V ET

(OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS)

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PUBLISHING HOUSE

VIET NAM.

and

THE FAILURE OF THE U.S.

WAR OF DESTRUCTION

AGAINST THE D.R.V.N.

VIET NAMand

THE FAILURE OF THE U.S.WAR OF DESTRUCTION

AGAINST THE D.R.V.N.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES PUBLISHING HOUSI':

Hanoi - 1968

CONTENTS

Page

Publis/m"s note

- President Ho Chi :.\Iinh's appeal to

(November 3, 1968)

- Statement of the Government of the

Republic of Viet Nam on the unconditional cessation

of the bombing and shelling by the United States

of the whole territory of the D.R.V.N. (November

2,1968)

- Statement of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front con·

cerning the unconditional cessation of the bombing

and shelling by the United States of the whole

territory of the D.R.V.N. (November 3, 1968) 23

- Communique of the Viet Nam People's Army High

Command on the victory of the North Vietnamese

Armed Forces and People over the U.S. imperialists'

war of destruction (November 5, 1968)

- Statement of the South Viet Nam ational Front

for Liberation on the political settlement of

South Vietnamese problem ( ovember 3, 19(8)

- Statement of the Viet Naill Alliance of National,

Democratic and Peace Forces on the new situation

of the South Vietnamese people's struggle (Nu­

"ember 4,196:'»

- joint commullique of the South Viet Nam '\ational

Ie-ront for Liberation and the Viet Nam Alliance of

1'.ational, Democratic and Peace Forces (November

5.q6S). 57

PUBLISHER'S NOTE

Alter more that~ jour years of war 0/ des­/mction aRainst the Democratic Republic viViet .Vam lind nearly ix months 0/ tergi'i'er­sation at the Paris talks, President LyndonB.folmson had to declare uu the night ojOctober 31, 1968 an uncuJ£ditional cessatio710/ the bombing and shelling oj the whole terri­tory oj the Democratic Republic 0/ Viet Namas from the Ilext day.

Why did TVashingtoll launch this ,val' ojdestruction.J Has it reached iis object/c'es? Whylias it had to unconditiollallv stop its bombingand shelling ,J What is the signi/icallce oj thismeasure)

The official dOCHmmts gathered ill thisbooklet give the answers to these questionsThey also help the reader better understandthe position and attitude of the V1'etllamesepeople as a whole regard1't~g the settlement ojthe Vietnamese problem,

FOHEIGN LANGUAGES PUBLISHING HOUSEHANOI- 1<}68

PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH'S

APPEAL

TO THE NATION

Fellow-co1tntrymen and lighters all over the countr)'.

Under the impact of the great victories won by our

armed forces and people in both parts of our coun­

try, especially in the South, since early spring this

year, the United States Government was forced on

November 1st, 1968 to end unconditionally its bomb­

ing and shelling of the whole territory of the Demo­

cratic Republic of Viet Nam.

Thus, after four years of extremely heroic fighting

our armed forces and people have won a glorious

victory, having shot down more than 3,200 aircraft,

set afire over a hundred big and small war vessels

and defeated the American imperialists' war of

destruction against the North of our country.

That is a victory of very momentous significance

for our people's great resistance to U.S. aggression,

lor national salvation.

The American imperialists had thought that with

the savage destl uctive power ot bombs and shells

they would be in a position to weaken the l"orth,

re\-ent the great rear from supporting the great

fJ ont and impdir the combat capacity of the South.

But, III fact, as the •Torth fought against the Amer­

call aggressors, it gre\\ stronger and steadier in

(>\'ery respect and unceaslllgly gave wholehearted

a.5sistance to the liberatlOn ~truggle of their herOic

fellow countrymen in the South. Similarly, our South­

(rn kith and kin's unity and stn ngth and successes

have been increasing at the same rate as the intensity

of their str'lggle. That victory i~ due to our Party's

;-evolutionaly line. to our people's ardent patriotism

.111 I the strength of their unity and determination to

fight and win, to the excellence of our socialist

regime. It goe;; to the common credit of our armed

forces and people in both South and North. That is

also a victory of the peoples of the fraternal socialist

countries and our friends in the five continents.

On this occasion, on behalf of the Party and the

Government, I warmly praise our compatriots and

fighters all over the country, and sincerely thank

the fraternal socialist countries, friendly countries

10

far and near, and the world people, including pro­

gressive people in the United States, for their great.

help and t.heir sympathy and support.

Dear fellow-countrymen and jiglrters.

We have defeated the war of destruction of the

American imperialists in the North. But this is only

an initial victory. The American imperialists are

very obdurate and perfidious. They talk of " peace"

and "negotiation" while persisting in their dark

aggressive designs. More than a million American.

puppet and satellite troops are still daily commIt­

ting untold crimes against our Southern compatriots.

Therefore, the sacred duty of our entire people at

present is to stiffen our determination to fight

and win, our resolve to liberate the South,

defend the North and proceed towards peaceful

national reunification.

So long as there remains an aggressor on our soil,

we must continue our fight and wipe him out.

Our heroic people and fighters in the South, under

the glorious banner of the National Front for

Liberation, are staging uninterrupted offensives and

uprisings and resolutely advance towards complete

victory.

Our armed forces and people in the North are

bending all their efforts on patriotic emulation to

build socialism and fulfil their obligations towards

their Southern kith and kin, constantly sharpening

their vigilance, practising self-reliance, and increasing

their strength and readiness to fight and frustrate all

new schemes of the enemy.

We are confident that our people's resistance to

American aggression, for national salvation, will

enlist ever-growing sympathy, support and help from

the peoples of the fraternal countries and all over

the world, including progressive people in the UnitedStates.

After nearly a century of colonial servitude and

over twenty years of resistance to imperialist wars

of aggression, our people, more than any other, have

deeply at heart peace which is needed for nationalconstruction. Bllt it must be ~enuine peace inindependence and freedo m.

That is why we firmly demand that:

- The United States Government put an end toits war of aggression against Viet Nam and defini­tively abstain from all encroachments on the sover­eignty and security of the Democratic Republic of

Viet Nam;

- All American and satellite troops be withdrawn

from South Viet Nam ;

12

- The internal affairs of South Viet ~am be

settled by the South Vietnamese people themselves

in accordance with the Political Program of the

~ational Front for Liberation, without foreign

interference;

- The reunification of Viet Nam be resolved by

the people of the two zones, South and _'orth,

without foreign intervention.

Dear fellow-countryme1~ and lighters,

~any hardships and sacrifices still lie ahead of

us, but our people's great resistance to American

aggression, for national salvation, is progressing at

a brisk pace towards victory. The Fatherland calls

on us to rush enthusiastically forward and win com­

plete victory over the American aggressors!

The American imperialists will certainly be defeated!

Our people will certainly win!

Hanoi, November 3, 1908

13

STATEl\1E T

OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC

REPUBLIC OF VIE r NAM

ON

THE UNCONDITIONAL CESSATI01- OF THE

BOMBUG A:KD SHELLL'G BY THE m,aTED

.TATES OF THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF

THE D.R.V

Over the past fourteen years. III disregard of itspledge concerning the Geneva Agreements on Viet:--Tam, the United States has been ceaselessly inter­vening in, and pursuing an aggression against. thesouthern part of our country in an attempt to turn itinto an American colony anti military base and toprolong the partition of Viet :Kam. Since the beginningof 1965, it has committed an American expeditionaryforce and satellite troops to South Viet Nam to step upthe war of aggression there; at the same time itundertook air and naval bombardments against theDemocratic Republic of Viet Nam in the hope of extri­cating itself from a losing position and a quagmire inthe South, and of subduing the Vietname e people.

15

Under the c1earsighted leadership of the South Viet1 Tam National Front for Liberation, our Southerncompatriots have been fighting with admirablegallantry, dealing repeated and heavy blows at theenemy, winning ever - greater victories, especiallysince the generalized offensives and simultaneousuprisings of Spring 1968; they have driven the Amer­ican imperialists deep into a passive and defensiveposition, and shaken to its foundations the puppetadministration and army.

The.Torth Vietnamese people have put up a heroicresistance to the war of destruction waged by theAmerican imperialists, prevented them from attainingtheir objectives and, moreover, caused them very heavylosses with over 3,200 modern aircraft shot down. Inwar conditions the Democratic Republic of Viet 1 Tamhas not ceased to grow up, her economic and militarypotentials have been constantly strengthened, and hernational unity has become more solid than ever.

The fraternal socialist countries, peace-loving peoplein the world and progressive people in the UnitedStates, standing on the side of justice, have been reso­lutely supporting the Vietnamese people against theaggression of the American imperialists, which hasaggravated the latter's isolation.

Confronted with an irremediable situation in VietNam and tremendous difficulties arising from the VietNam war, and under the pressure of world and Amer­ican opinion, the United States Government has beenforced to announce the complete cessation of air,

16

naval and artillery bombardments against the Demo­cratic Republic of Viet _'am.

