DANANG-ROMNEY TALKING TO MILITARY PERSONNEL; VISITING WOUNDED IN HOSPITAL; DALAT-ROMNEY MEETING MONTAGNARD TRIBESMEN; PRESENTING CHEQUE.




Initials JSU/VS/MR/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: MICHIGAN GOVERNOR GEORGE ROMNEY, A CANDIDATE FOR THE UNITED STATES REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION, VISITED AMERICAN TROOPS OVER THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WHICH COINCIDED WITH HIS THREE-DAY TOUR OF SOUTH VIETNAM.

MONDAY (25 DEC), CHRISTMAS DAY, FOUND MR. ROMNEY IN DANANG WHERE HE MET MILITARY PERSONNEL AND VISITED WOUNDED U.S. TROOPS IN HOSPITAL.

ON HIS ARRIVAL IN SAIGON ON SUNDAY (24 DEC) MR. ROMNEY SAID HE DID NOT THINK THAT THE UNITED STATES COULD ACCOMPLISH ITS OBJECTIVES IN VIETNAM BY MILITARY VICTORY ALONE.

"WE COULD WIN AND HAVE A VACUUM HERE," ADDED MR. ROMNEY.

ON TUESDAY (DEC 26) THE GOVERNOR WENT TO DALAT, 150 MILES (240 KMS) NORTHEAST OF SAIGON. HERE AFTER MEETING MONTAGNARD TRIBESMEN HE PRESENTED A CHEQUE FOR 35,000 DOLLARS (ABOUT GBP17,500 STERLING) TO A PROJECT RUN BY AN AMERICAN MEDICAL UNIT WORKING TO HELP THE TRIBESMEN FIGHT SICKNESS AND DISEASE.

MR. RMONEY LEFT VIETNAM YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AND WILL GO ON TO SINGAPORE AND INDIA FROM DJAKARTA AND IS SCHEDULED TO STOP OVER IN PARIS BEFORE RETURNING TO THE UNITED STATES AT THE END OF HIS WORLD TOUR.