December 20, 1968

$500,000-ransom attempt fails when police accidentally encounter 2 men who picked up money and send them fleeing, leaving behind suitcase with money; father asks FBI to spread word he was not involved with interruption of ransom pickup; says he wants to 'do business' with kidnappers to insure safety of daughter; station wagon with Mass license from which men fled traced to Norton, Mass; 3 persons sought by FBI; illus

Vance warns Ha Van Lau that attack on Saigon by Communist ground forces may have serious consequences; hints at possible indefinite delay in meaningful talks and resumption of bombing of N Vietnam; US official says enemy offensive will be met with adequate mil response; insists Vance makes no specific threats; N Vietnamese statement says threats were made; quotes Ha Van Lau as affirming determination of Vietnamese people to fight for independence and liberty; US spokesman says Vance adds no new elements to US position; US warnings prompted by intelligence repts that enemy troops prepare to attack city; Vance, Ha Van Lau and their aides discuss arrangements for formal beginning of talks; no new proposals put forward; 2 sides postpone further debate to future meeting without setting date; Vance to go to US for consultations in Washington; Harriman to stay in Paris over Xmas; NLF spokesman, in news conf, calls for 'peace cabinet' in Saigon that would oppose 'Amer aggression' and start conversations with NLF on S Vietnam's future; says Dang Van Thu will soon join NLF delegation; State Dept spokesman indicates US hopes to head off enemy offensive with warning

US officials disclose US plans to send reprs to meet with members of Vietcong in S Vietnam to make arrangements for release of 3 captured Amer servicemen; NLF radio announces that it will soon free 3 Amers; gives no details on time of release, but demands unarmed Amer mil delegation meet on Dec 25 with Vietcong reprs in Tayninh Prov to make arrangements; Amer officials insist that meeting should not be construed as recognition of NLF; concede NLF and N Vietnamese Govt may claim contrary; diplomatic observers say timing and manner of Vietcong gesture seems intended to bolster NLF's pol status in Paris talks; US officials rept that more than 300 Amers are missing in Vietnam; at least 50 are believed to be prisoners of Vietcong, including more than 20 civilians; Vietcong broadcast specifies cease-fire should be in effect at time of meeting; NLF reprs in Paris list 3 prisoners to be released as T N Jones, D L Smith and J W Brigham; US officials in Saigon react guardedly to Vietcong move; Premier Tran Van Huong says move is Communist trick to lure US into recognition of NLF; Vietcong announcement said to be ambiguous but leaving open possibility that other allied captives may be released

Fleet owners plan to install new meters in 6,800 cabs to curb cheating by some drivers who operate without meters on, pocketing fixed fare which passenger has agreed to pay; expect $2.5-million savings a yr if each cab brings $1 more a day; new meter turns on automatically 20 seconds after passenger sits down; 200 installed so far

Johnson plan for small surplus in fiscal '70 budget seen requiring extension in full of surcharge