The fact that its United States has had to topunconditionally its bombardments on the entire terri­tory of the Democratic Republic of Viet. 'am afterpiling up in four year::. monstrous crimes againstthe people in the ,Jorth, and after blocking theprogress of the Paris talks for five months, consti­tutes a great victory of the Vietnamese people in bothzone. It is also a great victory of the socialist camp,the n tional·liberation movement and the peacemovement, a great victory of the people throughoutthe \\orld, including progressive people in the UnitedStates.

After the unconditional ending of bombardmentsby the United Shtes on the entire territory of theDemocratic Republic of Viet Nam, the D.R.V.N.Government will discuss with the American side.. other problem, of concern to the two sides" with aview to a political settlement of the Vietnamese pro­blem. In agreement with the Central Committee ofthe South Viet •Tam •'ational Front for Libuation,the D.R.V.N. Government declares its readiners toparticipate in a conference between representatives ofthe Democratic Republic of Viet J. "am, the South Viet_ am. ational Front for Liberation, the United Statesand the Sdigon admini tration. The presence of therepresentatives of this admini tration at the saidconference does not involve recognition of it by theDemocratic Republic of Viet. 'am.

2-VietXam 17

The South Viet _Jam .Jational Front for Liberationis the organizer and leader of the South Vietnamesepeople in the struggle against U.S. aggression, fornational salvation; it has liberateLl four-fifths of theSouth Viet ~ 'am territory with a population of overten million; it possesses powerful armed force3, andenjoys great prestige at home and abroad. The SouthViet Nam National Front for Libt>ration is the authen­tic representative of the South Vietnamese people; itis competent to settle all problems concerning SouthViet Nam.

Clearly, the present Saigon administration is onlyan instrument which the American imperialist aggres­sors are using to achieve nco· colonialism in SouthViet Nam. It is countering all the legitimate aspirationsof the South Vietnamese people. It represents nobody.

The position of the Vietnamese people on a settle­ment of the Vietnamese problem is the Four Pointsof the Government of the Democratic Republic of VietNam and the Political Pro,;ram of thc South Viet1 Tam ~ational Front for Libuation. It is an indcI end­ence and peace position consi;;tent with the fun­damental principles of the 1954 Geneva Agreementson Viet 1 l am. The Government of the DemocraticRepublic of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese peopledemand that the United State:; stop its war ofaggression in Viet ~am, fnd once for all everyencroachment on the sovereignty and securityof the D.R.V.N. They firmly demand that theUnited States withrlraw all American and satellitetroops from South Viet ~am, liquidate all American

18

military bases there, and let the South Vietnamesepeople settle them~elves their own affairs in acco~d­

ance with the Political Program of the South VietNam National Front for Liberation, without foreigninterference.

To reach a correct political settlement of the Viet­namese problem, the United States Government shouldrenounce all schemes for intervention and aggressionagainst Viet ~am and rp:>pect the Vietnamese people'sfundamental national rights. So long as the UnitedStates persists in its aggression against Viet Nam, theVietnamese people will fight on until complete victory.

The Government of the Democratic Republic ofViet Nam warmly commends the people throughoutthe country who, united as one man, have beenfighting with boundless courage and recordedbrilliant victories. The fact that the United Stateshas had to halt unconditionally its bombard­ments on the whole territory of the D.R.V.N.represents a tremendous victory, but just an initialone, in our entire people's struggle against U.S.aggression, for national salvation. The Americanimperialists' cruelty and perfidy will grow in propor­tion to their defeats. They are still posing a threat toNorth Viet Nam, stepping up their aggression againstSouth Viet Nam, and committing new crimes everyday against our Southern fellow-countrymen. The Viet­namese people as a whole are resolved to strength­en their unity, heighten their vigilance, overcomeall hardships, make every sacrifice, and in responseto the appeal of President Ho Chi Minh and that of

19

the Central Committee of the South Viet Nam NationalFront for Liberation, to fight and defeat the enemyso as to liberate the South, defend the ~orth. proceedtowards the p~aceful-reunification of the country, andcontribute to the maintenance of peace in Asia andthe world.

Let the armed forces and people in the Northuphold their glorious fighting tradition, stand ready tofoil all schemes of the American imperialists against theNorth, and bend all their energies so that the latterfulfils its obligations as the great rear to the great front,thus deserving to be the revolutionary base of thewhole country!

Let our heroic Southern fellow-countrymen raisehigher their strong and winning position in the currentperiotl of generalized offensives and uprisings, over­come all difficulties and obstacles, unflinchingly fightuntil complete victory, build an independent, demo­cratic, peaceful, neutral and prosperous South Viet~am, and advance towards the peaceful reunificationof our fatherland!

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Viet_-am expresses its deep gratitude to the fraternal so­cialist countries, the Governments and peoples of peace­and justice-loving countries, progressive people in theUnited States and world democratic organizations fortheir constant support and assistance to the Vietnamesepeople in their struggle against U.S. aggression, fornational salvation.

The Government of the Democratic Republic of VietNam calls on brothers and friends all over the fi'-e

continents to increase their support and assistance tothe Vietnamese people until complete victory, and todemand resolutely that the United States put an endto its aggression in Viet Nam, to every encroachmenton its part upon the sovereignty and security of theDemocratic Republic of Viet Nam, withdraw all Amer­ican and satellite troops from South Viet ~am, liqui­date all American military bases there, and respectthe South Vietnamese people's right to settle them­selves their own affairs in accordance with thePolitical Program of the South Viet Nam NationalFront for Liberation, without foreign interference.

The Vietnamese people will surely be victorious!

The U.S. imperialist aggressors will surely bedefeated!

Long live a peaceful, united, independent, demo­cratic, prosperous and strong Viet ~am !

lfanoi, Sovelllbcr 2,1968

STATEMENTOF THE CENTRAL COM\IITTEE OF

THE VIET NA'\1 FATHERLAND FRONT

CO. CERNI-G

THE Ul~C01-DITIONAL CESSATIO. OF THE

BOMBll'G AND SHELLI1':G BY lEE UNITED

STATES OF THE WHOLE TERRITORY OF

THE DE)IOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF YIET • AM:

In t1 e face of its critical situation and enormousdifficultif's arising from its aggreslve war i.n 'jet 1 'un

and unCler the cver-strOl ger prc3sure of world andAn,elican opin'm • the US. Governm lIt hJd, on 1'0­

vember I, I968, to put an UIlconditional end to itsbomhiug and shelling of the whole territory of theDemccratic Republic of Viet J"am.

This is a victory of considerable significance for ourpeople's great struggle against U.S. aggression, for na­tional salvation.

Thus, after over four years piling up towering cri­mes against our people in the North, the war of de­struction waged by the United States has met with a

23

lamentable failure. At variance with their fcolisoh calculations, the Americm aggressors' bombs and bulletshave proved incapable of bringing the heroic Vietnam­ese people to their knees. On the contrary, the armedforces and people in the ~orth shot down more than3,20Q American aircraft, and sunk or set afire wellover a hundred big and small warships. In the teethof the war, the North has steadily pushed ahead social­ist construction and actively fulfilled its obligations asthe big rear towards the big front. As they fought, thearmed forces and people in the South have becomestronger and registered greater and greater successes;now they are going on with their un,nterrupted offen­sives and uprisings, driving the American aggressorsand their puppets deeper into a passive and defensiveposition, a critical situation with no way out.

This victory is due to the correct revolutionary lineof the Viet Nam Workers' Party headed by esteemedPresident Ho Chi Minh, to the profound patriotism andthe unity of our entire people determined to fight andwin. and to the txceJlence of the socialist regime. It is thecommon victory of the armed forces and people in bothparts of our country, a common victory of the fraternalsocialist countries and of the world people as well.

The Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committeewarmly commends the armed forces and people allOver the country for their valiant fighting and gloriousvictory. On behalf of the Vietnamese people, it sincerelythanks the peoples of the fraternal socialist countriesand peace-and justice-loving people the world over,including progressive people in the United States, for

24

their active support and as:>istance to the Yietname;epeople's struggle against C.S. aggression, for national~alvation.

Clearly, the U.S. imperialists arc doomed to fail,but they have not yet given up their aggressive design.The\' a;e still posing a threat to the North, iJ.tensifyingthei~ cnminal \Yilr in the Soutb, obdurately clir!)ingto this part of our country in an attempt to perpetu­ate tbe partition of our fatherland. However. no brutaltorce, no perftdiou~ scheme can prevtnt our peoplefrom winninG final victory. We deeply cherish peacehut that must be peace in independence and freedom.So long as the U.S. imperialists obstinately continuetheir aggression against our country, all our thirty-onemillion compatriots will resolutely carryon their pa­triotic war until there is Hot the shado\y of a singlf>aggressor on our soil.

