European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 5, 1968, Darmstadt, Hesse Page it the stars and stripes thur toy september 5, but support is ill rests with military to Lulu ton Soli x by Barry Kramer Saigon a president Nguyen Van Thieu a Man the communists Call an american puppet has proved after a Yearin office that he pulls most of the election Day last sept 3, Thieu has consolidated h i Power inaugurated some needed reforms and broadened the base of the government. Because his support Stu rests mainly with the military and on certain militantly anti communist groups Thieu s government has resorted to anti democratic Means to stifle opposition. Thieu s election followed month later by the. Election of a two House legislature created government which took from a military Junta that had ruled South Vietnam since no vember 1963.Thieu and his vide president Nguyen Cao by still meet regularly with the nation s generals to get their approval on important matters. By headed the previous government As Premier and Thieu was chief of by government had Little to show that it had support outside the armed forces says one american official who has worked closely with both governments. The addition of Tran Lanhuong As Premier has made the government even More responsive to the people and the legislature has proved that it Isno rubber while enemy offensives have caused immediate threats to Thieu s government much of his time has been spent meeting an internal threat from by for Power. By had been Able to exert unusual control Over the operation of the National administration because As Premier for t w o. Years he had appointed friends to hundreds of High positions. By s Power was All but eliminated when Thieu fired maj. Gen. Nguyen Ngoc loan Asna tonal police head As Well Asky friends who commanded the3rd military corps around Sai gon the 4th corps in the me Kong Delta and the 2nd corps in the Central holds the upper hand. Several by men have been secretly arrested others have fled the country. A coup in South Vietnam remains a possibility although it seems much Les Likely than when Thieu first took months ago . Officials concerned about report that by was planning a coup warned him and other general sin Blunt terms that the Amri can government would not Stan for it. . Officials deny of course that any such talks occurred. None of those who might be come involved had to use much imagination to know what would happen to . Support if there was a coup said an embassy official. We did t have to add it up for them despite the . Assurances As recently As july Thieu or dered a coup Alert in Saigon after he had fired it Gen. Lengyen Khang a by Friend As commander of the 3rd corps say Well informed government maintain the present stability Thieu must steer a care Ful course. A Blunt move by the United states to Force the government into talks with the Viet Cong s National liberation front or to consider a coalition government would cause him trouble. If that happened the government would become shaky very quickly said a foreign Diplomat there would be pressure from both right and left. The generals would threaten Thieu and the roman catholics would be demonstrating inthe streets. And the people who Are tired of the War would Cla for any Way among Thieu s achieve ments the most meaningful so far appears to be the naming of one time teacher Tran Van Huong As Premier. He org was fourth in the presidential elec Tion and later charged that Thieu s election was a he then tempered his criticism of the election and his appointment has Given the govern ment a greater measure of popular support Huong 64, is a Well known southerner whose honesty seems unquestioned. Much of Huong s time has been spent in organizing an ant corruption d 111 v e. He has admitted that corruption is so widespread among vietnamese officials that it threatens Ever government program. So far 17 of the 44 province chief have been removed by Thieu Many of them for corruption dozens of District chiefs provincial police chiefs and other civil servants have been sacked Huong has pushed the trials of thousands of political detainees to have them freed if they Are innocent and jailed i they Are guilty. One area of failure is inability to create a Broad anti communist political front made of a the strings draw mini stares the traditional dress of South vietnamese girls is the to Dai Centera gown Slit at the sides and worn Over silk trousers. But More and More Saigon girls Are switching to the mini skirt As flanking photos show. Associated press photo shirts add color and Shock to Viet scene by Peter a Nett Lar and Long sleeves. Nowadays the lovers the average vietnamese nity is in an the War the rain and a Low Slung leather Belt topped the weight of tradition the off by a tight � a a 0p Frtiz a t Wal Cru v a Vietnam s nowadays Young Viet teenybopper Are just try Imp to conservative elders Are shocked namese girl May have thongs look like Bri ill re Saigon s intellectual comm tied up her calves a tiny mini Catherine dept in of argot or skirt hugged to her thighs with the 1? i the traditional attitude to Romance still survives. Daddy sex she will splash through the ?�sts.ucl Nome before curfew tonal a up. Vietnam has no rapt political Force. Tint com Huong of ctr such Broad Sud part would take at least two years to organize. The Viet Cone already Are hard at work political fronts for the political War they know Willcome some Day Mastt government officials be tilt if an election cure held tomorrow the communists would win. Non Corn Raunisi Elet tents arc too fragmented. President John s 0 n Smarch 31 speech which opened the Way for preliminary talk with Hanoi in Paris " raised fears of accommodation with the communists that have nut been entirely stilled. Thieu s government takes harsh measures against those who would go against the government s strict anti communist Truong Dinh Dzu who came in second in the presidential race running As a peace candidate now is serving five years at hard labor. A Mili tary court found him guilty of advocating talks with the National liberation s conviction has Ambar raised . Officials one of whom says privately the Case was stupidly courts have tried Stu dents buddhists and newspaper publishers on similar charges. Several persons were not eve allowed to run in last fall s elections one High government official defends measures of the govern ment that May appear anti democratic in some does everything Here have to be a perfect democracy he asked. After All this is a country fighting for its life. You americans ask too officials say the government s hard line is a Neces mini Jupe known most other places As the mini skirt has arrived. Saigon has spawned a Gene ration of teenybopper who cavort on the rain splashed Cit streets in attire. They add Brilliant splashes of color to the drab War tinted thoroughfares. But most vietnamese males Don t seem to approve. Expressing an Oriental Dis taste for exhibitionism particularly when the prying eyes of foreigners Are around one writer to a Saigon newspaper said these children these Flowers would Wilt without their marijuana. They Are like Many others he yearns forthe continued use of the to Dai Vietnam s traditional garb that girls strolled in along the once Graceful French boulevards of Saigon and Hanoi. A Long White or flowered silk skirt Slit at each Side revealed Loose White silk trousers and met at a tin Waist a bodice with a High col puddles on to do Street Tilting her heels at the . Military policemen inside the Scartt Dwire of american billets or giggling from a motorcycle Ashe roars past in traffic. The to Dai is still worn i Vietnam particularly in the Countryside where even in the midst of War the Village girls somehow manage to keep White silk dress clean and teenybopper sometimes have to Bear the rib Aldry of vietnamese soldiers on leave. Chlu Choi they will shout atthe girls. Are you ready to play Saigon newspapers have been taking notice of the mini skirted girls and attribute the fashion to French fashion Magazine available on the local Market. A random Survey of the mini skirts on an average Saigon Street shows however that rather than being pot smoking free and she is. Thieu were to say of we a talk with the front and perhaps Well form a coalition govern ment the army would go to pieces. Why Lay Down you cards before you get to the table Elm or n Roi w ,.,. 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