1.
MS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BUILDING (TWO SHOTS)
5 ft

2.
MS (PAN) REPORTERS
8 ft

3.
MS DO MAU (LEFT) SPEAKING TO REPORTERS
10 ft

4.
MS REPORTERS WRITING NOTES
13 ft

5.
MS DO MAU SPEAKING TO REPORTERS
15 1/2 ft

6.
MS REPORTERS (TWO SHOTS)
18 1/2 ft

7.
MS REPORTERS ASKING QUESTIONS
22 ft



Initials CAR/S/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT ON APRIL 5 ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR MOBILISATION OF ALL ABLE-BODIED MEN FROM 20 TO 45 FOR CIVIL DEFENCE SERVICE. WOMEN WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO VOLUNTEER UNDER A NEW PROGRAMMED DESIGNED TO BRING THE WHOLE POPULATION INTO THE STRUGGLE AGAINST COMMUNIST SUBDIVISION.

THIS DID NOT MEAN GENERAL OR PARTIAL MILITARY MOBILISATION, BUT THE DUTIES OF CIVIL DEFENCE WOULD INCLUDE ACTING AS HAMLET MILITIA IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, DEFENDING PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS SAND CARRYING OUT PATROL AND POLICE DUTIES.

LATER, BRIGADIER-GENERAL DO MAU, VICE-PREMIER AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE COUNCIL OF NOTABLES WOULD BE DISSOLVED AND A NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WOULD BE ELECTED WITHIN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS.

THE COUNCIL OF NOTABLES, AN ADVISORY BODY OF ALMOST SIXTY PROMINENT PERSONALITIES, APPOINTED BY THE JUNTA WHICH OVERTHREW THE DIEM REGIME LAST YEAR HAD BEEN HIGHLY PATRIOTIC.