Warmly responding to President Ho Cbi Minh'sappeal on November 3. 1968, and subscribing ;;.r,(llending unreserved support to the Statement of theD.R.V.~ Government and that of the South Viet :::-;ram•T.F.L. Central Committee, the \"iet Nam FatherlandFront Central Committee resolutely demands that theU.S. imperialists put an end to their aggressive warin Viet Nam, cease once for all every encroachmenton the D.R V.N. sovereignty and security, withdrawall American and satellite troops from. and liquidateall American military bases in, South Viet Nam, andlet the South Vietnamese pearle settle themselve:>their own affairs in accordance with the PoliticalProgram of the South Viet N'am N.F.L. withoutforeign interference.

The South Viet Nam National Front for Liberationis the organi:ler and leader of the South Vietnamesepeople in their fight against U.S. aggression, fornational salvation; it resolutely struggles for theinterests and aspirations of the fourteen million SouthVietnamese, possesses powerful forces and enjoys veryhigh prestige at home and abroad. It has thus becomethe authentic representative of the South Yietnarr.esepeople, and is competent to settle all problems concern­ing South Viet Nam.

Dear fellow-countrymen and fighters throltghoui thecountry,

Our people have defeated the American imperialists'war of destruction in the North. But this is only aninitial success as the South of our country is not yttliberated. Our resistance to U.S. aggres"ion still has tostand hard trial. As President Ho Chi Minh has 1oint­ed 0 It, " The sacred dutyof our entire I eOI·le at pre~epti to stiffen onr determination to f;~ht and win, ourn solve to liberate the South, defen 1 the North andproceed towards peaceful natio:1al reunification. "

In order to fulfil this heJvy aud gl rious task, allpolitical partie". mass organizations and other memberorganizations of the Viet Nam Fath( rland Front mustbring into play the strength of our national unityunder the glorious banner of the Viet Nam 'Yorkers'Party, stimulate our seventeen million compatriots inthe North to devote themselves to socialist con:truction and give active support to the front so as toensure complete victory over the U.S. aggressors, to

26

emulate one another in fulfilling the 1968 State plan,step up agricnltural and industrial production, success­fully organize the material and moral life of thepeople, constantly l1cighten their vigilance, activelybuild up national der nee, pUS.1 up civilian air defence,promote order and s"curity, protect the property ofthe State anll the pcop:e, stand ready to foit theenemy's new p! IS, o;tcp U t) international activities andenti3t greater support and assistance from the world'speople.

In the flush of our past victories, let our fellow­countrymen and fIghters throughout the countryenhance thl:ir revolutionary spirit and heroicallymarch forw.ud in order to bring our resistanceagainst U.S. aggres"ion, for national salvation, tocomplete "ucceS5.

Let our people in both North and Sou4 hclosely unite!

All for our "ictory 0\ r the U.S. aggressors!

The U.S. imperialist are doomed to fail!We will certainly win!

Long live a pearf::fuJ, united, inderemlcnt,democratic, prosperous and strong Viet Nam !

Hanoi, November 3, I968

~7

COMMUNIQUE

OF THE VJET NAM PEOPLE'S ARMYHIGH COMMAND

ONTHE VICTORY

OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE ARMEDFORCES AND PEOPLE OVER THE U.S.I~1PERIALISTS' WAR OF DESTRUCTION

For more than four years, while intensifying theirwar of aggression in South Viet Nam, the U.S. impe­rialists recklessly and frantically waged a war ofdestruction against the North in an attempt to retrievetheir predicament in the South.

In execution of this strategic scheme they mobilizedconsiderable air and naval forces, and used all kindsof morlern equipment and techniques and countlesssavage methods in their round-the-clock attacks onthe whole territory of North Viet Nam.

They committed to the Vietnamese battlefield abig air force with thousands of up-to-date planes. Tostrike at the North they employerl more than fortytypes of aircraft ranging from the F. 105 and the F. 4to the latest of their creations such as the swing-winged

29

F. III-A and the B. 52 strategic bomber. Since April1968 American planes flew a monthly average of10,000 sorties against Nghe An, Ha Tinh and QuangBinh provinces and Vinh Linh area.

In terms of naval forces, the 1'.s. imperialists haddeployed the whole of the Seventh Fleet, their biggest,reinforced with many units of other fleets. Almost alltheir aircraft-carriers were commi"sioned in rotation.

For our fatherland's independence and freedom, forsocialism our armed forces and people, united millionsas one, have risen up valiantly to conduct an extensiveand marvellous people's war. With courage andresourcefulness in fighting they have overcome allobstacles and hardships, foiled every step of warescalation, every scheme and manceuvre of the enemyand defeated the war of destruction of U.S.

aggressor imperialism.

In attacking the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam,the American imperialist;; committed extremely seriousand ferocious war crimes:

They brazenly flouted international law and en­croached upon a socialist country, an independent andsovereign one.

They cynically resorted to barbarous methods andweapons of all kind', including steel-pellet, napalmand phosphorous bombs and toxic chemicals, to mas­sacre our compatriots, and indlscriminately struck atschools, hospitals, churches, temples, pagodas, dykes,dams, etc.

They poured on the North of our country nearlyone million tons of bombs and shells, more than the

30

amount used in the three years of the Korean Warawl many times more than that dropped on Japanduring tht:' Second World War.

The crimes they perpetrated against our peopletopped those of the Hitlente fascists in ferocity. The\Tletname:::e people and progressive mankind \\i11 neverforget these barbJ.rous crimes. The U~. imperialist­will be can lemlled for ever by history.

The crueller they grew, the more the armed forcesand people in both parts of our country bated them,the more closely we united, and the stronger was ourresolve to defeat them.

By unleashing the war of destruction against NorthViet 1 Tam tbe U.S. imperialists believed they couldintimidate our people a'1d shake their determinationto resist aggression, wreck socialist construction inthe ~orth, prevent the North Vi tnamese from ren­dering active support to their kith and kin in theSouth, an 1 boost the sinking morale of the puppet

army and administration.

F~cts, however, evolwd altogether against theirdark de,ign.>. All thf ir basic strategic objectives werefoiled. The more the U.S. imperialists struck at the_'orth, the closer the blood-sealed relations behreenNorth and South became. The armed forces andpeople in the two zones have kept their pledge:"Whenever th..; South appeals the Korth responds;wh"oever the .l Torth appeals the South responds. Forone blow the Americans invaders deliver at the 1 'orth,the armed forces Jnu people in the 'outh will dealthem five or ten in return." As a result, the U.S.

31

imperialists suffrred a lamentable defeat in bothparts of our country.

In the South, although they had ]Jrought the"Jimlted war" of aggression to a pitch and theAmerican, puppet and satellite troop-strength to1,200,000 men, the people and their armed forcesmaintained and reinforced their offensive positinn,breaking the enemy's repeated strategic counter­offensives and drove them into a defensive and pas~ive

posture.

Since early spring this year, on the ill1petus oftheir victories, they unleashed generalized offensivesand simultaneous uprisings and recorded unprecedent­edly great and all-sided successes.

Within eight months, our armed forces and peopleattacked a ::.eries of big anJ small urban centers,including Saigon, Hue and Da Nang, and liberatedvast populateu rural areas: they killed, woun :led andcaptured more than half a million enemy troops,among which number nearly 180,000 of the UnitedStates and its satellites, shot down or destroyed onthe ground more than 5,000 aircraft, and damagedmore than 10,000 military vehicles, including over6,000 tanks and armoured cars.

This historic victory has brought about a newsituation very favourable to us and utterly unfavour­able to the enemy.

The position of the armed forces and people of SouthViet Nam has become increasingly steadier and theirstrength has not ceased to grow.

32

The enemy's strategic disposition has been upset.Reduced to a more defensive a.n:i passive position,they were encircled and attacked in all battlefields.Their forces sustained heavy losses and their moralehas been continuously sinking. The failure of theAmerican imperialists is obvious.

In the North our armed forces and people recordedtremendous victories. Up to November I, 1968, theybrought down 3.243 U.S. aircraft and killed, woundedor captured some thousand pilots. They had on143 occasions sunk or damaged enemy warships andcommando-boats.

Fighting and building abreast, in bitter war condi­tions, the .Torth has continued to grow up. Socialistconstruction has been maintained and developed. Oureconomic potential has been strengthened.

Our national defence capacity has expanded consid­erably.

Communications and transport went on uninter­rupted, linking the rear to the front.

Public security and order was insured. Ourpeople's livelihood remained stable.

As it resisted, the .Torth found itself in bettershape to defend itself and fulfil its historical missionas the revolutionary base of the whole country and thegreat rear of the great front - heroic South Viet _'am.

The victory of our armed forces and people infrustrating the U.S. imperialists' war of destruc­tion takes on a great strategic significance.

