Agnew’s Seoul Talks Last Longer Than Planned

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32386, 27 August 1970, Page 15

Agnew’s Seoul Talks Last Longer Than Planned

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SEOUL, August 26. The United States Vice-President, Mr Spiro Agnew, said in Seoul today that he made definite progress in his three-day talks with President Chung Hee Park on the planned American troop withdrawal from South Korea.

He said in a statement before leaving for Taiwan after a \47-hour visit: “I consider that we made definite progress through our discussions of matters of mutual interest, including those which bear on the reduction of our forces. “I have been able to convey both publicly and

privately during my visit the firm attachment of my Government to the security and general progress of the Republic of Korea, as well as the intention of my Government to observe oar mutual commitments under the mutual defence treaty.” Report To Nixon Mr Agnew said he would report details of his conversation to President Nixon immediately on his return to Washington and would convey to him the thoughts and

aspirations of the Korean people and leaders. Mr Agnew held a third round of talks with President Park during breakfast at the Presidential mansion Blue House after yesterday’s sixhour marathon discussions. The Korean Presidential spokesman, Mr Sang-uk-Kang, said that the two leaders today agreed that their governments should hold simultaneous discussions on modernising Korean forces and the future security problems of the Republic of Korea.

Nixon Doctrine Mr Agnew arrived on Monday at the start of his Asian tour to ease misgivings over the Nixon doctrine of a low military profile in the region. He talked with President Park on Monday and Tues-day-each time much longer than scheduled.

Yesterday’s long session—four hours longer than schedule—broke up without reaching a concrete conclusion. The two leaders decided to carry on their discussions this morning for an hour over breakfast at the Blue House. Mr Kang said that the two leaders had deepened their mutual understanding of the respective positions and agreed that both governments should continue sincere discussions in the future. They shared the opinion that representatives of both governments would hold conferences to accelerate the modernisation of the Korean Armed Forces and to strengthen the defence capability of the Korean forces, Mr Kang said. He said that they agreed

that the representatives would begin simultaneous consultations on the future security problems of the Republic of Korea. American and South Korean military ~ experts have been holding discussions in Seoul since the American, troop cut plan was announced early in July. Mr Kang said that the consultations between the two countries would be upgraded from the military level to Government representatives in future. Mr Agnew later arrived in Taiwan. Cat Ban Lifted The ban on the import of cats and dogs into Britain will be lifted from September 16. The ban was imposed in March, after the death of an imported dog from rabies Dogs and cats allowed in will have to undergo a six-month quarantine and will have to be vaccinated twice during that time. A thousand dogs and cats now in quarantine will be released on September 7. The ban on animals other than dogs and cats (mostly zoo animals) will remain in effect—London, August 26.