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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07260 to 363-07271.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07260 to 363-07271
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Title
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Article about a planned withdrawl of American troops from Vietnam
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Description
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Original title: "withdrawl", Keever's title: "Gen. Westmoreland's Phase-Out of U.S. Troops seen as Doubtful and U.S. Election Ploy", Article draft about an announced withdrawl of Americans from Vietnam, for the Christian Science Monitor
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AI Usage Disclosure
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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.
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Transcript
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- Page 1
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zcze sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 1 (normass/deepe)
optimistic
SAIGON, December 19-General William C. Westmoreland's
statement concerning an American troop phase-out in two
years is still sparking cofe coffee-shop debates, controversial
and Christmas party chatter.
discussions
The approaching Yuletide ceasefire has brought a
beace neogio
resurgence of speculation about future
negotiations and a renewed renewal of commentary about the
phase out of American troops General Westmoreland proposed last
month while in the United States.
More Reuter
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- Page 2
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zcze sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 2 (normass/deepe)
A Western diplomat at a recent cocktail party explained:
"Frankly, we think Westmoreland's statement was simply grist for
American electoral consumption. Of course, he can take out
some troops and reduce American al casualties, but it will mean
a reduction in the his patrolling and operating strength. Maybe
his statement gave some worry to the South Vietnamese leadership,
but there's indication
of any other effect here."
More Reuter
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- Page 3
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zcze sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 3 (normass/deepe)
Officially, South Vietnamese leaders, mostly generals,
have said the withdrawal can be effected
-on the condition
the Vietnamese armed forces is substantially reformed and re-organized;
South Vietnamese officers of mid-level rank see little chance of a
re-organization sigj significant enough to allow any
substantitive phase-out of American troops.
More Rueter
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zczc sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 4 (normass/deepe)
A Republican politician, visiting from Washington,
speculated, I suspect (President).
Johnson is just sneaky
It's
enough to pull a few troops out of here before the election.
quite clear he's got to pull some rabbit out of th his Vietnam
hat."
More Reuter
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zcze sag
yy-ljp
withdrawal 5 (normass/deepe)
hat.
A knowledgeable American official, speaking privately:
"There's already a big white bunny with his ears popping out of the
Westmoreland could withdraw more the than 100,000 American
troops from Vietnam right now--and it wouldn't hurt the war effort
at all. He's got enough logistical and support troops in here
McNamara was right when he said
for a million-man American force.
Westmoreland should use his troops more efficiently insta--instead
we are airlifting more in here. LBJ
can withdraw 25,000
troops in July (1968); 25,000 in August, 25,000 in September
and 25,000 in October."
More Reuter
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z0zc sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 6 (normass/deepe)
In a small, open-air coffeeshop near Saigon's "Wall
Street" ares a group of businessmen with business contracts
for the American military debated the question.
One, a supplier
of loha locally produce produced items for the American
establishment, explained, "How can the Americans withdraw? Look
Đi Cam Ranh Bay, Danang and Long Binh bases, You know the Americans
have started on a ten-year program to train Vietnamese st senior
officers."
More Reuter
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zC2c sag
yy-ljp
withdrawal 7 (normass/deepe)
Another in the group,
commonly called by the Vietnamese
"war profiteers," chimed in: "We've already made enough money
off the American build-up; if the Americans stay longer we will
if they withdraw we still have enough money to
make more money;
live abroad."
A third businessman,
to American personnel,
with several buildings rented
added: "The Americans can't withdraw.
Look at South Korea. The war's been over for fourteen years
already, but the Americans are still there."
More Reuter
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zC2c sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 8 (normass/deepe)
Some of the higher-lel level Vietnamese government
civilian government officials are much more skeptical about the
troop withdrawal;
some are worried that General Westmoreland's
statement was the forewarning of the Americans "selling the Vietnamese
down the river;" subsequent reports of the Viet Cong attempting to
contact American Embassy officials here and to enter the United
Nations added fuel to this
fear &
more reuter
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zC2C seg
yy-1jp
withdrawal 9 (Normass/deepe)
This skepticism was expressed last week by Foreign
Minister Tran Van Do, in an interview with this correspondent
when he said:
"It (the withdrawal depends on the progress in
the military field. Maybe General Westmoreland has more elements
WE
than us civilians to judge the situation." He suggested a "tacit
agreement" might be reached for both North Vietnamese and American
troops to de-escalate simuliae simultaneously, explaining, "It
might happen that the war will fade away without negotiations.
don't know; it might happen."
I
More Reuter
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zC2c sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 10 (normass/deepe)
Questioned on the skepticism of his answer, the
"It's
elder statesman of the newly-elected government, continued:
very, very difficult to know (about the withdrawal); it depend n
on the effect of the bombing of North Vietnam and on other Milita
military factors. It's very difficult to judge the situation."
Hoop Plass
also would depend on
Later, he said,
the
how much of the Viet Cong infrastructure in thevillages had been
Could
eradicated and how quickly the South Vietnamese political life an
be re-organized.
"The Communists are convinced they can't take South
Vietnam over by force; they will try the political way. It's
the insidious way.
More Reuter
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zczc sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 11 (normass/deepe)
the National Liberation Front
"If y can persuade the American public they are
not Communist and that we had better form a g coalition government
AS
with them, then you have seen in South Vietnam, because of the
legacy of the past-twenty years of war against the Gren French and
the Ngo De Dinh Diem regime, the revolution and instability-we are
not able to organize South Vietnam politically. You have seen during the
elections we had 48 slates for the Senate and 11 for the Presidency.
That means we are not yet politically organized...so we can not accept
the National Liberation Front as a political party in South Vietnam.
They will be the only political party with discipline and with the
support of an army. They will do as they did in Eastern Europe-
even if the Communist Party at the beginning is only a minority, it
will destroy and liquidate all the other parties...that's why we
do not accept to integrate the Front as a body in South Vietnam-
the integration of the Front will be the political way to take over
South Vietnam which they could not succeed doing by force."
More Reuter
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zczc sag
yy-1jp
withdrawal 12 (normass/deepe)
QUIET
The tak dignified Fog Foreign Minister said General
Westmoe Westmoreland did not repeat not consult with the South
Vietnamese government officials before making his famous phase-out
prediction last month.
arrived.
(Hank: many thanks for accreditation letter which just
Appreciate advisory if you want a special piece on Romney's
Christmas visit; I suspect wires will cover him heavily. 1811
coordinate with Beb about future filing,
this week. Regards Bev)
if any,
End Reuter
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Date
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1967, Dec. 19
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Westmoreland, William C. (William Childs), 1914-2005; Strategy; Military leadership
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B7, F5
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Format
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dispatches
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