First, in defeating the war of destruction we haveshattered a strategic scheme of the enemy, foiling a

33

component part of their war of aggreso;ion against ourfatherland and dealing a heavy blow at their aggressivewill. This is the common victory of our armed forcesand people throughout the country, a victory due to themilitant solidarity between orth and South. With thefighting tradition of our heroic people and the strengthof our unity, we have defeated theAmerican imperiali,:>ls'war of destruction, have been registering great successesin the South and will certainly achieve complete victory.

Second, our victory over the war of destructionconstitutes a setback for a new type of the Americanimperialists' war of aggression. Thoroughly graspingand successfully carrying out the political and militarylines of our Party, we brought intofulI play the integra­ted strength and great effectiveness of people's war andgot the better of an important air and naval force of theUnited States, the brutal chieftain of all imperialisms.Parallel to the ,heavy failure of over 1,200,000 Ame­rican, puppet and satellite troops in the South, the"supremacy of the U.S. Air Force" has been debunkedin the North. This illustrates the invincible strengthof people's war and the lamentable bankruptcy ofimperialism's outmoded military science; this alsoproves our people's capability to defeat any type ofaggressive war by any imperialism that dares toinvade our fatherlan 1.

Third, the repeated and great victoriEs won in bothparts of our country have instilled more confidenceinto our people and strengthened their determinationto fight until final victory. They have filled our bro·thers and friends in all the five continents with joy

3·1

and enthusiasm, and struck fear into lhe enemy. Theserie::; of heavy setbacks sustained by the United Statesin Viet ?\am has had a serious impact on its politicaland economic situation and disastrously impaired itspre::;tige in the world

The above victories were due to:

The very sound and creative political and militaryhnes and the conduct of the war of our Party headedby President Ho Chi )linh;

The excel1ence and solidity of our socialist regime;The iron determination to fight and win and the un·

shakable unity o( our armed forces and people;

The enco;lragement aUll wholehearted assistancegiven us by the fraternal socialist countries and Ollrfriend" in all continents.

On this occasion the \'iet Nam People's Army HighCommand warmly praises and mentions the accom­plishm,nts o( all the people's anned forces which haveceaselesslv reinforced their build-up and recordedresounding achievements and feats of arms, thus fur­ther highlighting their nature and tradition, that offighters faithful to the Party, devoted to the people,capable of fulCiliing any task, overcoming anydifficulty and defeating any enemy.

The air defence forces in the three categori~ ofthe armed forc~<; from militia units to ;\.1\. artilkrv,missile, air jorce and reldar units-harmoniously c'O­ordinated their action; lighting with intrepidity andre~ourcelulness, they wu\'e a dense anti-aircraft net­work, frustrated enemy attacks under all circumstances

and efficaciously defended the air space and terri·torial waters of the North of our country.

The anti-aircraft artillery units, valiant andindomitable, who c~rried into effect the .' aim straightat the enemy" * watchword and increased their abilityas they fought, have deserved being the main force inthe struggle against the enemy's war of destruction.

The missile units have grown up quickly and, withresourcefulness, initiative and courage, got the betterof enemy tactical and strategical aircraft.

The air force units .young but heroic and resourceful,have highly developed the power of technical equipmentat their disposal, applied a versatile and original com­bat method and won victories in all their engagements.

The radar units have continually raised theirtechnical standard and with courage and sang-froidefficaciously fulfilled their combat duty.

The engineer and military transport units,together with other communication and trans­port units and youth shock-brigades, struggledsteadfastly day and night and achieved exploits allover our communication network, maintaining in goodorder the arteries linking the rear to the front, oneregion to another and ours to the fraternal countries.They thus met the requirements of the fighting, ofproduction and of the people's livelihood

* Order of A.A. company political instructor Nguyen VietXuan to his unit when enemy planes dived on his batteriesin Nov .... mber 196-f. Since then it has become a fighting sloganof the North Vietnamese armed forces and people. (Pub).

36

The naval units, which fought with exceptional cour­age, have made an active contribution to the defenceof our htherland's territorial waters and air space,and dealt telling blows at enemy warships and aircraft.

The artillery units, which had developed their tra­dition of fighting with endurance, remarkably fulfil­led their duty, delivering accurate and thunderingblows '1t enemy warships and land-based cannons.

The signal units courageously and constantly main­tained the lines in the course of fierce battles.

The infantry units ceaselessly increased their fight­ing capacity, evinced marvellous gallantry in emulatingone another, and successfully accomplished every task.

The regional troops, people's security armedforces and people's security forces, who had closelyco-ordinated their action with the regular troops andthe militia and self-defence units, recorded outstandingexploits, shooting down American aircraft, capturingpilots, punishing spies and commandos, and maintain­ing order and security.

The militia and self defence units composed ofcourageous and able young and old people, men andwomen of all religiou'> beliefs. of the mountain regionsand the plains, have proved capable of handling manykinds of weapons, from rifles, machine-guns to anti­aircraft guns and piEces of ordnance; they created anextcnsi\'e fire network dangerous for the enemy andrecorded resounding exploits, bringing down Americanaircraft, capturing pilots and setting afire Americanwarships. They have thus effectually contributed tothe maintenance of SEcurity in their localities, while

37

playing their role as a shock force in communicationsand transport as well as in the development of pro­duction.

All the services of the army and all the logisticoffices and units fought with courage and worked tothe best of their abilities; they tided over all diffi­culties, lifted their standard in all respects andmade an effective contribution to the fighting.

The Viet Nam People's Army High Commandexpresses sincere gratitude and warm congratulationsto the people and cadres in all regions, of all nation­alities and religious communities, to the cadres andemployees in all branches, services and mass orga­nizations, for their solidarity with, and assistance to,the armed forces with which they shared the fightingand to whose build-up they made a devoted andunstinted contribution; for their steadfastness andcourage in overcoming all trials and hardships, theirlofty spirit of sacrifice and selfless c;edication in serv­ing the front and strengthening the rear in every field.

The working class, playing its vanguard role, showedcreative abilities, constantly preserved and developedproduction, :lnd valiantly took part in the fighting.

The collective peasantry courageously overcamenatural calamities and enemy destruction, producedwell, fought well and purveyed the front with man­power and supplies.

The revolutionary inteliigentsia contributed theirendeavour and talent to push ahead science, technol­ogy, education, public health, etc. so as to serve thefighting, production and the people's livelihood.

38

The powerful •• Three Ready's" movement* amongthe youth and the seething" Three Responsibilities"movement*'" among tbe women, brought into play theardent patriotism and the heroic mettle of the HoChi Minh younger generation and of the Vietnamesewomen, promoted their inexhaustible strength todefend and consolidate the rear, and actively assistand support the front.

The Viet Nam People's Army High Commandexpresses warm congratulations to all localities fromthe mountain regions to the plains and the towns,from the border to the far-off islands, for theirworthy contribution to our people's resistance againstU.S. aggression, for national salvation.

The Fo urth Military Zone'" fought valiantly andperseveringly and recorded glorious victories, deservingto be the front of the socialist }lorth, the immediaterear of the heroic great front.

Vinh Linh, undaunted land, with its heroic Con Coisland, firmly held out as the outpost of the. 'orth.

Quang Binh, steadfast and courageous, resplenJentwith exploits, fought well, produced well, effectively

• The "Three Ready's" movement: ready to fight, readyto join the army, ready to go wherever the country requiresthem to and to defeat any enemy.

** The "Three Responsibilities" movement: to assumeproduction jobs while their husbands, sons and brothersare at the front, to take good care of their families so thatthe men can devote their heart and soul to the fighting,to stand ready to serve the front when necessary.

*** The Fourth Military Zone: comprises the provincesbetween the 20th and 17th parallels.

39

served the front and led the other provinces indowning the highest number of American planes.

Ha Tinh bent all its energies t.o carry out produc­tion and fighting, gallantly overcame all difficultiesand hardships and achieved many exploits.

Valiant Nghe An, with Vinh city shining withfeats of arms, fought well and registered remarkablesuccesses in production meant for the front.

Thanh Hoa with heroic Ham Rong-Nam Nganfought steadfastly, maintained the life lines linkingthe rear to the front, and made a worthy contributionin manpower and supplies to the resistance againstU.S. aggression, for national salvation.

Heroic Quang Ninh mining area got the better ofthe enemy right at its first battle and went on to winvictory after victory.

Haiphong port, valiant and determined to win,scored glorious victories and steeled itself in thefighting.

Hanoi courageously encountered the enemy with aperfect coordination of its arms and dealt him stag­gering blow,. Credited with resounding feats of arms,it fully deserves to be the heroic capital of a heroiccountry.

The Northern zone, the North-Western zone,the provinces in the plains and the mountainregions, and the sea islands continuously foughtand won, pushed ahead production and served thefront, making a considerable contribution to the com­mon success of our armed forces and people.

40

On this occasion, the Viet. am People's Army HighCommand sends warmest greetings to the heroic SouthViet Nam People's Liberation Armed Forces and com­patriots. Under the glorious banner of the National Frontfor Liberation, they are stepping up their generalizedoffensives and uprisings with an irresistible impetus,determined to completely defeat the U.S. aggressors.

