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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-05138 to 363-05158.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-05138 to 363-05158
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Title
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Article about the leadup to peace talks in Vietnam
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Description
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Original title: "bunker", Keever's title: "Hanoi Concedes in Peace Talks; Saigonese Bicker and Wait", Article draft about the ramping up of peace talks in Vietnam, for the Christian Science Monitor, page 1-20. Starts with a note from Keever to her editor for following article, page 1. The note is on the likelihood of official denials, and asks about whether a previous article on the DMZ was ever published.
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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 nnm
aido editorial note 1 (normass/deepe)
SAIGON, OCTOBER 19-Hank :
I'm filing heavily on this since I don't
i think it has come to light before.
I've qualified it heavily; I'm
sure the information is accurate-but it may be officially denied.
Are you running my two-part DMZ series or he has it been printed yet.
I think it is still relevant, if you add inserts.
any more advisories on developments Regards Bev).
end reuter
Would appreciate
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- Page 2
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zcze sag
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bunker 1 (normass/deppe)
SAIGON, OCTOBER 19-American Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker has
NGUYEN VAN
told President) Thieu that Hanoi has accepted "in principle" three
American conditions for a halting the bombing of North Vietnam,
sources report.
But,
informed
told American delegated Parce
the North Vietnamese officials d they must t report to Hanoi
for final and official confirmation--or the Communist Party Politburo's
Source SAND.
rejection or modification.
Hence, at this writing, the world seems to be waiting for
North Vietnam's official confirmation--if there are no last-minute
changes as the result of the Friday arrival in Hanoi of Le Duc Tho,
the No. 7 man in the Communist Party hierarchy who had worked behind the
scenes at the Paris talks.
The the
1rostore
trons and had reported agreed to in principle"
are:
the demilitarized 2010,
seating
of South Vietnam"
peace talks
American Mission spokesmen here refuse to dies die discuss the
substance of official meetings and Conversations held by the American Ambassador
= MORE Rutes
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- Page 3
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zcze sag
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bunker 2 (normass/deepe)
But
The first
Complet,
skeletonized play-by-play of the celebrated Bunker-Thieu
WORLD-Wide.
conversations on October 16-that touched off speculation of an American
bombing halt--is now slowly coming to light in Saigon, after three days of
+9-22
secrecy in American al and South Vietnamese governemt circles.
on October 16
Informed sources here report that Ambassador Bunker,
American diplomat who has gained distinction for his skill in
the elderly
negotiating other delicate international troubles, arrived between 6:30
8.m. and 7 a.m. at the Independence Palace the plush, modern
office building of President Nguyen Van Thieu.
#more router
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- Page 4
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2020 sag
yy nnn
bunker 3 (normass/deepe)
During the on official conversation--lasting about two hours--
Ambassador Bunker reportedly told Thieu that Hanoi had agreed "in principle"
to make three
to make concessions to get the Americans to halt the bombing of the North.
Con
Approval from
But, these conditions were contingent on further to discussions in Hanoi.
The and Sand The Ambosador repor
* 2.
VIETNA
Hanoi agreed in P "in principle"
to these conditions:
SEPARATING NORTH AND
re-establishment of the demilitarized zone at the 17th parellek,
1.
cessation of attacks on south Vietnam's cities and 3. the seating of
"representatives of South Vietnam" at the next round of the peace talks
to e discuss settlement of the war in the South.
However, Hanoi had a Coultion of 517 Own had a counter-condition
Hanoi demanded that
5 Strild
of its out the United States and South Vietnamese government would
put out an official, joint communique declaring they had decided to halt
the bombing of North Vietnam
would not repeat not mention
HANOI'S AGRe
but that the communique
road to the above three points.
more router
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- Page 5
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2020 sag
yy nnm
bunker 4 (normass/deepe)
President Thieu reportedly did not repeat not raise any serious
As outlined by me. Bunker
objections to this peace formula, but asked for time to think about the
matter and to consult with other members of the government.
A
About 9:30,
Thieu called or a meeting of the Vietnamese National
Security Council, as well as the heads of the Vietnamese two-house
Van
Huyền
logislature Nguyen a uong, president of the pe Senate and
Ba Long Speaker
i Nguyen Van Huyen
Security Council included:
of the lower house.
Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky,
The National
North Vietnamese
hard-liner
An articl
metu; and
opposing negotiations-
for
1 spokesman
The
the military viewpoint; Primo Linister ren Van Truong on ederly,
prestie prestigious Southen who favors negotiations,
but on terms favorable
to the o non--Communists;
General Cao Van Viery the Minister of Defense--the equivalent of Clark
Clifford in the ed Washington--General Nguyen Van Vy;
the head of the Vietnamese Armed Forces,
the Minister
of Interior, and close associate of Thieu's, General Tran Thien Khiem;
from chan
and the Pegs Foreign Minister, who attended the 1954 Geneva
Conference on Vietnam and headed the South Vietnamese delegation to the
1962 Laotian neutrality conference, where he faced Ambassadors
AVERELL
All Harriman and Xuan Thuy-both now in Paris.
==more router
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zcze sag
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bunker 5 (normass/deepe)
Hold
As Thieu lled in the high-level government officials on his
Leaders
conversation with the American Ambassador, the two precedents of the
Senate and National Assembly kept nodding their heads in agreement.
When Thieu finished speaking, however,
began begon temat
and questions
Vice President Ky immediately
hm to out voice objections
He argued that the North Vietnamese had not made
POINTS
On the first to North Vietnamese
any big concessions at all.
concession-re-establishment of the demilitarized zone,
He argued
that the Communist troops could not live and fight there anyhow,
AND Bombing.
because of American shellings, and especially wit
A
the Amerf
American battleships the USS New sy
POIN
on t
On the second concession, cessation of attacks on the
AgAIN
SA
Communist
attacks on South Vietnam's cities-Ky also argued that North Vietnam had
Conceded Nothing.
Hot given/ep anything. He argued that the Communists had tried to attack
AND DEFEated
them.
the cities several times, but Allied forces had beaten them back.
It was ridiculous to consider this a concession by the North Vietnam, he
he sasa asked, what were the South Vietnamese
reported said. And besides,
cities that were not supposed to be attacked-all 44 provincial capitals,
just the half dozen major cities.
от
==more reuter
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- Page 7
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zcze sag
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bunker 6 (normass/deepe)
flamboyant
In a nutshell, Ky, the mustacheoed, ex-prime minister and ex-
commander of the Vietnamese Air Force, argued that the North Vietnamese
were already beaten, w so why should the Allies consider these political
ce concession anything but, meaningless.
officers, include including
of
Any Many American military
officers in close tho touch with the thinking
General Creighton Abrams, American commander in Vietnam.
more reuter
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- Page 8
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zC2c: sag
yy nnm
2
bunker (normass/deepe)
On the third point-seating of "representatives of South Vietnam" at
the next round of the peace talks, just why did not Ambassador Bunker
c clarify who is to represent South Vietnam.
OR The VET Cong
Did the Ambassador
mean that the Thieu government would represent South Vietnam-after all,
Ky reportedly argued, the Viet Cong were South Vietnamese too. What did
Ambassador Bunker mean by "representatives of South Vietnam," he asked,
and suggested they get, clarification on that matter.
portbay FRGUED The
Then, Ky thought the whole idea of the communique was fishy and
probably a trick by North Vietnam.
Why did not would not North Vietnam
ANNOUNCE SPEC
allow the joint American-South Vietnamese communique to specific the three
so-called concessions Hanoi had
agreed to-so that the whole
world would know. How would anyone know what Hanoi had promised in return
for the hang cessation of the bombing, if they did not admit it;
Wou
Speak Ng
20
hat had been agreed to if only the Americans were ting for Hanoi, how
the South Vietnamese government really know what the North Vietnamese
had agreed to. He asked for further clarification of this, also.
==more reuter
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- Page 9
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2020 sag
yy nam
8
bunker (normass/deepe)
Also on the joint comm
+ VIETNAMESE
the South Vietnamese
overnment was to
sign with the American, declara declaring a cessation of the bombing, Ky
wanted to make it clear that the Saigon regiment regime was designated
as the "Republic of Vietnam," but North Vietnam would be termed only
only Not
Coll NOT Repen
"authorities. "We should not call certainly can not refer to North
Vietnam as the "Democratic Republic"--that was just propaganda for them,
he maintained.
The two presidents of the Sonate and Lower House also nodded in
agreement with that.
