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52 PEAC ; VIETNA} powers ‘except Laos and Cambodia. North Victnam indicated itse receptive to this suggestion, as did France.!” The United State: however, replied coldly, “There are no authorized negotiation under way with Mr. Thant or any other government.” ?! U Thar further drew upon himself the wrath of the United States govern ment by saying, “E am sure that the great American people, } only they knew the true facts and the background of the develop ments in Vietnam, will agree with me that further bloodshed i unnecessary.” |* Hoping that the mere opening of negotiations might result in tacit ceasefire, France urged thai neither the United Siates no the People’s Republic of China make any preconditions to nego tations." But Secretary Rusk said that the United States woul agree to no conference until after North Vietnam had stopped th flow of men and arms to the Vietcong.’4 Furthermore, he refuse: to commit the Administration to any definite course, even i North Vietnam agreed to end its support of the Vietcong.?> O: February 27, the State Department published its widely dispute White Paper in an effort to prove that this support was prepon In February and early March 1965 the United States was begin ning large-scale American-piloted combat missions against the Viet cong in South Vietnam and massive air raids against North Viet nam. These were no longer retaliation against specific provocativ acts but were an avowed effort to punish North Vietnam unt officials were willing to negotiate on terms acceptable to th United States. At the same time, Secretary Rusk made it clear tha the preconditions for any negotiations must be North Vietnam’ cessation of all aid to the Vietcong and an assurance that th peace settlement would insure the “security and independence of South Vietnam.’* This was interpreted in Vietnam to mea *“ New York Times, February 26, 1965. “ George E. Reedy, White House Press Secretary, as quoted by Max Frar kel, New York Times, February 25, 1965. * New York Times, February 25, 1965. ™* New York Times, February 26, 1965. “Max Frankel, New York Times, February 26, 1965, * Drew Middleton, New York Times, February 25, 1965, * New York Times, February 26, 1965.