'Vietnamisation’ questioned

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32589, 24 April 1971, Page 20

'Vietnamisation’ questioned

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, April 22. The Vice-President of South Vietnam (Mr Nguyen Cao Ky) said in Saigon during the week-end, that it would take 15 to 20 years before South Vietnam was capable of defending itself, but that the present pace of American troop withdrawals was “reasonable.”

The outspoken former air marshal, at an impromptu newts conference, also accused the United States of supplying

South Vietnam with obsolete aircraft and said that if Senator George McGovern came to South Vietnam “I will kick him out personally.” Senator McGovern. (Dem. South Dakota), “is nothing,” Vice-President Ky said. The senator is the first formally declared candidate for his party’s 1972 Presidential nomination, and an avowed opponent of the war. Commenting on aircraft supplied by the United States, he referred to the A 37 trainer and said, “this is for women.” He questioned the meaning of the “Vietnamisation” programme, the process by which United States forces are transferring combat and defence responsibility to the South Vietnamese.

“The ‘Vietnamisation’ plan is not completed yet,” he said, “So we still have many things to do, not only in the military field but in other fields, socially, politically and economically. “If ‘Vietnamisation’ means making South Vietnam strong, capable to defend itself, it will take 15 or 20 more years. But if Vietnamisation means only to allow the withdrawal of American troops, then you can see the ‘Vietnamisation* plan completed next year.” President Nixon said on Friday night that Amercia would keep forces in South Vietnam until the South Vietnamese have the capacity to defend themselves.

Vice-President Ky said that it is a “good possibility” that he would run for President against the incumbent Mr Nguyen Van Thieu, in the election, in October.