European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 2, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse                              Page 2 the stars and stripes tuesday april 2, notes Date Back to last fall j e by Douglas b. Cornell Washington a presi Dent Johnson reached his Deci Sion against trying for another term in the last Day or two. But the White House said Sun Day he had been thinking about it for months and even considering announcing it at the end of his state of the Union message to Congress last january. Press Secretary George Chris Tian had been drafted to help Frame what Johnson would say and some of his notes Date Back to last fall around  on the night of the state of the Union message on Jan. 17, Christian said Johnson Hain his pocket the text of an announcement that he would Norun for reelection. It was t until Johnson qui speaking Christian said that he knew of the change on timing the decision. Vice president Hubert h can i believe it Saigon a president Johnson s announcement that he would not run again was greeted with stunned disbelief monday by american soldiers in Vietnam. I can t believe it said a i on the  s not True said a sergeant. Man that s wild it s a whole new Bau game said a shocked civilian doctor. There was no immediate official reaction from the Saigon government or the . Establishment in Saigon. It appeared most Likely that no one in Vietnam not even top officials were warned. Americans were disbelieving As the presi Dent s words came Over the radio via a direct Hookup with the United states. His earlier statements concerning a bombing pause received a mixed reaction from . Fighting men. The reaction however sometimes followed political lines. An army lieutenant who is a Republican said that is the Best thing that has happened in the United states since 1960." an army Captain fio is a Johnson supporter said i can t believe it. 1 think he will be drafted again. I Don t think there is any doubt about  a vietnamese roman Catholic priest said i am very very sorry. Your president is a great  a Busy air Force sergeant said i guess if he says he won t run that Means he knew he would t be  decision London up for som people april fool s Day began with what they first Felt waste most bizarre hoax of the Century president Johnson would not seek re election to the  feeling was soon quashed and the reaction from much of the world to Johnson s decision and the halt of most of the bomb. Ing of North Vietnam was one of Hope that peace prospects had become brighter. But Hanoi and peking were silent about both decisions hours after Johnson announced themon radio and television although Hanoi is carefully studying them North vietnamese officials in Paris  prediction they refused to predict whether president to Chi Minh will agree to open peace  official said Hanoi May answer the president s overture a Early As tuesday. Moscow s first reaction was not Good. It was summed up in the headline put out by Tass the soviet news Agency president Johnson is  reported by up Cor respondents around the world includes Saigon reaction among South vietnamese politicians was one of Shock and disbelief. One sen Ator refusing to believe Johnson had made such a statement said he is not the Type to surrender " in Wellington new zealand where he is attending a South East Asia treaty organization meeting South vietnamese for eign minister Tran Van do said the United states did not consult t a 8? on the decision no halt the bombing. Moscow Tass said Johnsont Iid not go far enough in order ing a partial halt to the bombing of his decision not to seek re election it said the american president wanted to mislead world Public opinion which condemns the War in Vietnam while disclaiming personal blame forthe  Vatican City the Vatican Uty paper l Osse Vatore Roma no expressed the Hope that the decision on bombing would Lead to sincere and honest negotiations. One Vatican source said it was an excellent step provid ing a Chance to see if there is Good will on the other ideas we Hope there  Paris aides said presi Dent Charles de Gaulle was told the news when he awakened. Senior foreign ministry official said i was just stunned. We had hoped he would Stop the bombing but we had no idea he would quit the  Rome aides of president Quiseppe Sara Gat said the news of a bombing halt was receive with Relief. The Way is now open for  Canberra former Australia labor party Leader Arthur Cal Well welcomed Johnson s Deci Sion As a Wise one. He could not possibly have won the War he said. Tokyo _ the Stock Market plunged on the first word from Johnson but managed to recover most losses by the end of the it of reign minister Takeo Miki told parliament the bombing announcement had brightened peace prospects in Vietnam. Hong Kong a major communist newspaper which takes editorial Cue from peking called Johnson s decision a Clear sign of american defeat in Viet Nam. You can say that it is the vietnamese people who unseated decs. Of dropou&9 Yore up Richard m. Nixon Only major candidate for the Republican presidential nomination said sunday nigh this is the year of the dropouts first Romney then Rockefeller and now  he said Johnson s decision a have strengthened his hand in the party and made impossible for him to name his  Nixon predicted that Vic president Hubert h. Humphrey or someone espousing the John son philosophy would seek the democratic nomination in the president s place. Don t sell Humphrey Short Nixon warned. The front running Republican contender admitted that John sons withdrawal from the race had caught him by Surprise. He said he wanted to study the Tex of the president s statement. My plans will be to continue to meet with the Republican leaders throughout the country he said on his arrival