Strong object.
The majority of the delg delegation agreed with Ky that more.
other generals Rasd others
clarification should be sought from Ambassador Bunker At noon, Amba
the Ambassador came to the Palace again to confer with Thieu in order
and to answer the questions Ky had raised in the previous session.
Thank
In
the meantime, Foreign Minister Chanh mot with the-les ambassadors of r
other Allied countiros countries who had troops fighting in South Vietnam-
DHLIPPINES,
P
Thailand, South Korea, Australian Australia, New Zealand.
The
to
B Ambassadors of Australia, New Zambal renthe Philippines, seemed incling and
agree that the Americans should set the
course,
Thais x expressed the view
the South Vietnamese should
take the lead on the course of future negotiations, sources close to the
Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said.
==more reuter
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- Page 10
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ZC2C sag
yy nnm
bunker 8 (normass/deepe)
Prime Minister Huong also began a round of conferences, but there
October 17.
was no formal Cabinet meeting until the next day,
Some sources report te that the second session of Thieu-Bunker
sessions took place over lunch, where the American ambassador explemen
some of the objection questions Ky had raised.
About the communiqueg
joint American-South Vietnamese communique declaring an end
to the bombings
the Ambassador explained that this was a "face-saving" measure for Hanoi.
Hanoi had officially and constantly demanded the "unconditional"
of the Bomb bom American bombing and "other acts of war,"
halt
and so
khmer
announce they had made concessions,
if the Allies forced Hanoi to officially
then they would lose face.
On keys Vice President Ky's question about who was meant by the
"representatives of South Vietnam, "
at the next round of the peace talks,
assured Thieu that the
informed sources said the ambassador assued
elected, South Vietnamese government would represent the South.
more reuter
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- Page 11
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205C sag
yy nnm
bunker
(normass/deepe)
The specific answers to other questions raised by Kysuch as how
many South Vietnamese cities would not be attack attacked by the
Communists either were vaguely answered, unanswered,
is currently unavil wavailable.
or the information
The next day, October 17,
Ambassador Bunker again met with President
development.
the first
Thieu and Prime Minister Huong called the first Cabinet meeting of the
Prime Minister Huong was known to feel that
official move from the Vietnamese government regarding the joing
joint communique should come from the two-house legislature,
represented the South Vietnamese people.
which
There as a great deal of
deng
mea maneuvering among the legislatur legislators-maneuvering espectarry
Memo Aide with Thieu and the Americans during the Pericus
seper
иеле
to
these
Joint sessions is was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon D
ling WAS Speed
but early Saturday morning, the legislators were sent "urgent"
Saturday.
notices to appear for session at 3 p.m.
==more reuter
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- Page 12
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2030 988
yy nnm
bunker 11 (normass/deepe)
The
U government's plan is for the Senate and Lower House
to pass resolutions favoring the American-proposed peace package--which seemed
likely after some debate. Then these resolutions would be sent to President
This Agreem
If there are any serious conflicts, g bitter feelings
Thieu for a
or close vote, the resolutions and Thieu's agreement might possibly be
sent to the Supreme Court-officially activitated on October 18-to rule
on the constitutionality of the measures.
Peariously
The mysterious and confusing October developments in South Vietnam,,
Have
comprehensible in the light of past few days, now seem
to been the slow-motion groundwork for evolving towards discussion of
a peace settlement for the South.
==More router
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- Page 13
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2020 sag
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12
bunker (normass/deepe)
this m
Setting the Stage for
The most important single pre-October event winte
happened in June with the cclipse of power of anti-negotiation
military officers who supported Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky. Ky
super supporters, beginning in June, and evolving since then, have
Trein
been removed from powerful positions of troop commanders-which is necessary
a
lost
to launch in coup against the Thieu government. The Ky faction, the
right-wing anchor of both the government and the armed forces,
control of the National Police, the intelligence service, the and most
COMMAND
significant the commands of the 3rd and 4th Corps, which et contor
Although the
Now,
troops close enough to Saigon to make a coup. Currently
right-wing politicians and generals may object, strenuously
They HAVE Very
anything but a Communist surrender,
MN ANT-American, Anti-the
to launch a coup against. Thioumandourrently
to negotiating
Tave command of 6 troops
Senios teribus uncertainties arise, however, with rampant specul
officials MAY
rumors in Saigon for the post-tirree weeks that the Americans may initiate a
coup against Thieu, if he does not yield to American pressure.
