NORTH VIETNAM TODAY (SATURDAY) CALLED FOR AN "EARLY POSITIVE RESPONSE" FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ITS DEMAND FOR A BOMBING HALT ON THE NORTH IF IT WISHED THE PRELIMINARY PEACE TALKS IN PARIS TO MAKE HEADWAY. TODAY'S MEETING AT THE HOTEL MAJESTIC LASTED FOUR HOURS AND TEN MINUTES -- THE LONGEST MEETING OF THE WEEK-OLD CONFERENCE.

THE UNITED STATES CHALLENGED NORTH VIETNAM TO ADMIT THAT ITS TROOPS WERE FIGHTING IN SOUTH VIETNAM AND SAID HANOI HAD EVADED THIS KEY QUESTION IN THE TALKS SO FAR.

MR. W. AVERELL HARRIMAN, AMERICAN CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, TOLD NORTH VIETNAMESE DELEGATE XUAN THUY THAT THERE WAS "MASSIVE AND UNASSAILABLE EVIDENCE" THAT NORTH VIETNAM HAD SENT TRAINED MEN TO THE SOUTH OVER A LONG PERIOD OF YEARS. HE SAID THIS WAS FOR THE PURPOSE OF FOMENTING, LEADING AND DIRECTLY PARTICIPATING IN AN ATTACK ON THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

MR. THUY, IN HIS POLICY STATEMENT, SAID HIS PURPOSE IN COMING TO THE PARIS TALKS WAS TO ESTABLISH WITH THE AMERICAN SIDE THE UNCONDITIONAL CESSATION OF AMERICAN BOMBING AND ALL OTHER ACTS OF WAR AGAINST NORTH VIETNAM, AND THEN TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS CONCERNING THE TWO SIDES. MR. THUY EMPHASISED THAT HE FELT AMERICA SHOULD GIVE A RAPID AND POSITIVE RESPONSE.

MR. THUY ALSO SAID THAT THE AMERICAN PROPOSALS WERE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED TO THE NORTH VIETNAMESE POSITION AND HE REJECTED A PROPOSAL PUT BY MR. HARRIMAN FOR THE DESPATCH OF AN INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS MISSION TO NORTH VIETNAM TO LOOK INTO WHAT HANOI ALLEGES TO BE "AMERICAN ATROCITIES".

THE TWO DELEGATIONS AGREED TO MEET AGAIN NEXT WEDNESDAY (MAY 22).

AFTER THE TALKS, THE NORTH VIETNAMESE DELEGATES WENT BY CAR TO THEIR NEW BASE -- A PRIVATE VILLA NOT FAR FROM ORLY AIRPORT.