M. PHILBERT TSIRANANA, PRESIDENT OF THE MALAGASY REPUBLIC ATTENDED ON FRIDAY (12 JAN.) IN TANANARIVE THE TRADITIONAL FESTIVAL OF SANTA BARY (FIRST RICE CROP) DURING WHICH FARMERS GIVE THE PRESIDENT THE FIRST PRODUCE OF THE YEAR'S CROP.

THE CEREMONY STARTED WITH A PARADE OF THE FARMERS AND WAS FOLLOWED BY TRADITIONAL SONGS AND DANCES. IT WAS ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN DIPLOMATS AND MR. TRAN VAN DO, SOUTH VIETNAM'S FOREIGN MINISTER, WHO WAS ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO MALAGASY.

MR. TRAN VAN DO MET PRESIDENT TSIRANANA ON THURSDAY NIGHT (11 JAN.). THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE MINISTER LATER SAID HE WAS VERY HAPPY WITH THE MEETING.

HE SAID PRESIDENT TSIRANANA HAD STATED HIS GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON THE VIETNAMESE CONFLICT.

MR. TRAN VAN DO STRESSED THE SIMILARITY OF VIEWS BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS TOWARDS RESTORING PEACE IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

THE FOREIGN MINISTER LEFT TANANARIVE YESTERDAY (SATURDAY) FOR BEIRUT BY WAY OF PARIS. HE IS TO MAKE A TWO DAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE LEBANAN BEFORE RETURNING TO SAIGON.

BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE HE DESCRIBED THE RESULTS OF HIS MISSION AS EXCELLENT.