PROPAGANDA TEAMS DISTRIBUTE LEAFLETS AND POSTERS; PROCESSION, DANCERS AND BANNERS.




Initials GHB/VS/MR/ES



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Background: PROPAGANDA TEAMS SET OUT FROM SAIGON CITY HALL YESTERDAY (MONDAY) TO CANVAS THE EIGHT DISTRICTS OF THE CAPITAL WITH DETAILS OF NEXT MONTH'S ELECTIONS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

SOUTH VIETNAM HAS BEEN RULED BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT OF AIR VICE-MARSHAL NGUYEN CAO KY SINCE JUNE OF 1965. IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR, AFTER PRESSURE FROM VARIOUS GROUPS, THE RULING JUNTA FORMALLY AGREED TO HOLD NATIONAL ELECTIONS FOR A CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.

THE FULL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS DUE TO START ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 26) - 15 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTIONS ON SEPTEMBER 11. BUT YESTERDAY THE PROPAGANDA TEAMS WERE OUT TO INSTRUCT THE PEOPLE IN VOTING PROCEDURE AND TO PUT UP ELECTION POSTERS.

UNDER THE NEW ELECTION LEGISLATURE, DRAWN UP BY A CIVILIAN COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT, 150 DELEGATES TO BE CHOSEN. NO ONE JUDGED TO BE A COMMUNIST OR NEUTRALIST WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAND FOR ELECTION. THE ONLY GROUP OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE POPULATION WHO WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ARE THE 800,000 MONTAGNARD HILL TRIBESMEN, WHO ARE CONSIDERED INSUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED AS YET TO BE ENFRANCHISED.

THE POSTERS AND LEAFLETS WERE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT SAIGON, AND PASSENGERS ON THE PORT'S RIVER VESSELS AND FERRIES WERE CANVASSED BY TEAMS OF PRETTY GIRLS.