The Viet -am People's Army High Command sin­cerely thanks the fraternal socialist countries for theirextremely valuable and considerable assistance, andprogressive people in the world, including those in theUnited States, for their deep sympathy and greatsupport to our people's resistance against U.S. aggres­sion, for national salvation.

Our people's revolutionary struggle has recordedtremendous succe,ses. Fine prospects, a most brilliantfuture and extremely favourable opportunities lieahead. At the same time, grimmest trials on the wayto final victory are to be faced.

The American imperia1i>ts have suffered heavylosses in both parts of our country; their will ofaggression has been shaken. However, very obdurate bynature, they have not yet given up their aggressivedesign. They are carrying on aggression against theSouth and committing no end of savage crime~ againstour fellow-countrymen there. They still harbour darkschemes and wicked and perfidious manceuvrcs in anattempt to \Heck the _T orth.

aUf armed forces and people must resolutely putinto practice President Ho Chi Minh's teaching, ,. The

sacred duty of our entire people at present is tostiffen our determination to fight and win, ourresolve to liberate the South, defend the Northand proceed towards peaceful national reunifi­cation.

" So long as there remains an aggressor on our soil.we must continue our fight and wipe him out.•.

The duty of our armed forces is most heavy. Theirfunction is to fight the enemy. Their responsibility isto defeat him, to achieve and saffguard the independ­ence and freedom of the fatherland.

The Viet. 'am People's Army High Command callson all officers and men:

To heighten their will to fight and the ir revolution­ary vigilance, promote their fighting capability inevery fitld, tide over all difficulties and obstacles,overcome all sacrifices and trials. display steadfast­ness, resourcefulness, courage and initiative, and fulfilevery tJ~k entrusted by the Party and people withsplendid success.

Forward! Final victory will be ours!

Hanoi. November 5. 1968

·12

STATEMENTOF THE SOUTH VIET NA1U

NATIO~AL :FRONT FOR LIBERATION0_

THE POLITICAL SETTLEMENT OF

THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE PROBLEM

Over the past fourteen years, in an attempt to ma­terialize their scheme to turn South Viet Nam into aneo-colony and military base of the United States, the.\merican imperialists have carried out a policy of ag­gression, the most ruthless in history, against the Viet­namese people, grossly trampling on the independence,sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Viet_-am which have been recognized by the I954 GenevaAgreements.

The U.S. imperialists have rigged up in South Viet_-am an extremely brutal puppet regime and tried toimpose through fire and sword their domination on theSouth Vietnamese people.

However, united millions as one, the South Viet­namese people have risen up valiantly and foughtrelentlessly and perf'everingly against the aggressorsand the traitors. Under the glorious banner of the

43

South Viet Nam National Front for Liberation andwith the wholehearted assistance of their compatriotsin the North, the sympathy and the firm and strongsupport of friendly governments and of the peoplearound the world, the South Vietnamese peoplehave won repeated, ever-bigger victories in their sa­cred resistance war.

In an attempt to stave off their complete defeatthe U.S. imperialists have massively sent U.S. expe­ditionary troops for direct aggression against South VietNam while conducting a war of destruction against theDemocratic Republic of Viet Nam, thus perpetratinginnumerable savage crimes everywhere in both partsof our country.

But no brutal force can possibly save the U.S. aggres­sors and their henchmen from ignominious failure.

Fighting with matchless heroism the armed forces andpeople in North Viet Nam have shot down over 3,200

U.S. aircraft, defeating the U.S. war of destruction andfulfilling its duty as the great rear to the great front.

The armed forces and people in South Viet i\amhave foiled all the United States plans to intensify itswar of aggression and, since early spring this year,have been continually attacking and simultaneouslyrising up deJ.ling thunder blows at the U.S. puppetsright in their hide-outs, recording unprecedented bigvictories in all fields, changing the war situation andfurther driving the U.S. - puppets into an irretrievablypassive and deteriorating position.

In face of the valiant and unflagging struggle andthe victories of great significance in all fields of the

arrntd forces and people in all our country, and inface of the strong demand of the world people, includ­ing progressive people in the United States, the U.S.(,overmnent has b~n compelled to agree to and dfectan unconditional cessation of the bombing and shellingof the whole territory of the Democratic Republic ofYiet :\am. This is a tremendous victory of our entireptople and of the peace-loving pwple i;\ the world.

This, however, does not mean that the United Statesha,; given up its aggressive design against Viet };am.It is obdurately stepping up its war in the South andclinging to the puppet administration with the hope ofmaintaining their neo·colonialist rule there and prolong­ing the partition of Viet Nam. It stubbornly continuestn encroach upon the sovereignty and security of theI )emocra tic Republic of Viet Kam It keeps demanding aprice for its stopping the war of destruction in the :\orth.

The South Vietnamese people and the SOllth Viet~am ~ational Front for Liberation resolutely demandthat the United States stop once for all everyencroachment 011 the sovereignty and security of theDemocratic Republic of Viet Nam, put an end to itswar of aggression in South Viet ~am, carry out all itspledges at the 1954 Geneva Conference on Yid ~am,

and respect the irnpre,;criptible national rights of theSouth Vietnamese people.

The South Vietname.e people cheri;;:h pearl:. Butthat must be a peace in independence ;·nd frl'cdwl".Expressing this aspiration and resolve, and basingitself on ib Political Program, the South Vif't "\"amNational Front for Liberation wlemnly declare,; Its

stand regarding the political settlement of the SouthVietnamese problem as follows:

1. South Viet am is resolved to struggle for thematerialization of its sacred rights, namely, independ­ence, democracy, peace, neutrality, prosperity, andultim:J.te peaceful reunification of the fatherland.

2. The U.S. imperialists must put an end to theirwar of aggression against Viet Nam, withdraw all itstroops and those of their satellites as well as all theirwar means from, and liquidate all U.S. military basesin, South Viet Nam.

3. The internal affairs of South Viet I-am must besettled by the South Vietnamese people themselvesin accordance with the Political Program of the SouthViet Nam National Front for Liberation, withoutforeign interference. A government of national unionand broad democracy must be established, and freegeneral elections must be held in South Viet Nam.

4. The reunification of Viet Nam will be settled bythe people in the two parts of Viet Nam step by step.by peaceful means and on the basis of consultation.and agreements between the two parts, without foreigninterference.

5. South Viet Nam will pursue a foreign policy ofrcace and neutrality: no military alliance in any formwith foreign countries, and establishment of friendlyrelations with all countries on the five principles ofpeaceful co-existence. Good neighbourhood relationswill be establi~hed with the Kingdom of Cambodia onthe basis of respect for its independence, sovereignty,neutrality and territorial integrity within its present

40

borders, and with Laos on the basis of respect for the1962 Geneva Agreements concerning this country.

The U.S. imperialists are the aggressors in SouthViet Nam. The South Viet Nam National Front forLiberation is the organizer and leader of the SouthVietnamese people in their war of resistance again~t

U.S. aggression, resistance which has won one victoryafter another. The Front is building and developingthe revolutionary powdr of the South Vietnamesepeople. The Governments of many countries andthe world people have recognized the Front andgiven it great support and assistance. The Front is theauthentic representative of the legitimate aspirationsof the South Vietnamese people and has full compe­tence to settle all problems concerning South Viet Nam.

The South Viet Nam National Front for Liberationreiterates its complete unanimity of views with, andfull support for, the four-point stand of the Govern­ment of the Democratic RepUblic of Vief Nam. Thisstand embodies the aspirations and will of the entireVietnamese people, and forms the correct basis for the~ettlement of the Viet Nam issue.

Now that the United States has unconditionallystopped bombing and shelling North Viet Nam, theSouth Viet Nam l\ational Front for Liberation firmlysupports the stand of the Government of the Demo­cratic Republic of Viet Nam as is expounded in itsstatement of November 2, 1968, aimed at finding apolitical solution to the South Vietnamese problem.After discussing with the Central Committee of theViet Nam Alliance of National, Democratic and Peace

47

Forces and reaching unanimity of views with it, theSouth Viet l\am National Front for Liberation agreesto the holding of a conference of four parties compris­ing the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam, theSouth Viet Nam National Front for Liberation, theUnited States of America and the Saigon administra­tion. At this conference the Front will raise the voiceof the South Vietnamese people, the voice of justice.

The present administration in Saigon is but a cliqueof traitors and henchmen of the United States; itruns counter to the legitimate aspirations of theentire population of South Viet Nam. It has beenstrongly opposed by our people and spurned by pro­gressive people in the world. It does not representanybody. The presence of the representatives of theSaigon administration at the above-said conferencedoes not mean recognition of this regime by the SouthViet Nam National Front for Liberation.

