REPORTER INTERVIEWS POW WIFE, MRS. ALICE CRONIN, WHO SAYS ANY SWAP OFFER HAS NEVER BEEN OFFERED TO VIETCONG BY U.S. SAYS NOTHING EVER DONE TO HELP MEN AND END WAR. SAYS BOMBING IS TO BUY TIME FOR VIETNAM AND FOR MORD FORAYS. WORDS, NO ACTION. HUSBAND NOW POW FOR FIVE YEARS.




Initials


REPORTER: CATHY MACKIN

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FAMILIES OF AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR IN INDO CHINA ON TUESDAY (JAN 4) CHALLENGED PRESIDENT NIXON'S ASSERTION ON TELEVISION (CBS) SUNDAY NIGHT (JAN 2) THAT THE NORTH VIET'S HAD REJECTED AN OFFER TO FREE THE PRISONERS IN RETURN FOR A DEADLINE FOR WITH DRAWING U.S. TROOPS.

A GROUP KNOWN AS +FAMILIES FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE+ SAID IN A STATEMENT:+THAT IS NOT TRUE. HE HAS NOT ASKED THIS QUESTION. YOU CAN SEARCH IN THE TRANSCRIPTS OF THE PARIS TALKS FROM BEGINNING TO END, AND THE ONLY MENTION OF THIS TRADE IS MADE BY THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND THE NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT.+
THE +FAMILIES+ GROUP CLAIMS SUPPORT OF 250 POW FAMILIES ITS STAND WAS BACKED BY REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT LEGGETT, A CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT, WHO SAID THAT NIXON'S ASSERTION SUNDAY NIGHT WAS +A FANTASTIC REVERSAL OF THE TRUTH.+ LEGGETT DENIED THAT THE COMMUNIS HAD TURNED DOWN A PROPOSED EXCHANGE. HE SAID IT HAD BEEN OFFERED TO HIM PRIVATELY LAST MAY 31, AND AGAIN AT THE PARIS TALKS ON JULY 1. LEGGETT ASSERTED THAT THE U.S. HAS +NEVER EVEN BOTHERED TO RESPOND TO THEIR OFFER,+