Word: saigon
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ALONGSIDE the broad, American-built expressway between Saigon and Bien Hoa, President Nguyen Van Thieu's eager campaign workers have already hung banners emblazoned with Thieu's "Four Nos" slogan-no neutrality, no coalition government, no concession of any South Vietnamese territory to the Communists, no Communist activity anywhere in South Viet Nam. Thieu might as well have added a Fifth No: no opposition in the presidential campaigns...
With only five weeks remaining until South Viet Nam's October election, there was still no end in sight to the political snafu that has become at once a bitter joke in cynical Saigon and a source of deep embarrassment to Washington. So long as Thieu held the lines of governmental power and could steer the results in his favor, neither retired General Duong Van ("Big") Minh nor South Viet Nam's feisty Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky would consent to run as opposition candidates. That left Thieu the sole contender, knocking the underpinnings from the U.S. contention...
Artful Proposal. In Saigon, the elements of farce in the situation were underlined with tragedy. There was talk of a coup, and the guard around the presidential palace was reinforced. Saigon gossips began adding up the forces loyal to Vice President Ky, which are thought to include some marine, airborne and armor battalions, plus six prop-driven Skyraiders at Tan Son Nhut airbase. The U.S. command placed all American installations on alert, mainly to keep G.I.s off the streets of cities where short-lived but ugly anti-American riots had broken out last week...
...Washington for several days of talks. It was decided that Bunker should warn Thieu "on the highest authority"-meaning straight from Richard Nixon-that the Administration would be deeply disturbed if the election turned into a fiasco. Congress, Bunker was to emphasize, might balk at continuing aid to Saigon if Thieu ran unopposed...
Bunker returned to Saigon last week and delivered his message to Thieu, then went on to Big Minh's villa a few blocks away. But Minh was not convinced of Bunker's power to put a rein on Thieu's ambition. Next morning, Minh's spokesmen announced his withdrawal...