at his new York apartment after a flight from Wisconsin where there is to be a key primary tuesday. Two gis escape . Stockade mini pee re to Teh Chuan chair Man of the foreign relations com Mittee in parliament said John sons actions amounted to admitting that his Vietnam policy this in t Bangkok thai prime min Ster Thaworn Kitti Fachorn said he feared Robert f. Kenned would become president of the United states. If senator Ken wins u ? a Licy T South Asia we change greatly . World nations of Southeast Asia will be left on their own he said. Jec Mit Germany by the escape of t w o prisoners from the Susareu stockade at Coleman Barracks Here was discovered monday morning a North Baden District spokesman revealed a tet identified the men As Duanea. Hall of Btry a 1st in 68th arty and Robert l. Bushy Gerof Btry a 3rd in 71st arty stockade officials who discovered at 5 . That the two men were missing believed the prisoners escaped through a Hole Cut in the perimeter  police were conduct ing an extensive search forthe pair the spokesman said. Many named for Gagarin of Moscow up _ hundreds of babies born the Day cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was buried \h7ova n Owr i i i i pravda Humphrey and at least thre Cabinet members were told in Advance what was coming Sun Day night. The latter included Secretary of defense Clark , Secretary of state Dean Rusk and Clifford s predecessor Robert s. Mcnamara. Johnson also discussed the possibility of stepping out of the political Arena with Gen. Wil Liam c. Westmoreland when the . Commander in Vietnam was Here in november. The president wanted to know what effect Westmoreland thought there would be on troop morale. Christian said the Gen eral told the president rethought it would be a Shock but not necessarily a lasting  pretty Well agreed with the president that nobody is in dispensable Christian said. The press Secretary said that health was not a Factor in John son s decision that his health Osgood. The reason was just As John son outlined it in his address to he nation Christian said As to the timing i it sunday night Christian told reporters he just decided it was about he Best time to do it. He decided to Clear it up and get it out of he Way. He has Felt he could t get into the partisanship. He did t think it was proper to take the Days and hours and months to get our and right in partisan Way. He thought he d just serve As president As to whether Johnson Wouldhave held off if sen. Robert f Kennedy of new York had no come into the Battle for the democratic presidential Nomina Tion Christian said he just did t know. But Christian said he though the president had taken care of the matter of whether he could be drafted by saying definitely he would not accept the party nomination for another  lady helped mrs. Johnson helped her Hus band with some drafting and word age on his pronouncement the press Secretary said. He and mrs. Johnson have been counting the Days on when they could make the decision Roget out Christian said. He and mrs. Johnson talked about it a very great Deal a very Long  and when it came to the final version that Johnson delivered sunday night Christian said she assisted him in his thoughts and wording. She certainly participated in the  another person consulted on what Johnson had in mind and if of was gov. John con Nally of Texas. Connally and the president talked about it an Christian also talked with con he indicated Connally took Rostand but told Johnson it was a personal decision for the presi the press Secretary said of his Boss at one Point �  a been it hard consideration for a tit la?4 year i think he Hal Hohns a have just to last Day or two Christian after the president had Rizali other decisions -6r pretty a made up his Kiriti in other Only that were disclosed in the sulday night speech in Vietnam i he said that he just did i feel that it was his duty to i for four More years Christ to said and that he did fee was his duty to be presiden and president  no briefs reporters Iii teahouse press Secretary Georgia Christian tells reporters thai president Johnson had been thinking for months against try ing for another term. A 2 v corps Gist die in crash Frankfurt special two corps soldiers were burned to death and two others were injured Early monday when the car in which they were Riding Strucka guard rail on the Frankfurt Wuerzburg autobahn near Wert Heim turned Over and burst into flames. Listed As dead Are spec. Robert w. Adams 28, a flight Engineer and pfc. Donald a lacov18� a Supply clerk both of the 90th Avn co. They were pronounced dead on arrival at the Wertheim dispensary. The two other 90th Avn sol Diers spec. 4 William l. Wat son the Driver and spec. 4 Alex Undell Marity were taken tothe Wuerzburg army Hospital where they were reported in goo condition. Adams is survived by his Mother mrs. Mack Adams of Stamps ark., and Jacob by his Mother Luvena Keerins of Philadelphia smash9 insurance Only five Marks but the decision jelled in the four More years " bons0"1" Wil son the great Tram robber a. P Bably spend four extra Oal i we 964 the Home office said. Wilson 37, had served oneyear of a 30-year sentence when he escaped. He was recaptured Canada in january try Ruiea Frankfurt is a tax company Here has announced it is offering a new service which per mits people to get smashed without risking a  Motorist who thinks he has had too much to drink to drive his car Home May dial the com Pany for  will immediately dispatch a cab with two Drivers one of whom will drive the customer s automobile Home for him. The Standard fee for that part of the service is 5 Marks $1.25 within the City limits the company said it said this procedure will avoid the problem of a Motorist s having to return to his car the next morning