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Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF VIETNAMESE AND HUNDREDS OF FOREIGN DIGNITARIES THRONGED THE THONG NKOT AVENUE, IN SAIGON, THE CAPITAL OF SOUTH VIETNAM TO CELEBRATE ON OCTOBER 26TH, THE NATIONAL DAY.

ON THIS DAY IN 1954 AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF HOSTILITIES IN INDO CHINA, SOUTH VIETNAM RECAME INDEPENDENT UNDER GENEVA AGREEMENT.

PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM (PRONOUNCED ZIEM) HAS THEN ELECTED BY POPULAR REFERENDUM AS THE REPUBLIC'S FIRST PRESIDENT.

AT THIS YEAR'S CELEBRATIONS SPECIAL DELEGATIONS FROM TUNISIA AND NEIGHBOURING LAOS TOOK PART ALONG WITH DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES OF MANY NATIONS.

MESSAGES OF GREETINGS ARRIVED FROM HEADS OF STATES OF SOUTH KOREA, NATIONALIST CHINA, SWITZERLAND, INDONESIA, UNITED STATES, ITALY, HOLLAND, MALAYA, THAILAND, SWEDEN, LAOS, INDIA, WEST GERMANY, SPAIN AND JAPAN AMONG OTHERS.

THE NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS WERE MARKED BY A SPECTACULAR SHOW OF ARMED STRENGTH OF SOUTH VIETNAM BY HER WELL EQUIPPED ARMY, NAVY AND AIRFORCE.

A FLOCK OF DOVES WERE SET FREE BY THE SIGNAL UNITS JUST AS THEY MARCHED PAST THE PRESIDENT. ONE OF THE SOUTH VIETNAM'S PROBLEMS IS FIGHTING COMMUNIST SUBVERSION.

IN A RADIO BROADCAST TO THE NATION, PRESIDENT DIEM STRESSED THE ACHIEVEMENTS SCORED IN EVERY FIELD SINCE THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC "THROUGH THE MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL EFFORTS AND SACRIFICES OF OUR PEOPLE". HE URGED MORE EFFORTS FOR YET MORE PROGRESS.