FINAL PEACE TALKS? Fighting continues in Vietnam

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33075, 16 November 1972, Page 17

FINAL PEACE TALKS? Fighting continues in Vietnam

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, November 15. American bombers ranged over North Vietnam and fighting went on in the South today as peace negotiators converged on Paris for crucial talks on ending the war. North V ietnam’s top negotiator, Mr Le Due Tho, and the Saigon delegate leader, Mr Pham Dang Lam, both left for Paris yesterday—Mr Tho stopping in Peking to discuss the North’s stand with the Chinese Prime Minister (Chou En-lai).

The United States Presidential adviser, Dr Henry Kissinger, who worked out a draft peace agreement with Mr Tho in secret Paris sessions, is also expected to leave for the French capital within a day or two. After Hanoi disclosed late last month that a draft agreement had been drawn up with the United States, Dr Kissinger said that final details could be wrapped up in one more negotiating session. But after vigorous Saigon opposition to parts of the unsigned pact and a new South Vietnamese statement that its representative should be able to sit in on talks between Dr Kissinger and Mr Tho, more than one round seems necessary. A statement from the office of the Foreign Minister (Mr Tran Van Lam) today said that it was reasonable that South Vietnam take part in any secret peace talks aimed at fashioning a final agreement But it denied reports from

Saigon that Mr Lam had said Saigon was willing to accept a partial withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from the South and a regrouping of the remaining forces to several prescribed points. The Americans are unlikely to accede to Saigon’s desire to be present at the Kissinger-Tho sessions, particularly as North Vietnam has always refused to negotiate directly with the South. However, Mr Lam is expected in any case to keep

South Vietnam’s objections before the American side, to try to have the draft changed to meet them. American and South Vietnamese officials said yesterday that more than one session of talks might now be needed to achieve a satisfactory settlement. In Washington, new signs of flexibility by Hanoi and Saigon today encouraged United States officials to believe remaining obstacles to a Vietnam peace can be cleared within weeks—probably by the end of the year. And American officials appear increasingly optimistic that peace is very close. Some suggested that the note of caution expressed recently by the White House was a safety-valve—just in case anything went wrong in the next and, it is hoped, final negotiating session.

In spite of Saigon’s expressions of concern with some of the terms of the tentative agreement worked out by Washington and Hanoi, it is confidently expected by United States officials that the South Vietnamese Government will agree to accept the peace agreement The present manoeuvring might be designed in part to give the impression the Sai-' gon regime is getting the best terms possible and to strengthen President Thieu’s standing with his people, observers thought. The South Vietnamese Government now appears more flexible on the question of North Vietnamese troops remaining in the South after a cease-fire, according to official statements coming from the South Vietnamese capital.