s CIA — 1E4444:Ina 7 Lar 70

b no H Saigon Aide Blames . U.S. for Chau Trial

By The SAIGON, South ,: which has jurisdiction in na- tional security cases. March 6 — A top official in the VIETNAM BLAMES Even if the Supreme Court South Vietnamese Government decides the Assembly resolu- sought today to divert criticism tion was invalid, he said, "this of the conviction of Deputy U.S. IN CHAU TRIAL ruling will have no bearing Tran Ngoc Chau to the United whatsoever on the verdict al- ready hnded down by the mili- States Embassy. Continued From Page I, Col. 8 tary court." Cao Van Tuong, liaison min- ister with the National Assem- to the C.I.A. lie was sentenced to 10 years in prison. U.S. Silent but Angry bly, said at a news conference "We only have heard Mr. Sped al to that Mr. Chau might have es- WASHINGTON, March 6— caped prosecution if the em- Chau's own declaration," said Mr. Tuong. "We cannot, on his The Nixon Administration was bassy had confirmed publicly publicly silent but officials here his claim that he had worked own declarations, take or start were privately angered today with the United States Central any action in order to go to his Intelligence Agency. defense.. Instead, we waited to by the conviction of Deputy the American Embasssy here. Chau o ncharges of consortine, Mr. Chau was convicted yes- "Had we heard from these with the enemy. terday of having held illegal authorities, then we might The trial, which ended yea. meetings with his brother, Tran fear have adjusted or taken action terday, has already caused Ngoc Hien, a North Vietnamese tion between the United States intelligence officer. Mr..thau accordingly. But so long as we had not heard anything from and the Government of Presi- said that he had passed on in dent Thieu. Administration the American authorities pr the fordation from these meetings sources said that the Adminis- Atherican Embassy here, we tration did not favor political start any action to Continued on Page 10,Colunin 7 could not prosecution and that this view go to his defense." had been made known to Presi- No U.S. Comment dent Thieu. The United States Embassy Ambassador Ellsworth Bunk- has, made no public comment er reportedly tried to persuade on the case. President Thieu to desist from The news conference made i prosecuting Mr. Chau but his clear that the Government con- protests were brushed aside. siders the case closed even Mr. Chau was sentenced to thmigh Mr. Chau's lawyers 10 years at hard labor for have appealed to the South meeting with his brother, Tran Vietnamese Supreme Court. Ngoc Hien, who was earlier The appeal, which is awaiting sent to jail for being a North a ruling, questions the legality Vietnamese intelligence agent. of the resolution by the Nation- Mr. Chau did not deny the al Assexly that removed Mr. meetings but said he furnished Chau's legislative immunity. intelligence information ob- Mr. Chau's lawyers content tained from them to the United that the resolution was fradu States. lently adopted that at least one Reports from Saigon today signature on it was forged, and said the Vietnamese govern- that two deputies did not know ment might have escaned whet they were signing. prosecution if the C.I.A. had Maj. Nguyen Dinh Tri, the publicly confirmed that he had military prosecutor in Mr. given them information. The Chau's trial, told the newsmen agency, following its custom, that no appeal was possible had no comment here. from the verdict of the court,