Thieu denies corruption

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33655, 3 October 1974, Page 13

Thieu denies corruption

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter—Copyright) SAIGON, October 2. President Thieu of South Vietnam, issuing a blanket denial of charges of personal corruption, last night reiterated his offer to resign if the people and the Armed Forces no longer trusted him, or if he stood in the way of genuine peace.

In a two-hour speech over national radio and television, he said that he did not have the right to desert his office while the war continued, and he predicted that the Communists would launch a general offensive throughout South Vietnam next year. Mr Thieu’s second term expires in October Of next year, and it has been generally assumed that he will seek a third term on the basis of the constitutional amendment pushed through the National Assembly last January by his supporters.

Mr Thieu declared that politics were behind charges by some Roman Catholic priests and Opposition deputies that he had profited from land and real-estate deals; that . his wife had siphoned off money for personal use from contributions and other funds intended for the construction of a hospital; and that his brother-in-law had made huge profits in fertiliser speculation. President Thieu said that some American Congressman and others held “the wicked

opinion” that cuts in aid would force the South Vietnamese to accept a coalition with the Communists. “I assure them that that is a wrong opinion,” he said. “The South Vietnamese people will fight to the last drop of blood.” While Mr Thieu was speaking, the United States Deputy Secretary of Defence (Mr William Clements) arrived in Saigon from Bangkok on a mission for President Ford, to reassure the South Vietnamese that the United States would not let them down, and that the American Administration would continue to press for supplemental aid.

In his address, Mr Thieu criticised the United States, saying that instead of receiving a promised increase in aid, South Vietnam had been given less aid because of America’s internal problems. “If America’s aid does not remain at its old level, with the prospect of a general offensive the situation will become very critical,” he said. “If our military and economic aid needs are not satisfied, the Communists will only be encouraged to attack South Vietnam. I think that . the American people, the United States Government, and the majority of members of Congress understand this.” At the end of this speech, Mr Thieu declared: “From the dav when I was a lieutenant in the army until now, when I am President, I have never accepted any bribe of either money or power. I have alreadv said that if my own brother were a Communist. I would punish him. Now I say, if my relatives violate the law, they will be punished by the law. “If the people and the armed forces no longer have confidence in me as a result of listening to propaganda arguments put out by those who claim to work for peace, by Communist agents inside the national ranks, with a view to helping the cause of Communism, if you listen to them, please tell me.”