PRESIDENTIAL PALACE; GUARD; THIEU SEATED BEFORE PRESS AND SPEAKING (SOF).



TRANSCRIPT: THIEU: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE PEOPLE OF NORTH VIETNAM CAN EXPRESS FREELY THEIR CHOICE UNDER DEMOCRATIC PROCEDURE. AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WE HAVE ASSURANCE THAT THE FREE ELECTION WOULD BE GUARANTEED. WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, AND WE SHALL INCIDENTALLY DO THAT, WE SHALL INCIDENTALLY HAVE A FREE ELECTION ON THE WHOLE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE, NORTH AND SOUTH, UNDER THE INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION. WE SHALL INCIDENTALLY DO THAT. EVENT TOMORROW, IF WE HAVE A GUARANTEE THAT THE PEOPLE IN NORTH VIETNAM CAN FREELY EXPRESS HIS CHOICE LIKE PEOPLE IN SOUTH VIETNAM, AS WE HAVE SAID SINCE MANY YEARS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE NORTH VIETNAM CAN BEAR TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE, BECAUSE IF THEY ACCEPT TO HAVE THE NORTH VIETNAMESE PEOPLE TO HAVE A FREE CHOICE, THEY ARE NOR MORE COMMUNIST. (LAUGHS) THEY ARE NO MORE COMMUNIST.




Initials EH/VS/MR/LAD



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Background: AT A PRESS CONFERENCE IN SAIGON YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN THIEU EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT AT NORTH VIETNAM'S REJECTION OF HIS EARLIER PEACE PROPOSALS AND CHALLENGED THE NORTH VIETNAMESE LEADERS TO AGREE TO GENERAL ELECTIONS IN BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH TO REUNIFY THE COUNTRY. HE DOUBTED IF THEY WOULD ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE.

HE SAID HE HOPED THE OTHER SIDE WOULD REVISE ITS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE PROPOSALS HE MADE ON THE 11TH JULY, WHEN HE INVITED THE VIET CONG'S NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT TO TAKE PART IN AN ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO ARRANGE FREE ELECTIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM UNDER INTERNATIONAL SUPERVISION. THESE PROPOSALS WERE REJECTED AT THE PARIS PEACE TALKS TWO DAYS AGO.

THE PRESIDENT APPEALED TO THE UNITED STATES TO HELP HIS FORCES WITH EQUIPMENT AND FUNDS IN THE QUEST TO REPLACE ALL AMERICAN TROOPS IN THE BATTLE AREAS BY THE END OF 1970. HE SAID HE WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE CURRENT LULI IN THE FIGHTING, AND FEARED THAT HANOI WAS SIMPLY RE-GROUPING ITS FORCES FOR ANOTHER OFFENSIVE; HE GAVE CHAPTER AND VERSE OF ARTILLERY AND OTHER ACTIONS STILL GOING ON. HIS OFFER OF GENERAL ELECTIONS IN THE WHOLE OF VIETNAM, NORTH AND SOUTH, WAS COUCHED IN THESE TERMS: