AMERICAN EMBASSY IN PARIS: NIXON, RODGERS, CABOT LODGE, KY, PHANG DAM LANG: NIXON ARRIVING IN ST PETER'S SQUARE BY HELICOPTER.




Initials GEP/V-POOL/MR/OS



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Background: IN PARIS TODAY (SUNDAY) PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH SOUTH VIETNAMESE VICE PRESIDENT NGUYEN KY ON THE VIETNAM PEACE TALKS. THE MEETING TOOK PLACE JUST BEFORE THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT SET OUT FOR ITALY FOR THE LAST VISIT OF HIS EUROPEAN TOUR - AN AUDIENCE WITH POPE PAUL.

VICE-PRESIDENT KY ARRIVED AT THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY FOR THE MEETING ACCOMPANIED BY HIS GOVERNMENT'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR AT THE PARIS PEACE TALKS, MR. PHAM DANG LAM. THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF STATE, MR. WILLIAM RODGERS, AND THE UNITED STATES CHIEF NEGOTIATOR, MR. HENRY CABOT LODGE, WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THE 45 MINUTE LONG TALKS. THE CHIEF TOPICS WERE THE STALEMATE IN THE SIX-WEEKS OLD PEACE TALKS AND THE NEW WAVE OF VIET CONG ATTACKS ON SOUTH VIETNAMESE CITIES. MARSHAL KY HAD RETURNED TO PARIS FROM SAIGON EARLY TO MEET MR NIXON. IT WAS THEIR FIRST MEETING SINCE THE NEW UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION TOOK OVER IN JANUARY.

IN THE VATICAN CITY A THREE THOUSAND STRONG CROWD WATCHED PRESIDENT NIXON ARRIVE BY HELICOPTER IN ST. PETER'S SQUARE FOR HIS VISIT TO THE POPE. IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT AN AIRCRAFT HAD LANDED IN THE SQUARE. ANTI-AMERICAN DEMONSTRATORS AMONG THE CROWD HAD BEEN REMOVED BY THE POLICE BEFORE THE PRESIDENT CAME. THE PRESIDENT FLEW STRAIGHT TO THE VATICAN AFTER ARRIVING AT ROME AIRPORT FOR THE SEVENTH AND FINAL STOP OF HIS EIGHT DAY TOUR.

DURING THE SEVENTY MINUTE LONG MEETING, THE PONTIFF THANKED MR. NIXON FOR VISITING HIM "AT THE CLOSE OF HIS STRENUOUS WORKING JOURNEY THROUGH EUROPE" AND EXPRESSED HIS WISH THAT MR. NIXON'S ADMINISTRATION WOULD MAKE A REAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE CESSATION OF PRESENT WORLD CONFLICTS AND THE PREVENTION OF NEW ONES.