This Day In 1970's History: Sunday December 31, 1972
- Soviet Premier Kosygin demanded that the U.S. sign a Vietnam peace treaty at the earliest opportunity. Earlier, the Soviet news agency Tass carried a commentary saying that improved U.S.-Soviet relations depend on Vietnam. [NBC]
- In Paris, a North Vietnamese deputy also demanded that the U.S. sign the October peace settlement, but the U.S. wants changes. Low level peace talks will resume in Paris on Tuesday and full scale negotiations resume a week from tomorrow.
The United States and North Vietnam disagree on why the talks are being resumed as well as why the talks broke down. The U.S. says that the Henry Kissinger-Le Duc Tho talks never broke down. This suggests that North Vietnam is now offering new concessions since the talks will resume. North Vietnam claims that the U.S. yielded to the Communists' demand for a bombing halt, so North Vietnam is the one resuming the talks. The Viet Cong stated that the U.S. must now sign the October agreement; Kissinger called this unsatisfactory. Nobody is saying "peace is at hand" anymore. Saigon is carrying on almost exempt from the war, while Hanoi is nearly destroyed; President Thieu is stronger while the enemy is weaker. The South Vietnam rice crop is being harvested. [NBC]
- South Vietnam and the Viet Cong have agreed on a cease-fire. The U.S. will probably also observe the cease-fire in South Vietnam, but not elsewhere in Indochina. [NBC]
- A film coming out of Hanoi indicates that damage there is extensive. The film was shot by DEMPA, a leftist Japanese news agency; it shows U.S. POW's Dwayne Robert, Carl Jethco and Brian Ward. All POW's reported that they are receiving good treatment and they all hope for the end of the war. The film also shows the bomb damage to Hanoi. The U.S. lost at least 15 B-52's during the recent bombings. Many residents of Hanoi have moved to the countryside, but many others have died. [NBC]
- Pope Paul stated he is happy that the Vietnam peace talks are resuming. [NBC]
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