(from The Times)
The Administration is watching keenly the South Victnam election
campaisn with polling day now less than a fortnight away, even though
it is avoiding directing attention to what it is official policy to
regard as a Vietnamese affair. The merican military effort still
dominates the local scene, but it is reclized that much is at stcke
politically and psychologiczlly for America in the outcome of the elec-
tions, not least with those versons abroad who are critical of the wer.
Radio Hanoi and the clandestine Vietcong station are now prophesying
that “the people will smash the elections of the United States puppet
regime" ......e..+e+e-+. Marshall Ky, the sovth Vietnam Prime Minister,
is taking the election cannaign seriously, and so are most of his pro-=
vinicial chiefs, but the underlying reason is rather obviously that he
wants an answer for the regime ameinst the communists.
American reporters who have dutifully turned out in ssigon to ‘covert the campaign have been obviously distressed by the frailty of things, the Government-organized meetings, the candidates’ vague speeches, and lack of popular interest. More than 500 candidatés are running for the 117 seats in the Constituent Asseubly, grouped in 52 constituencics. Comaunists and ‘theutralists" were excluded and there were in all 60 candidates rejected. There are about 60 isilitary men, the rest being business ar professional people, civil servants and provintial councillors elected in South Vietnan's local elections last year. About half the constituencies have direct voting, and the rest proportionel reoresentation, something intended to wrk against the Buddhists, whose leaders have called for a boycott of the election anyway. ‘nat will energe is ecmitted here to be lorgely guesswork - most likely, it is thought, it will be a motley assembly of individuals, local notables reflecting local and sectional interests, Group building might come as a reaction if the military candidates emerre as a ProeGovernnent force. NLF plan election sabotape. The Mietcong are determined to wreck next month's election in South Vietnam. The guerilla command announced in a clandestine broadcas to-day that they could not guarantee the lives of candidates or votes in the Saigon area taking part in the election. The Communists claim that the voting for the ‘ssembly, which is to draw up a constitution, is being organised by the United States. Intelligence sources here say thct the political srm of the Vietcong had instructed guerillas to sabotaze the election. The sources said the guerillas had been ordered to attack polling booths, seize biliot boxes in ambushes, seize identity and voting cards and organise demonstrations in Government controlled areas, ‘The Liberation Radio said the guerillas would protect people who refused to vote, but added that it could not guarantee the lives of “village chiefs, hamlet chiefs, candidates, voters or anybody else" supporting the Americans and the saigon Government.