MR. HENRY CABOT LODGE, LEAVING THE VIETNAM PEACE TALKS IN PARIS AFTER MORE THAN 10 MONTHS AS CHIEF U.S. NEGOTIATOR, SAID TODAY THAT HE BELIEVED A NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT OF THE CONFLICT WOULD BE ACHIEVED "SOME DAY". MR. LODGE WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER HIS FINAL APPEARANCE IN THE DEADLOCKED TALKS.

MR. LODGE REFUSED TO RULE OUT HIS EARLIER IDEA THAT THE CONFLICT MIGHT JUST "FADE AWAY" WITH A DE FACTO ARRANGEMENT TO STOP THE KILLING.

THE CHIEF NORTH VIETNAMESE NEGOTIATOR, MR. XUAN THUY, THEN LEFT THE CONFERENCE BUILDING AND TOLD REPORTERS THAT MR. LODGE'S FINAL SESSION HAD BEEN TAKEN UP WITH A RE-ITERATION OF THE OLD ARGUMENTS.

TODAY'S SESSION -- THE 45TH -- WAS MARKED BY A 30-MINUTE TALK BETWEEN MR. LODGE AND MR. XUAN THUY DURING THE REGULAR TEA BREAK. SINCE THE FULL-SCALE TALKS BEGAN IN JANUARY, THE TWO SIDES HAVE NORMALLY STAYED APART DURING THE BREAK.