Despite its obvious failure, the United States hasnot yet given up its aggres,>ive design against VietNam. As for our people's resistance, the nearer itsvictory, the more numerous its difficulties. \Varmlyresponding to President Ho Chi :'linh's sacred appealof November 3, 1968, "So long as there remains anaggressor on our soil, we must continue our fight andwipe him out," let all our compatriots and all thecombatants of the South Viet Nam People's Liberation.\rmed Forces strengthen their resolve and fightperseveringly until final victory. Let us hold high thebanner of victory, rush forward heroically and vigor­ously, enhance the mettle of continual offensive and

4()

STATEMENTOF THE VIET NAM ALLIANCE OF NATIONAL,

DEMOCRATIC AND PEACE FORCESOK

THE ITEW SITUATIO 1 OF THE SOUTH

\'IETNAMESE PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE

Having suffered very serious defeats in its aggres­sive war in South Viet Kam, especially since earlyspring this year, and heavy reverses in its war ofdestruction against North Viet Nam, and confrontedwith strong protest from Alflerican and world opin­ion, the United States Government has been com­pelled to cease completely its bombardments on thewhole territory of the Democratic Republic of Vitt_Tam and to recognize the role of the South VietKam Xational Front fer Liberation in the futurepolitical settlement of the South Vietnamese problem.

This is another great defeat for the United Statesand the Saigon administration in their unjust waragainst the Vietnamese people, a fresh tremendousvictory for the Vietnamese people in both North andSouth, a victory for freedom, justice- and peace-lovingpeople throughout the world.

51

In the face of the present development of the warin Viet Nam, the Central Committee of the VietNam Alliance of ~ational, Democratic and PeaceForces and the Central Committee of the Soutr \'ietNam National Front for Liberation have proceedeJto an exchange of views on every plane

On behalf of all its members and Alliance Com­mittees in the various localities and towns of SouthViet Nam, the Central Committee of the Viet. amAlliance of National, Democratic and Peace Forcessolemnly declares its full approval of, and strongsupport for, the position of the South Viet •TamNational Front for Liberation on the political settle­ment of the South netnamese problem and its deci­sion to take part in the Paris "talks as announced inthe statement of November 3, 1968 of the •T.F.L.Central Committee.

This position and decision is entirely correct, logicand reasonable. It fully reflects the fundamental andurgent aspirations just as the dttermination of thefourteen million South Vietnamese, and is consistentwith the basic principles of the 1954 Geneva Agree­ments on Viet Narn. It also completely conforms tothe objectives of the Alliance as e 'pounded in itsPolitical Program, namely, "independence. freedom,democracy, peace. neutrality, prosperity and creationof conditions for advancing step by step toward thepeaceful reunification of the country".

The Viet Nam Alliance of National, Democraticand Peace Forces reaffirms that the South Viet NamNational Front for Liberation is a great and the

52

principal fighting force of the entire South Vietnamesepeople':; national united front against U.S. aggres·sion, .Fur thi!> rea:;on the Front, who~{' presence ismce,;,sary, plays ,\ llccisivc roll in any politicals( ttlemtnt of the South \'ietnam<:se probl('nl.

The Viet Sam .\lIiallce of :\atiollal, Democraticand Peace Foree;, always stands shoulder to shoulderwith the South ,"iet :\am :\atiollal Front for liber­ation and yigoruu,;ly hacks all its policies on thebattlefield as wdl as .It the conference table.

fhe \'let :\am \lIiance of :\atiollal, Delllol,T.,ticand I't;ace For~s ads Jointly aud 10 lintains di!'cus­:o.iOll:; with til<.' South Yiet :\am ~ational Front forLIberation in a common effort to regain nationalindependence, re.,t.)re peace, buiiJ up thl" country,and bring about a fret' amI happy liie for the entir<:pt:UI'It: a.5 pointed 'lUl in the Alliancc':! :\,llionalSah'ation Manife:'>to issued soon after its fouuding

rhough sustaining {:xtn'mely he.Lvy ~etlxlcks am!fOfced to talk with tile South "iet :\am :\ationalFront lor Llbt'Iiltion, the United States is still stuh­bornly pu~uing a policy of waf and neo-c()loniali~t

aggression in South \'iet ~am

Ihe Tbieu-Ky·Hucmg admillc;lratioll ha~ clc<Jfl~

~hown its utterly cruel. traitorous and anti-pr>pularnalUl(' when oppo~ing the complete and UllcollditiNlalces~ation of bombardments 011 ~ortll '·Iet ~3m b\' lheUllited :'tatc..; 11 thu'> seb out again!>t thc pe~ple's3!>pirati,m for peace, fo: "u clld to the war, lorilhlepeu(lence, (\l'mocracy and I,ctter living conditi<'llS.It continues :nassacring the SQuth \'ietnamcse people,

countering all patriotic force", trying its bpst to:>trangle .tll <lemucr'tLc liberties, feverishly pushingup forcil)le con;criotio!l, mercilessly repre;sing andplunderil'g people in thp areas still lllder It; control.It repre~ellts no1JOdy. The United Stoltf'.' GUyerlllllfntanel its henchmen are impeding the realization of 1hclegitimate aspiratioll; (f the people Tbt [TldtedStates must be resjloll,ihle for this.

The Central Committee of the Vic t 'Ill, 11ianceof •-aUona], Democr1tic and Peace Forces eame,tl"calls Oil the intellectu lb, illdustriahsts, traders, PeI'­

sonalities, yonths, stndent<; \\'omen, worh'r', l,easantsand other labouring people in tbe are.lS still unnerenemy control to fully realize the stro115 aDU wil1IJing ,position of uur people, and the J erfidLOus de::.ignawl manreuvres of the enemy, to heighten theirdetermination to fight and, together with the enlirepeople, to dash for yard towar·l new awl grea.tnvictorie'.

~lore than eyer before, tru~gle re-olntely undervaried form, against massacre, replc!'sion, prcss­ganging, concentration of the popuhtion, plunder anddemagogic measure::.; demaw1 freedom, democracyand better living mil itions, an end to the U. '. warof aggression, abolition of the pnppet Thieu-Ky­Huang regime, formation of <1 govf'rnment reprecent­ative of the people's aspirations for peace, indepen­dence, and democracy, and qualifit d to take part in theParis talks to discus:> peace, the enlling of the war,independence and democracy, the destiny of the I,eopie and the nation.

The Alliance Central Committee calls upon officersand men of the puppet army and police, upon function­aries of the Saigon puppet admini"tration to clearlyrealize the situation, timely rise up and join thepeople in fighting for the aforesaid demands andaspirations. in ordlr to save the country, their bmi­lies and their own self.

The Alliance Central Committee warmly welcomesthe great :'UCLe~:, of our _'orthern fellow-countrymenin ddeating the American imperiali:,ts' war of des­truction It warJllI~. .;uppurb the four-point sta1HJ ofthe D.R.V.. -. G0yermnent on the politicClI settlementof the South Victname"e problem and is firmly con­\'inced that the bll,ou-sealed bondS and mililantsolidarity between _'orth aNI 'outh will lead ourpeople t~ completl' victory.

The Central Committee. of the Viet N"am National,Democratic and Peace Forces onCl' again expressessincere thanks to the p( ace- freedom- and justice·lovinggovernments and plOple all owr the world, includingprogres'ive people in the Cnited States, and callsupon them to go on giving strong and aU-round supportto the ju t struggle of the South Vietnamese peopleuntil complete victory.

South Viel .Vam, ,,"oz·tWbel' 4, lCj()~

55

JOI.'T COMMU IQUEOF THE SOUTH VIET NAM 'ATIONAL

FRONT FOH LIBERATIONA 'D

THE VIET AM ALLIANCE OJ? Ni T10NAL,DE fOCRATlC AND PEACE FORCES

On ~ovember 3. 4- and 5. 1968, a delegation of theCentral Committee of the South Viet Nam _-ationalFront for Liberation and a delegation of the CentralCommittee of the Viet Nam Alliance of National,Democratic and Peace Forcec; proceeded to an exchangeof view:; 011 problem' concerning the present struggleof the South Vietnamese people.

Present at the talks were,

On the side of the Front Central Committee:

Lawyer I guyen Huu Tho. President of the Presidium,

Architect Huynh Tan Phat, Vice-President of thePresidium and Secretary General,

Dr Phung Van Cung. Vice·President of the Presidium,

Chemist Ho Thu, Deputy Secretary General,

Mr Ho Xuan SOD, Member of the Secretariat ;

57

On the side of the Alliance Central Committee:Lawyer Trinh Dinh Than, l'resiuent,Engineer L~m Vo.n Tet. Vice-President,Prafes or Duong Ky, Secretaly General,Dr Duong Qllynh Hoa, Deputy Secretary General,Writer Thanh ~ghi, De]luty Secrebry General,J.1r Lc Hieu D,mg, student, Deputy Secn,taryGeneral,Profe:i~or Ng Iyen \'<:1l1 Yiet, member of the Stand-

ing Committee,Mr Huynh Van ~ghi, specialist, member of the

Standing Committee, andProfessor Le Van Giap, President of the Saigon­

Cholon-Gia Dinh Committee,

In an atmosphere of sincere solidarity and enthu­siasm for the unprecedentedly great and all-sidedvictories recorded by the Sout.h Vietnamese armedforces and people and with complete confidence inthe finill success of our gleat patriotic struggle, thetwo delegations surveyed the situation and exchangedviews on general problems concerning the presentstruggle and the orientation of action in the immediatefuture to secure total v~ctory.

