‘Very satisfied’ with talks—Thieu's envoy

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 34

‘Very satisfied’ with talks—Thieu's envoy

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 6. President Thieu’s special envoy (Tran Kim Phuong) left Wellington on Sunday “very satisfied” with top-level talks to explain the Saigon Government’s position in the proposed IndoChina cease-fire and peace plan.

Mr Phuong on Sunday morning had two hours of talks with the Prime Minister at Mr Marshall’s Waikanae farm.

“I think the Prime Minister has a very sympathetic understanding of our position,” Mr Phuong said. But he would not explain South Vietnam’s exact position. Mr Phuong, one of three special envoys that President Thieu last week sent around the world to explain Saigon’s position on the nine-point draft peace plan, had talks' with Australian, Malaysian and Singaporean leaders before coming to New Zealand. Mr Phuong, a former Ambassador to Australia and

New Zealand and now Saigon’s Ambassador to Washington, arrived on Saturday from Canberra.

Reports from Australia said Mr Phuong was “very pleased” with his two days of talks with the Australian Foreign Minister (Mr Bowen), the Defence Minister (Mr Fairbairn), and other officials. He did not meet the Prime Minister (Mr McMahon). In Bangkok observers said that the Thai Government’s position on the draft peace plan has hardened since a second envoy, Nguyen Phu Due, last week met Thai leaders.

Three days before the talks the deputy chairman of the ruling Executive Council (General Praphas Charusa-

thien) said that Thailand, as an ally of the United States, would be glad to see an end to the war. THAI CONCERN

Since the talks, leaders have said the draft agreement was not good enough because it made no mention of a North Vietnamese troop withdrawal from South Vietnam. Under the proposals Americans and their allies would be required to leave South Vietnam within 60 days of the cease-fire. Thai leaders are also said to be concerned because it does not provide for peace in its neighbours—Laos and Cambodia.

A report from Canberra quoted Mr Luu Tuong Quang, a first secretary at the South Vietnamese embassy, as saying Mr Phuong’s talks in Canberra had been “very cordial and frank.” The Australians had listened “very courteously” and in a “very understanding manner,” Mr Quang said.

Authorative sources said last night that the Australian Government was taking the view that in spite of President Thieu’s assessment, the cease-fire being negotiated between North Vietnam and the United States could not be described as a “sell-out.”

They said the Australian position was that it had consistently advocated a negotiated settlement which would provide self-determination for South Vietnam, and that negotiations toward such a settlement were still going on.

Australia had also pointed out to Mr Phuong that North Vietnam appeared to have dropped its insistence that President Thieu should be deposed, they added. The sources emphasised that Mr Phuong had not suggested that Australia should endeavour to mediate on behalf of President Thieu.