Serious
since the
bo observers consider this extremely unlikely, however,
legitimacy of the Thieu regime is an Allied trump card the Communists can not
claim for the National Liberation Front.
more reuter
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- Page 14
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8020 sag
Jy nnm
13
bunker (normass/deepe)
By late September, however, some curious developments began to
unravel- which only now come into focus. First was the government move to
urge General Duong Ven Minh to return from exile in Bangkok to Saigon.
Sources close to President Thieu indicate that the overwhelming American
this version is commonly
accepted in Saigon, although officially denied by the American
Establishe
pressure forced thieu to invite the general back;
*Here.
"Big Ninh" as the toothless general is called because of
height and build, is controversial; he was the popular Southern general
who led the junta that overthrew Catholic President Ngo Dinh Diem in loveb
on November 1, 1963. Eighty-nine days later, the Minh junta was
overthrown by General Nguyen Khanh on the charge that he was "pro-neutralist."
Although Minh and some of his followers were regarded as soft on Communis
Being ene
Communists,
s pro-Buddhist aro ouddhisted pro-French, these
pro-neutralist charges were never substantially documented. However,
the shees "pro-neutralist" charges against Minh and associates were
in January, 1964,
accepted as adequate by American Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodgy during
brief ham-and-eggs breakfast with Control Khanh, as the Americans shifted
their support-momentarily to Khanh.
more reuter
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- Page 15
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zcze sag
yy nnm
bunker (normass/deepe)
The current role of Minh is still mysterious;
some speculate he will
be used to overthrow Thieu; some speculate he'll joint newSouth
Vietnamese delegation to the next session of the
peace talks.
Mayh
On October 4, after alot of negotiations within the government and
ent
pof body politic,
Thieu signed the a/cable authorizing Minh to return
from Bangkok; Minh arrived on October 5, but the government police.
hindered press over coverage by waving hats in front of television
cameras and blocking entrance of some journalists into the airport.
On October 7th, President Thieu gave his "State of the Union"
address at the opening of the two-house legislature. Vietnamese sources
we Informed Vietnamese sources report the American officials here wanted
Thieu to make a dovish address which would enhance the possibility of
getting the peace the moves towards peace, which were apps apparantly
in the wind in Paris. Instead, however, Thieu made a whopping hard-line,
anti-compromise speech, and further warned "troublemakers"-unspecified, but
the
the right-wing who might demanatha demonstrate peainst t
negotiations with the Communists--not to get out of line.
more reuter
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- Page 16
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zczc sag
Jy nnm
5
bunker (normass/deepe)
On goo October 8the day of the infamous coup scare--Vietnamese sources
report that the American officials advised the South Vietnamese government
to order a special alpa precautionary alert in case the Communists pulled
something, because President Lyndon Johnson was preparing to announce an
end to the bombing of the North. Vietnamese sources suspect that the American
officials used this as a warning to Thieu, but Thieu used the occasion
to issue a sharp a warning to all sides-hastly the right-wing Vietnamese,
ime with street
but indirectly to the left-wing-not to set out
demonstrations, civil disorders or letters of protest.
In fact, there was more
smoke than fire no coup was actually planned or attempted, no one was
arrested, but half dozen person civilians and ex-military officers
all from the right-wing elemens elements--were called into police stations
for interrogation and subsequently released, with official apology.
This version of the story 18 aimdat dianteistently site with
almost
opposed to the
official American versions version of the action Ambassador Bunker
who
was visiting his wife in ambassador-wife in Nepal at the time of the coup
scare later presented the official viewpoint to
correspondents,
but the session was off-the-record,
not to be used for any
publication in any form.
Number
selected/American
which means it is
==more reuter
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zczc sag
yy nnm
16
bunker (normass/deepe)
Under American advise, the Vietnamese government also pressed ahead
Cemaling
urgently with plant to their Supreme Court
two days after
18
to fround On October 15.-
elected the final fisting of nine
of 15
tere day before Ambassador Dunker's visit to the Palace--the two-house
legislature sea
Supre
be sent to President Thieu for approval and subsequent
The Supreme Court is unique in Vietnam; since
independence in 196 1954, South Vietnamsax has never had a s
high court boky which could rule on the constitutionality of legislative
bills and presidential degrees; the basic rights of the people were oftenc
thing
The his
horetofore nbod unheed unprotected by any official body.
independent judiciardy judi highj judiciary this completes "the third
pillar of the Vietnamese government," as intelleétu intellectuals explain
now have a three-legged government (threes br separate branches)
t. "We
like the United States instead of a two-legged one."
