CARDINAL SPELLMAN ARRIVING IN SAIGON AND BEING GREETED.




Initials DE/VS/RM/JG



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Background: CARDINAL SPELLMAN OF NEW YORK HAS FLOWN FROM THE UNITED STATES TO SPEND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON WITH UNITED STAGES SERVICEMEN IN SOUTH VIETNAM. THE CARDINAL FLEW IN TO SAIGON AIRPORT ON THURSDAY AND WAS GREETED THERE BY A LARGE CROWD OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE ROMAN CATHOLICS.

THE CARDINAL WAS WELCOMED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN SAIGON AND BY MILITARY OFFICIALS.

HIS ARRIVAL CO-INCIDED WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM SAIGON THAT UNITED STATES AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT TROOPS WERE TO OBSERVE A THIRTY-HOUR TRUCE OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD. THE CHIEF-OF-STAFF OF THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES, GENERAL CAO VAN VIEN, SAID THAT THE DECISION ON THE TRUCE FOLLOWED POPE PAUL'S APPEAL FOR PEACE.

LAST WEEKEND POPE PAUL ASKED FOR A CHRISTMAS TRUCE IN VIETNAM AND SAID HE HOPED THAT SUCH A TRUCE WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY "REFLECTION, THEN NEGOTIATION, THEN FINALLY EQUILIBRIUM, CONCORD AND PEACE."
CARDINAL SPELLMAN WILL SPEND THE FIVE DAYS OF HIS VISIT TALKING WITH UNITED STATES SOLDIERS -- AND CONDUCTING CHRISTMAS SERVICES FOR THEM.

(THE TRUCE -- WHICH BEGAN TODAY, FRIDAY, HAS LED TO A GENERAL CEASE-FIRE IN SOUTH VIETNAM. THERE ARE REPORTS OF A MORTAR ATTACK ON A UNITED STATES CAMP.)