1.
LV PRESIDENTIAL PALACE.
0.09

2.
CU GUARD OUTSIDE PALACE.
0.13

3.
SV GENERAL TAYLOR (RIGHT) AND GEN. HARKINS ARRIVING AT PALACE.
0.16

4.
SV CAR BRINGING McNAMARA TO PALACE.
0.20

5.
SV McNAMARA (RIGHT) AND AMBASSADOR LODGE (LEFT) GETTING OUT OF CAR.
0.23

6.
SV PRES. DIEM RECEIVING THEM.
0.28

7.
SV CAMERAMEN.
0.30

8.
SV McNAMARA AND DIEM TALKING.
0.38

9.
CU CAMERAMAN.
0.40

10.
SV McNAMARA AND DIEM TALKING.
0.46

11.
SV OPENING OF DOOR.
0.50

12.
MS McNAMARA, DIEM AND OTHERS WALKING TO CONFERENCE ROOM (2 SHOTS).
1.07



Initials RE/V/MGT/LW



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE MEETING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENCE ROBERT K.McNAMARA AND SOUTH VIETNAMESE PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM ON SUNDAY, HELD BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, WAS SAID TO HAVE BEEN "RELAXED AND FRIENDLY" ONE.

IT WAS MR.ROBERT McNAMARA'S FIRST MEETING WITH PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM, SINCE HIS ARRIVAL IN SAIGON ON SEPTEMBER 24.

GENERAL MAXWELL TAYLOR, CHAIRMAN OF THE U.S.JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF ACCOMPANYING MR.MCNAMARA ON THEIR FACT-FINDING VISIT HERE, WENT TO THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE WITH GENERAL PAUL HARKING, CHIEF OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ASSISTANCE COMMAND.ALSO PRESENT WAS AMBASSADOR HENRY CABOT LODGE.

THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESIDENT'S BROTHER AND POLITICAL ADVISER, NGO DINH DIEM, FROM THE MEETING CONTINUED TO BE A SUBJECT OF PRIVATE CONVERSATION AND OFFICIAL SILENCE.

POLITICAL COMMENTATORS SAID THAT ALTHOUGH NGO DINH DIEM COULD HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE MEETING, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE INTERMINISTERIAL STRATEGIC HAMLET COMMITTEE, HIS ABSENCE WOULD HAVE BEEN "SOMEWHAT DELICATE."
MOST AMERICANS IN THE COUNTRY CONTINUED TO REGARD HIM AS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN THE VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS, DESPITE HIS ABSENCE AT THE MEETING.