==more reuter
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- Page 18
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2020 sag
yy nnm
7
bunker (normass/deepe)
relevant of them
The impedinte interest surrounding re Supreme Court is how in the
future it will interprete the Vietnamese Constitution, which specifically
outlaws but does not define--Communism in South Vietnam.
The fun days preceding the October 16th Bunker-Thieu
conferences had several other curious events. One was the pooch by
McGeorge Bundy,
the former hawk in the Jomson for
in Vietnam when the first American bombing radis raids over the North began
suddenly calling for a bombing halt. lany Vietnamese
in February, 1965,
confused in however
Depentaen ty
with his brother Bill now in the State Deparmt
se through the State Department thought
was
weaning them to turn more dovish.
==more rejt reuter
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- Page 19
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2020 sag
yy nnm
18
bunker (normass/deepe)
5/
was the new story received here
about a book written by Washington 'Ster veteran reportor Richard Ortione
Critchfield brother to a high-ranking American intelligence officer-
in which he charged Vice President Ky and some of chief supporters were
Nthe News Acount, the a
те
Vietnam; o credited Ambassador Bunker with uncovering their
AND
agents of North
Communist activities.
The Ambassador sent out on official denial of this,
D
praised k Ky as a patriot-but the net effect was again to discredit the
right-wing
moves.
Bats
struggle-
AGAINST ANY
AN
wo-right be ent protest agains any move towarto peace
PJOR Event
big factor was a free-for-all--and behind-the-scenes power
138-MAN
in the Tow Lower House of the legislature,
Smed with
"LARGES;
in which 38 pro-Ky deputies were Indirectly charged with corruption 12
this
Has yet Be
and culminated with one deputy sherging another
quel challenging another
to a duel-which was accepted, but no date is set for the encounter.
more reuter
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- Page 20
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zC2c sag
Jy nnm
19
bunker 16 (normass/deepe)
The matter
heated debate and charges of corruption were related to
For
the election of new committee chairmen
owen
the pro-Ky deputies denied
their corruption, thente threatened to boycott the elections
AND
House of Representatives.com
Posts.
the
committee hips, and, in
with
passed out rumors charging
pro-thieu legislators and associates of buying
-to the tune of 40,000 piastres ($4000) a vote-
of legislators
who would
private, they
tegini
Votes
switch
am their support
When the dust
to committee chairman fer favored by President Thieu.
CACAS
N
fini finally settled on that there had been a flipflop in the loyaltion
Lower House chairmanships-from the pro-Ky ton
faction e
Control.
==more reuter
AND
the pro Thieu
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- Page 21
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zcze sag
Jy nnm
20
bunker 19 (normass/deepe)
Amin rock-end,
This
on Saturday afternoon,
"democracy al al American"-
une
two regis
Allied cessation of the bombing of North Vietnam.
as cynical Vietnamese called it, he began to unravel
ative House
Debating
legislature began to debate a rebolution
as the
the.
Gogortis
Debat
1 ContiNUING.
SHANK Penet
me Add Any
Minute Wire Service
كور
developments
fant
on the debut As you
The interesting.
Appropriate. The in
The fin
Bev)
Janal Uoting Regà do
End Rents.
-
Date
-
1968, Oct. 19
-
Subject
-
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Peace; United States--Relations--Vietnam (Democratic Republic); Vietnam (Democratic Republic); Vietnam (Republic); Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Peace treaties; Diplomacy
-
Location
-
Saigon, South Vietnam
-
Coordinates
-
10.8231; 106.6311
-
Size
-
20 x 26 cm
-
Container
-
B10, F39
-
Format
-
dispatches
-
Collection Number
-
MS 363
-
Collection Title
-
Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
-
Creator
-
Keever, Beverly Deepe
-
Copyright Information
-
These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
-
Publisher
-
Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
-
Language
-
English
