Nixon's Promise:

WASHINGTON, AP-President Nixon promised the nation Monday night a Christmastime announcement of new U.S. troop withdrawals from South Vietnam, and said his current policy will bring the conflict to a conclusion no matter what happens at the negotiating table.

His assessment of prospects for a negotiated settlement: "Not good."

But Nixon said the administration's plan is eventually to remove all American forces from Vietnam. He said that plan is on schedule.

The President told a nationally broadcast and televised White House news conference he will have a new troop withdrawal announcement in two or three weeks, certainly by the end of December. He added the size of the pullout has not been determined.