WHITE HOUSE; NIXON AND CABINET AT CONFERENCE TABLE; (TELERECORDING)




Initials CP/SAT-TELE/AE/OS


EDITORS: WE APOLOGISE FOR THE POOR QUALITY OF THIS FILM. IT IS A TELERECORDING MADE FROM A SATELLITE TRANSMISSION.

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Background: PRESIDENT NIXON TODAY (FRIDAY) LAUNCHED A FRESH REVIEW OF VIETNAM WAR STRATEGY WITH HIS FOREIGN POLICY AND MILITARY ADVISERS. THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE WAS EXPECTED TO CENTRE ON THE SIZE AND TIMING OF ANOTHER CUTBACK IN THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN TROOPS IN VIETNAM.

MR. NIXON ASSEMBLED HIS CIVILIAN AND MILITARY ADVISERS FROM WASHINGTON, PARIS AND SAIGON FOR THE OVERALL POLICY REVIEW. HOWEVER, NO RESULTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE KNOWN FOR SOME TIME. WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAID THERE WOULD BE NO ANNOUNCEMENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE MEETING OR DURING THE WEEKEND.

PRESSMEN WERE ALLOWED INTO THE CONFERENCE FOR ONLY A BRIEF TIME BEFORE THE MEETING GOT UNDERWAY. MR. NIXON WAS FLANKED BY SECRETARY OF STATE, WILLIAM ROGERS AND DEFENCE SECRETARY MELVIN LAIRD.

AFTER THE CONFERENCE, PRESIDENT NIXON PLANNED TO GO TO HIS MOUNTAIN RETREAT AT CAMP DAVID, IN NEARBY MARYLAND, TO REFLECT ON WHAT HE HEARD FROM HIS KEY ADVISERS.

THOSE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED GENERAL CREIGHTON W. ABRAMS, AMERICAN COMMANDER IN VIETNAM, MR. ELLSWORTH BUNKER, AMERICAN AMBASSADOR TO SAIGON, AND GENERAL EARLE WHEELER, CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF.