THE ROAD AHEAD: HOW VIETNAMESE LEADERS SEE IT

To take a measure of how South Vietnamese politicians and leaders feel about what comes next in their troubled nation and what the U.S. should be doing now, TIME correspondents interviewed a number of important Vietnamese. Among their comments:

Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky: "It's possible that the majority of the people of South Viet Nam don't really like or support our government. But if they had to make a choice between us and the Communists, there is no doubt who would win. Our program must be: 1) reorganize the armed forces, 2) get more people into united-front organizations, and 3) get popular support."

Ha Thuc Ky, leader of the Dai Viet Party and former presidential candidate: "The U.S. should be more interested in forming a strong government to fight the second phase of the Communist campaign instead of trying to organize a new political front. Only a strong government can regain the confidence of the people and continue the fight against the Communists."

Trinh Quoc Khanh, leader of the Hoa Hao sect and President Thieu's first choice as his running mate last year: "I have met many Americans who say that they have no right to get involved in our internal affairs. But in fact they are involved. And if they are sincere, they must get even more deeply involved and help South Viet Nam remedy past political mistakes. The Americans cannot let government leaders damage their anti-Communist goals. They must look at Viet Nam much like a business. If you invest money in a firm, you have some say about who should manage it and how he runs it."

Senator Ton That Dinh, onetime army officer who helped overthrow Diem: "There is a real need to reform the government. But at the same time something must be done to motivate the people to fight the Communists. We, like the Communists, are fighting a people's war "

Nguyen Ba Luong, pro-government speaker of the House of Representatives: "The government has proved that it has the right attitude. It must be given time to put its plans into action. Many political parties have called for reforms because they want to harm the government. The Americans should stay calm, not become too involved in South Vietnamese internal affairs and play an advisory role only."

Senator Tran Van Don, former lieutenant general, heads the newly formed Front for the Salvation of the Nation: "The war has two aspects, the military and the political. But we have been worrying only about the military side. If I were President Johnson, I would make a very big effort to get greater political unity and stress placed on political matters."

Nguyen Ngoc Huy, an official of the Tan Dai Viet Party: "The Vietnamese people are frightened. Viet Nam needs a real leader, a real patriot. But so far, the Americans have not been able to find such a person. This is because they make a basic mistake--they make contact only with people they feel are leaders, not the people the Vietnamese think are leaders. The trouble with the present government is that its leaders are military men. They lack political ability."

Ho Huu Tuong, Buddhist philosopher and vice dean of the Buddhist University of Saigon: "What the South Vietnamese want most of all from the Americans is peace. What bothers many Vietnamese is that they are not sure if President Johnson really wants peace in Viet Nam. They know the American people want peace, but they are not too sure about the Administration."

Buddhist Leader Thich Tam Chau, a government supporter: "The U.S. should emphasize helping the Vietnamese people in social fields, help them build a better life and a better economic base, and at the same time push forward for peace--but not a peace negotiated under Communist pressure."

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