effort Later he will meet in Bangkok representatives of the six countries fighting alongside United States troops in Vietnam—South Vietnam, South Korea, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.