Nixon to announce Vietnam proposals

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32422, 8 October 1970, Page 17

Nixon to announce Vietnam proposals

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON, October 7. President Nixon will today announce major new Vietnam peace proposals when he delivers his most comprehensive report yet to the American people on progress in Indo*China. A speed-up in United States troop withdrawals and suggestions for a cease-fire. in the war zone are seen in Washington as the two most likely developments.

The proposals will be outlined in a nation-wide televised broadcast and are aimed primarily at breaking the deadlocked Paris talks. Observers pointed out, however, that any good news on Vietnam was bound to help Republican candidates in the November 3 Congressional elections. Mr Nixon announced that he would deliver the address in a surprise meeting with reports yesterday less than 15 hours after returning from his nine-day tour of five European countries. The address, he said, would cover all major issues involved in South-East Asia and would be the most comprehensive—both geographically and in subject matterhe has given on Indo-China. The governments of South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos have approved the statement, he reported, and added: “We do not consider this to be a propaganda gimmick.”

Mr Nixon confirmed and completed the proposals in discussions in Ireland on Sunday with his chief Paris negotiator, Mr David Bruce, who will present them formally to the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese delegations at tomorrow’s session of the talks. Three weeks ago, the Viet Cong offered what it described >as a new peace plan and Mr Nixon’s proposals

are believed to be tied to this even though it was initially rejected as containing nothing new. The Viet Cong proposal promised that the Viet Cong would refrgin from attacking withdrawing United States troops and would hold discussions on prisoners of war if Washington agreed to pull its forces out of South Vietnam by next June 30. Although officials would give no indication of the contents of.the United States package deal, Mr Nixon is considered likely to propose a military standstill in the battle zone, and a speeding up of United States troop withdrawals. Under previous Administration commitments, 150,000 men are due to be pulled out by April—including 50,000 by October 15—to put United States troop strength by next spring at almost half its peqk of 500,000. On his return from Europe, Mr Nixon reported that many foreign leaders said they believed the United States was making significant progress in achieving peace in Vietnam. “I believe that

i events in the future will demonstrate they are correct,” he added. Vietnam has been an important issue in the campaign leading to next month's Congressional elections, and any development which looks like bringing the conflict to an early end obviously will help Republican candidates. The Administration has involved itself to an unUsual degree in the battles for the Senate, where the Democrats’ Congressional criticism of Mr Nixon’s Indo-China policies has been most vociferous. Observers said that even with the most favourable report today it was unlikely the Republicans could win the seven seats they need to control the upper chamber. But from a long-term view, even the gain of a few of those seats would be of enormous benefit to the President and his party. By taking much of the sting out of the "dove” versus “hawk” controversy, Mr Nixon would eliminate a big obstacle for many Republicans.