1. The two delegations observe that the 1954Geneva Agreements has recognized the independence,sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of VietNlm, and laid down the date of free general electionsthroughout Viet 1 'am for national reunification. Butthe U.S. imperialists have wrecked these agreements,set up in South Viet );'am an extremely cruel adminis­tration in theil pay and drowned in blood all patriotic

58

lTIovt'ment,;:, and tIlt mo'tmu.t for f'C.il.cetul rcumhca­fion of the South ViI tna-me;;e people. Their s<:hemeis to achie\'(' lleo·eololllaJislll In the South, turn itinto an American col'lIly wI military ba!\e. and pro·long the partition of Yu·t 'am.

l'lavin~ vainly ll'-t 11 till 'go Dinh Diem (asci"tlltct Ilona! rlministr.ltiol to reprb'> the South \'iHnamt se I <'ople'., patriot if movement, the U,S. impe­rialhts started '. spCl,'i I warfare' in an attem~t towipe nut Ihe r vollltit nary fore(s in the countrysidewith t . hrlp of 11 str<lte~ie hamllt },;tem an,Jlt out to lrell an,1 de<,tro,"" tht" newly-built

r volutionary &rnJ('ll forces in the' "'''llth

\\'hen tllC" pecial \V.l[» \H'nt hankruJlt, tilt: United"':'tat('- !l\as"ivrl\ de"llatdlcrl .\nll'rlc'lll eXI,tditionar,troo!,s to south Yj(>t ~am anti s\\itche,l to the

I:mit~d \\ar" (Ill the othCi hand, it lahncatul theSt'·c,llltll ' 'I,,!lkin \~111r InC"if!(>nt', Iud ilnpllrlcnUyHrterl a mo·t IHrbarous ".Ir ..,f le"tructl011 with all

lilt nilyal fOln· again~t th(> I)"nlocr.,tlc.: R,""ublicof \ if't . am

llearly l'.S ltlll' 'nall~UI ii till wr cker 01 till:'

1'154 (;<:.nev,\ .\"'H'ullenb, th, ~,'Oote\lr 01 ['caLl 111Yin 'am, the sahoteur of It" umty, tht' peIJ1Ctratorof \\ lnleul", ~lallght('r 10 h"th :lrt,; of Oil! (o\lnh~

th.. most crnel aJ-.:l;lc:>sor 1tl 11l~t(,ry, thc breed, r 01tl'nsion anJ t1 e wctck..r of I ;JCf In Indnchin'l an',

~outh('ast .-\!'ol

I he admini!>tral1Ol I i· ~e,l lip by the ,\nu 11c..n!,in S'mth \"iet :-;am, from the llielll-:\hu brot1J('r;; [0t~lt pI' :>I'nt 'llti..u- l-\y HUl)n", diqUf but a

gang of puppets, lackeys and traitors who have soldout South Viet Nam to the United States and broughtin American expeditionary troops to devastate theircountry and massacre their compatriots. It is anutterly reactionary and rotten regime which representsnobody and owes its survival to U.S. bayonets anddollars. The so-called elections held in a number ofareas still under U.S.-puppet control aimed at givingthis administration a "legal", "cOlbtitutional " veneer,were no more nor less than a farce performed fraudu­lently at the gun-point of the Amer;can aggressorsand their agents.

The U.S. imperialists having unleashed a war ofaggression, and deprived the South Vietnamese peopleof their independence and freedom, the latter muststand up to save their country and win back inde­pendence and national sovereignty. For the SouthVietnamese or any other people in the world this isan inviolable right.

The South Vietnamese people have successivelyfoiled all the United States plans of aggression andrecorded one victory after another.

They have staged simultaneous uprisings and crush­ed the foundation of the Ngo Dinh Diem fascist dic­tatorialregime.

They have frustrated the" special war" strategy,and liberated most of the countryside, the plains andthe mountain regions.

They have smashed two large-scale dry-season stra­tegic counter-offensives in the framework of the" lim­ited war".

60

Since early spring this year in particular, turningto account the strength of their unity and winningpositio 1, the South Yietnamese armed forces and peoplehave started generalized offensives and simultaneousupri-;ings in urban centres and rural areas, dealingfiercest blows at the aggressors and traitors, drivingthem into a seriously deteriorating situation and ablind alley, and scoring unprecedentedly great andall-sideu victories. These victorie" have generated veryimportant change, and e.·tremely favourable conditionsfor the South Vietnamese armed forces and people toW1I1 complete victory.

Confronted with the heroic and dauntless struggleof the armed forces and people all over Viet Namand the firm demands of the world people, includingprogres ive people in the United States, the AmericanGovernment has recently to end unconditionally itsbombing and shelling of the whole territory of the Dem­ocratic Republic of Viet Nam This is a serious set­back of the United States and a tremendous victoryof our entire people and peace-loving people aroundthe world.

However, the United States has not yet given upits aggressive design. It continues intensifying the warof aggression in South Viet ~am, committing extreme­ly barbarous crimes, and prodding the puppetadministration feverishly to conduct pressganging, tolaunch mopping-up operations, to make a frantic useof strategic B.52' s, bombs, bullets and toxic chemi­cals in savage attacks against the surroundings of townsand cities, razing many rural areas, massacring en

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maSSe our compatnots, terrorizing and repressing allindividuals and forces attached to independence, dem­ocracy and peace. The United States is still clingingto the Thieu-Ky-Huong puppet administration in thehope of maintaining their neo-coloniali:t lule and pro­longing t1l1.: partition of Vid l'a1Jl.

But the more ,tnl..>horn it is and the 1110rc closely itsticks to the politlC;ll lorp,e, of the [hieu-Ky-I-hl~ngclique, tlte h( tvit-r and l11f1re sh:l nef1l1 failure it willencountrr. lts coml letf' defeat in the war of aggrfs~ion

in South Viet .-"ill and flC total cnllan"e ()f the PUPl,etadministration in it pay are inevitable.

On this occasion, the Central Committee of the SouthViet Tam National Front for Liberation and the Cen­tral Committee 01 the Viet. 'am Alliance of National,Democratic and Peace Forces warmly welcome thevictories recorded by our South( rn compatriots andfighters ill the liberated zones as in the areas ~till ullJerU.S.-puppet COJltrol, in the tow IS as 1D the country­side, in the plains as in the nounl,tin regions. Bringingto a pitch the heroism and creative talent of our peoplethey have ov rCl)me all hardships, ccepted all sacri­fices, fought without ld-up, foiled very plan of aggres­sion of an extremely crupI (nerny, and \ 'on gloriousvictories. They have proved worthy of the confidenceof our people "nd our lrien( s in the five continents.

The Front Ct'ntrai Committee and the Alliance Cen­tral Committee convey to their seventeen million~orthern countrymen and. to esteemed President HoChi Minh the mOot . ffectionate greetings of all theSouth Vietnamese people and fighter , and expres~

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their unbounded gratitude to their kith and kin in the• orth W~IO have with might and main helped the SouthVietnamese liberation revolution to defeat the enemy.

They sincerely thank all the governments, massorganIzations, democratic bodies and peace· and justice­loving people the world over. the Cambodian peo­ple and Government, the Lao people and the LaoPa triotic Front, progressive people in the United States,the l-'ersonalities and intellectuals who have sternlycondemned the U.S. imperialists' crimes of aggression,md war crimes in South Viet Jam, and warmly sym­pathited with, snpported nnd assisted the South Viet­namese people in their ju':'t stfllggle for nati0113lliber­ation.

2. The two delegations acknowledge as pntirely judi­cious the objective set for tht' current stl'Llggle of theentire South Vietnamese people, namely, to bringabout independence, democracy, peace, neutralityand prosperity and to advance toward the peacefulreunitication of the country.

In view of this objective, it is necess;ny to achievebroad nationnl union, to rally all patriotic forces, HS­

olutely to defeat the U.S. imperialists' war of aggres.sian to overthrow the puppet administration andset up a government of national union and broaddemocracy with the participation of representatiYes ofall segments of the population, all nationalities, allreligions, all patriotic political parties and forces, allpatriotic personalities, all patriots.

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These are the legitimate and deep aspirations of thefourteen million South Vietnamese, which have beenturned into an iron determination. ~o brutal force,no perfidious scheme can make them deviate from thegoal of their struggle and uepart from their principledstand.

