1.
GV EXT. Conference building (2 shots)
0.08

2.
SV Newsmen outside
0.14

3.
SCU Porter speaks
1.00

4.
SV INT. Xuan Thuy into conference room (2 shots)
1.08

5.
CU Xuan Thuy speaking in Vietnamese followed by French translation
2.14


PORTER: "I should tell you that all substance, or comment on substance, of the other side's declaration of today will be coming from Washington. We will not be saying anything on that here. With regard to the fact of the declaration -- the fact that they made it -- in present circumstances it is an unfortunate violation of an understanding which they sought, and to which we agreed that there would be no revelations on the private talks, as they were continuing."




Initials SGM/??? SGM/0317


The sound of film includes remarks by Xuan Thuy in Vietnamese with a French translation. There is also an extract from Mr Proter's remarks in English. A transcript follows.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: North Vietnam called on the United States to sign and implement the Washington-Hanoi peace agreement disclosed by Hanoi Radio on Thursday morning. The North Vietnamese said they had reached a secret agreement with the United States to end the Vietnam war by next Wednesday, but the peace treaty was being jeopardised by U.S. stalling.

At the Paris peace talks on Thursday, chief North Vietnamese negotiator Xuan Thuy said, "All the conditions are rips for a rapid settlement of the Vietnam problem and for the immediate re-establishment of peace. The question is whether the Nixon administration wants to finalise immediately the accords reached between the Democratic Republic of (North) Vietnam and the United States".

William Porter, the U.S. negotiator, referred all queries to Washington. There, Presidential adviser, Dr Henry Kissinger, said that peace in Vietnam was in sight. But he denied Hanoi's claim that there was a firm agreement to sign a ceasefire accord on 31 October. Please refer to VISNEWS production 13151/72, USA: PRESIDENTIAL ADVISER KISSINGER SAYS VIETNAM PEACE IN SIGHT, also issued on 26 October.

Hanoi's announcement disclosed a nine-point agreement on a ceasefire, an and to U.S. involvement in the war, the release of prisoner and a political settlement in South Vietnam. According to the North Vietnamese, the peace agreement was worked out by Dr. Kissinger and Hanoi Politburo member, Le Duc Tho, in secret Paris meetings.

The North Vietnamese said President Nixon was directly involved in the negotiations. The disclosure of the agreement is seen by some observers as designed to put pressure on President Nixon, 12 days before the U.S. elections.