THERE is a widespread belief in Rome that the best-kept Vatican
secrets are those that leak out only a day before they should.
Generally, it is said, they are known a week in advance.
Whatever the truth in this, one major activity has been
conducted in secrecy f o r several months. This has been Pope
Paul's effort to bring about a negotiated peace in Vietnam. It
is now known that the Pope has been working to this end since
April last. At that time, instructions were sent out to Papal
representatives throughout the world — and particularly in key
centres like Washington and London — to make clear that the Pope
was willing to use his good offices in any way that might be
effective. Even before April, he had made his intentions known.
In a letter to the Vietnamese Bishops on February 14 he had
written: "We are making efforts to have personalities
representing various governments approached confidentially, to
ask them insistently to contribute towards an honourable and
pacific solution to the various internationa