Vietnam Blames U.S. in Chau Trial
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s CIA — 1E4444:Ina 7 Lar 70 b no H Saigon Aide Blames . U.S. for Chau Trial By The Associated Press SAIGON, South Vietnam,: which has jurisdiction in na- March 6 — A top official in the tional security cases. South Vietnamese Government VIETNAM BLAMES Even if the Supreme Court sought today to divert criticism decides the Assembly resolu- of the conviction of Deputy U.S. IN CHAU TRIAL tion was invalid, he said, "this Tran Ngoc Chau to the United ruling will have no bearing States Embassy. whatsoever on the verdict al- Continued From Page I, Col. 8 ready hnded down by the mili- Cao Van Tuong, liaison min- tary court." ister with the National Assem- to the C.I.A. lie was sentenced bly, said at a news conference to 10 years in prison. U.S. Silent but Angry that Mr. Chau might have es- "We only have heard Mr. Sped al to The New York Times caped prosecution if the em- Chau's own declaration," said WASHINGTON, March 6— bassy had confirmed publicly Mr. Tuong. "We cannot, on his The Nixon Administration was his claim that he had worked own declarations, take or start publicly silent but officials here with the United States Central any action in order to go to his were privately angered today Intelligence Agency. defense.. Instead, we waited to by the conviction of Deputy Mr. Chau was convicted yes- the American Embasssy here. Chau o ncharges of consortine, terday of having held illegal "Had we heard from these with the enemy. meetings with his brother, Tran authorities, then we might The trial, which ended yea. Ngoc Hien, a North Vietnamese have adjusted or taken action terday, has already caused fear intelligence officer. Mr..thau accordingly. But so long as we tion between the United States said that he had passed on in had not heard anything from and the Government of Presi- fordation from these meetings the American authorities pr the dent Thieu. Administration Atherican Embassy here, we sources said that the Adminis- Continued on Page 10,Colunin 7 could not start any action to tration did not favor political go to his defense." prosecution and that this view 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 a ruling, questions the legality sent to jail for being a North of the resolution by the Nation- Vietnamese intelligence agent. al Assexly that removed Mr. Mr. Chau did not deny the Chau's legislative immunity. meetings but said he furnished Mr. Chau's lawyers content intelligence information ob- that the resolution was fradu tained from them to the United lently adopted that at least one States. signature on it was forged, and Reports from Saigon today that two deputies did not know said the Vietnamese govern- whet they were signing. ment might have escaned Maj. Nguyen Dinh Tri, the prosecution if the C.I.A. had military prosecutor in Mr. publicly confirmed that he had Chau's trial, told the newsmen given them information. The that no appeal was possible agency, following its custom, from the verdict of the court, had no comment here. .