The general situation at present is very favourableto us and very unfavourable to the United States andits lackeys. Thoroughly grasping their set objectiveand ceaselessly bringing into play the factors of victo­ry, the entire South Vietnamese people are resolvedto march forward and will certainly win final victory.

In the face of the U.S. stepped-np war of aggressionin South Viet Nam, the two delegations confirm thatthe present general task is to unite and mobilize theentire people, pahiots and patriotic forces, resolutelyand vigorously to impel the resistance against U.S.aggression, for national salvation, anu score new andgreater victorie,; at any cost, to foil the U.S. imperial­ists' war of Jggression, to overthrow the Thieu-Ky­Huong puppet administration, to win complete victory,liberate the South, defend the North and advancetoward the peaceful reunification of the fatherl:md.

The South Vietnamese people's aspirations are peace,independence, democracy and better living conditions.The puppet aumill:stration -henchmen of the UnitedStates - is up against these aspirations and repre!lentsnobody. It is the American imperialists and theiragents who are opposing all correct solutions airr.edat materializing the legitimate aspirations oftheSouth

Vietnamese people. fhe United States must be heldentirely responsible for this.

The two delegations resolutely demand that theUnited States Government definit'vely abstain fromall encroachments on the. overeignty and security ofthe Democratic Republic of Viet. Tam, that the UnitedStates end its war of aggression in Viet Nam, carryout all its commitments at the 1954 Geneva Conference,and respect the iuvi'Jlable natio.lal rights of the SouthVIetnamese people.

The two delegations fully support the four-lJointstand of the Government of the Democratic Republicof Viet Kam and its position as is made clear In the. Tovember 2, 1968 Statempnt on a political solutionto the Vietnamese problem.

The delegation of th{ .\lliance Central Committeefully approves and unreservedly supports the positionof the Front on a politica I settlement of the SouthVietnamese question and its decision to participatein the Paris conference as is announced in the .'ovem­bel' 3. 1968 Statement of the Front Central Committee.

The delegation of the Front Central Committeewarmly welcomes and umeservedly supports the•'ovember 4, 1968 Statement of the Alliance CentralCommittee concerning the new development of theSouth Vietnamese people's struggle.

The two delegations hold that in the present situa­tiOIl a correct political settlement of the South Viet­namese problem must be l1ased on the following Iiv!::points:

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a) South Yiet Nam is resolved to struggle for thematerialization of its sacreu rights, namely, independ­ence. democracy, peace, neutrality, prosperity andultimate pea.ceful reunification of the fatherlanu.

b) The U.S. imperialists must end their war ofaggression in Viet Nam, withdraw all their troopsand those of their satellites as well as their war meansfrom. and liquidate all American military bases in,South Viet Nam.

c) The internal affair:; of South Viet :\am must besettled by the South Vietnamese people themselves inaccordance with the Political Program of the SouthViet Nam i\ational Front fOl Liueration, witholltforeign interference A government of naLional unionand broad democracy must be established, and freegeneral elections must be held in South Viet _Tan•.

d) The reunificJ.tion of Viet Nam will be settled bythe people of the two parts of Viet :Kam step by step,by peaceful means and on the hasis of consultationsand agreements bet veen •'orth and South, withoutforeign interference.

e) South Viet ~am will pursue a foreign policy ofpeace and HenL ality excluding mllitary alliance inwhatever form with foreign countries and implying esta­blishment of friendly relations with all COHntri.es onthe basis of the five principles of peaceful coexi~tence,

of good-neighbourhood relations with the Kmgdom ofCambodia on the basis of respect for its independence,sovereignty, neutrality and territorial mtegrity withinits pres nt border,:. and on the basis of respect forthe 195-+ Geneva :\greements, and with Laos on the

66

basis of resp1ct for tl e 1<)62 Geneva Agreementsconcerning thi~ V>UI try.

The above stanl1 r'Hccts HI, iron determination ofthe fourteen million South Vietn,\111CSe people; it isconsistent with t ,e fnmJ.1I11FI1tal pnnciples of the 1954Geneva Agreement-; Cln Viet •'am and with inter­national l<lw. The South Vit-tn."l1ese leople, million~

united as one, are resolved to light along this standto attai'l their set objectives at my cost. This correctstand will certainly enlLt th, ympathy and snpportof neace-, freedom- <'nu iu~tic,'-Ioving J.toplc all overthe world, including progres"lve people in the UnitedStat;;s.

3. The two delegations J>11,1 th.lt one of the mostimportant f ctors gllar,,-], €"'lg thE til:al victory is the~trength of the soli(1;uity L m' strug[;le of the entir/"South Vietnamese peol'le.

For this reason the Soutl VlC't .1 am ,Tational Frontfor Libention and the \',et am .\lllance of National,Democratic anI P,3ce ['0'1«; \\iIl bend all theirenergies on tlIP ull(f'asing cc.[bolidation and broaden­ing of the nation wide fr nt of soh larity againstU.S. aggression for national SHl\ ati,m.

In view of the supreme irltcre.>t<; of the nation, theFront and thf' Alliance declare their readmess forjoint action with all forces, all irdividuals who,though not yet affiliated to them, share the commonaspiration to recovcl' independence and nationalsovereignty, restore pc:rce and bring about a happylife to the entire peoplc.

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The delegation of the Central Committee of theSouth Viet ~am National Front for Liberation highlyvalue;; the foundmg and activities of the Viet NamAlliance of . 'ational, Democratic and Peace Forcesand its contributions to the continual broadening ofthe unity and the reinforcement of the strength of theentire people in their resistance for national salvation;it declares its close co-operation with the Viet NamAlliance of ~ational, Democratic and Peace Force~ inthe p[esent struggle against U.S. aggression as wellas in future for national construction.

The delegation of the Central Committee of the VIetNam Alliance of •'ational, Dell1flcratic and PeaceForces stresses its viewpoint which has been txpound­ed in its. ational Salvation Mamfesto: "The SouthViet Nam National Front for Liberation is a patri­otic force credited with great contributions to themobilization, organization and direction of the resist­ance to foreign aggression over the recent years; itmust be present at the settlement of all problemsconcerning South Viet ,am. The Alliance declaresitself engagerl in joint action with the Front in thcstruggle r or the recovering of national indepcndence,the restoration of peace. natiunal nconstruction, anda free and happy life to the entire peolle.. ,

It declares ib, full approval of the extclllul lineand policies of the Smtth Viet :t\'am National Frontfor Liberation, warmly welcomes the successes record­ed by the Front in this field and entirely subscribesto its po ition regarding the recognitlOn of, and res­pect for. the independence. sovereignty. neutraltty

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and territorial integrity of Cambodia within its pres­ent borders.

In view of the survival of the nation and the strug­gle for national independence, democracy, peace andsocial progress of the w<Jrld peoples and of all nations,the Central Committee Of the South Yiet Nam NationalFront for LiberatIOn and the Central Committee ofthe Viet .'am Alliance of • ational Democratic andPeace Forces call on the entire South Vietnamesepeople and fighters in the to\\ns as well as in thecountryside to unite as one man, to overcome allhard:"hips and accept all S,t rifices, to bring into fullplay their -trong and offensive position, to makestrenuous efforts, resolutely forge ahead, launch con­tinual attack. and rise up powerfully with a firmdetermination in order to register new and greatervictories on both the military and political planes,defeat the U.S. imperialish' war of aggression, over­throw the Thieu-Ky-Huong pupp t administrationand march forward toward complete victory.

Let the overs_as Vietnamc (; (nhance their patri­otism, turn to the beloved fatherland engaged inresistance to foreign invasion and make worthycontributions to the present fight of our entire peoplefor national salvation.

Let the officer5 and men of the puppet army,policemen and functionaries of the puppet adminis­tration in the South clearly re'l!ize the present situa­tion, timely decide on their own destinies, choosethe glorious path, leave the ranks of the aggressors

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and traitors, and together with the people wrest backour independence and freedom.

The Central Committee of the South Viet NamNational Front for Liberation and the Central Commit­tee of the Viet Nam .\ lliance of National, Democraticand Peace Forces appeal to all governments, massorganiza tions and democratic bodies, peace- and justice­loving people throughout the \ 'orld, the Americanpeople, to strongly support their correct stand andgive more active help to the South Vietnamese people'sresistance to U.S. aggression, for national salvation,until complete victory.

The Front and the Alliance undertake to unceasinglystrengthen sincere solidarity and close co-operationbetween the two organizations now in the struggleagainst U.S. aggression, for national salvation, and,later, in national construction. They regard this as thesteady basis to ceaselessly consolidate and broaden thenational united front, one of the fundamental factorsguaranteeing the final victory of our national­liberation struggle and the successful building ofour country into a prosperous one.

Cruel and justice.Houting U.S. aggressor im­perialism will certainly be defeated!

The South Vietnamese people will certainlywin complete victory!

Let all our compatriots and fighters valiantlymarch forward!

South Viet Nan!. November 5. 1968

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