DIGNITARIES AT CEREMONY; PRESIDENT THIEU ADDRESSES GATHERING; HE GREETS REPRESENTATIVES; HE UNVEILS MONUMENT; VIETNAMESE OFFICIALS; MONUMENT.




Initials SW/VS/JH/ES



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Background: IN SAIGON ON SUNDAY (JUNE 22) PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN THIEU TOLD REPRESENTATIVES OF 44 NATIONS WHO HAVE GIVEN ASSISTANCE TO SOUTH VIETNAM "THAT SOUTH VIETNAM'S ARMED FORCES HAD GROWN TO MATURITY AND COULD NOW SHOULDER MAJOR RESPONSIBILITY ON THE BATTLEFIELD."
PRESIDENT THIEU WAS SPEAKING AT AN UNVEILING CEREMONY OF A MONUMENT TO INTERNATIONAL AID IN VIETNAM.

HE SAID: "WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED AND WILL CONTINUE TO REDUCE THE ALLIED CONTRIBUTION IN MANPOWER."
AN INITIAL BATCH OF 25,000 AMERICAN TROOPS WILL BE PULLED OUT OF SOUTH VIETNAM BY END OF AUGUST. U.S. PRESIDENT NIXON HINTED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE LAST THURSDAY THAT PERHAPS AS MANY AS 100,000 WOULD BE WITHDRAWN BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

PRESIDENT THIEU SAID THE COMMUNISTS WERE NOW "IN A COMPLETELY HOPELESS MILITARY SITUATION", AND FOR A YEAR HAD ONLY HAD THE CAPABILITY OF SHELLING TOWNS AND WOUNDING INNOCENT PEOPLE.

HE ADDED THAT THE UNITED STATES AND SOUTH VIETNAM HAD SHOWN CONSIDERABLE GOODWILL AT THE PARIS PEACE TALKS. "BUT THE COMMUNIST SIDE HAS BEEN PERSISTENT IN THEIR STUBBORN ATTITUDE TO PEACE."
HE MADE NO MENTION HIMSELF OF ANY FURTHER PLANS OR OFFERS HE MAY MAKE TO THE VIET CONG TO COME CLOSER TO A POLITICAL SETTLEMENT WITHIN SOUTH VIETNAM.