MR. HARRIMAN'S PLANE ARRIVES CAIRO: MR. HARRIMAN OFF AIRCRAFT, MET BY UAR MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MAHMOUD RIAD AND UNITED STATES OFFICIALS IN CAIRO.




Initials RC/V-S/WA/SA



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Background: PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE MR AVERELL HARRIMAN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DISCUSSED THE VIETNAM SITUATION WITH EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS - TALKS WHICH CO-INCIDED WITH THE DESPATCH OF A SPECIAL VIETNAM REPORT TO THE UNITED NATIONS. THE REPORT, FOR SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, DETAILS DISCUSSIONS HELD ABROAD IN THE PAST FEW DAYS BY ROVING AMERICAN ENVOYS.

MR. HARRIMAN ARRIVED IN CAIRO YESTERDAY, AND CONFERRED LAST NIGHT WITH PRESIDENT NASSER ON CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS IN VIETNAM. ASKED BY REPORTERS ABOUT PLANS FOR HIS DEPARTURE, HE SAID "AS SOON AS MY PLANS ARE SETTLED, I WILL LET YOU KNOW."
TODAY, MR. HARRIMAN PAID A COURTESY CALL ON THE UNITED ARAB REPUBLIC MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MAHMOUD RIAD. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN TO POLAND, YUGOSLAVIA, INDIA, PAKISTAN AND IRAN AS PART OF CURRENT DIPLOMATIC MOVES BEING MADE BY THE UNITED STATES OVER VIETNAM.

MEANWHILE, MR. ARTHUR GOLDBERG, THE CHIEF AMERICAN DELEGATE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, WAS ORDERED BY PRESIDENT JOHNSON TO HAND IN A REPORT OF ENVOY DISCUSSIONS TO SECURITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES. AFTER SEEING THE PRESIDENT, MR. GOLDBERG SAID THE UNITED STATES WAS READY TO START NEGOTIATIONS "TODAY, TOMORROW, AT ANY TIME WHERE WE CAN GET AN APPROPRIATE RESPONSE".

AT THE SAME TIME, THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND NORTH VIETNAM MADE NEW DENUNCIATIONS OF AMERICAN MOVES OVER VIETNAM. THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY NEWSPAPER, PEOPLE'S DAILY, SAID: "EVERY TIME THEY (THE U.S. AUTHORITIES) WANT TO ESCALATE THEIR WAR OF AGGRESSION ONE RUNG HIGHER, THEY INVARIABLY PUT ON THEIR PEACE TRICK PLAY."