THIEU DECLARES: 'A sell-out, a surrender'

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33063, 2 November 1972, Page 15

THIEU DECLARES: ' A sell-out, a surrender '

(N.Z.P-A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, November 1. An angry President Thieu declared at a National Day memorial service gathering today: “I will never accept a peace that offers South Vietnam to the Communists.”

Earlier in a radio address, Mr Thieu had denounced the draft peace agreement between North Vietnam and the United States as “a sell-out, and a surrender.” His face flushed, Mr Thieu told journalists at an impromptu press conference: "When there is a just and guaranteed peace, there will be no obstacles from South Vietnam, but as long as there is a surrender peace—a peace which gives South Vietnam to the Communists—there

will not only be one Thieu, but 17J million Thieus, against that,” It was the sternest language the President had used to attack the cease-fire agreement

Mr Thieu repeated that he was ready to discuss a ceasefire, and peace, with North Vietnam, and to talk over South Vietnam’s internal problems with the Viet Cong. "But it is Hanoi which must make the first move for peace,” he said. “It is not Washington or South Vietnam. I will wait for Hanoi.” In his radio address, Mr Thieu denounced “all those who, individually or as members of organisations, are making disguised operations to put blame on me by saying that I am the only obstacle to peace.” “These people,” he said,

“want to put this only remaining free territory on a golden platter, and kneel down to offer it to their Communist chiefs. “I want to tell them that in South Vietnam there is not one stand on a cease-fire and another on a political solution, but only one position, held by the 17 J million of us. There is no reason to let anyone cheat us.” Referring directly to the agreement published last week by North Vietnam and the United States, Mr Thieu declared: “It is only a ceasefire to sell out Vietnam. It is a surrender of the South Vietnamese people to the Communists.”