AUG. 31


1.
LS RALLY (TWO SHOTS)
0.06

2.
MS TRAN VAN HUONG SPEAKING
0.09

3.
MS VOTERS QUESTIONING HIM
0.12

4.
MS OTHER CANDIDATES SEATED
0.14

5.
CU HUONG AGAIN
0.16

6.
CU OTHER CANDIDATES
0.17

7.
MS ANOTHER MAN QUESTIONING
0.20

8.
MS CROWD (TWO SHOTS)
0.25

9.
MS ANOTHER CANDIDATE SPEAKING
0.30

10.
MLS CANDIDATES SEATED
0.33


AUG. 30


11.
LS AMERICAN OBSERVERS OUT OF PLANE
0.35

12.
MS CABOT LODGE AND OTHERS ON TARMAC
0.40

13.
MLS GROUP
0.41

14.
MS LODGE GREETED BY AMERICAN EMBASSY OFFICIAL
0.48

15.
MS SECOND FROM LEFT IS AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TUNKER
0.51

16.
MS OBSERVERS TOWARDS TERMINAL BUILDING
1.07

17.
MS REPORTERS INSIDE
1.08

18.
MS LODGE AND BUNKER AT PRESS CONFERENCE
1.13

19.
MS PRESS CONFERENCE (TWO SHOTS)
1.20



Initials CAR/VS/CA/NA/CHM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THIS SUNDAY (SEPT. 3), SOUTH VIETNAM GOES TO THE POLLS AIMED AT RETURNING THE COUNTRY TO CIVILIAN RULE. WITH LESS THAN 48 HOURS TO GO, CIVILIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR LAST MINUTE CALLS ON VOTERS. AMONG THEM STRONG CONTENDER, TRAN VAN HUONG, A FORMER PRIME MINISTER.

AT A SAIGON ??? HELD YESTERDAY (THURS.), MR. HUONG APPEALED FOR UNITY AND SAID THE SAIGON AND HANOI GOVERNMENTS "MUST SIT DOWN TOGETHER IN ORDER TO FIND A CALL OUT FOR THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM".

HE CONTINUED: "TO ACHIEVE UNITY, WE MUST REALISE JUSTICE, IF WE WANT THE COMING ELECTIONS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR UNITY, THE ELECTIONS THEN MUST BE FAIR. IT IS NOW UP TO THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT TO ASSUME FULL RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE THE PEOPLE AND BEFORE HISTORY."
IN A RADIO BROADCAST, HEAD OF STATE NGUYEN VAN THIEU GAVE FURTHER ASSURANCES OF FAIR ELECTIONS AND SAID HE PERSONALLY WOULD REFUSE THE PRESIDENCY IF ELECTED BY RIGGED BALLOT.

ON WEDNESDAY. (AUG 30), A GROUP OF 22 AMERICAN OFFICIAL OBSERVERS NAMED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO THE COMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ARRIVED IN SAIGON.

THE TEAM, WHOSE WORK WILL BE CO-ORDINATED BY AMBASSADOR HENRY CABOT LODGE WHO ACCOMPANIES THE OFFICIAL PARTY, INCLUDES THREE SENATORS AND FOUR GOVERNORS.

IN A BRIEF STATEMENT TO THE PRESS, MR. LODGE, A FORMER AMBASSADOR IN SOUTH VIETNAM, SAID: "WE ARE HERE TO LOOK AT THE PROCESS, AND TO OBSERVE AND I KNOW WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EXPERIENCE."
ELECTION FOOTNOTE: 5.8 MILLION VOTERS WILL DELVE THROUGH A TOTAL OF ALMOST 350,000 BALLOT PAPERS ON SUNDAY.

IN 8,000 POLLING BOOTHS SCATTERED AROUND THE COUNTRY, THEY WILL HAVE THE TASK OF SELECTING A PRESIDENT FORM AMONG 11 CANDIDATES, AND 60 SENATORS OUT OF 480 MEN AND WOMEN SEEKING SEATS.