Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 . - CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY v;e ')..1L.Intelligence Information Cable t)- � Rou-rit,E IN 721+77 PAGE 1 OF .11 PAGES STATE/INR - D1,,,,N4M-CCP;i9 )SECOEF ,.,JCS ARMY NAVY AIR) CIA/NMCC OER FDIS OCS NIC NSA 500 ONE IRS AID USIA r( CRS DDI EXO ' Ti histartal (cor.� 1...fo=stfoa affectiag the National Defense of the Milted States within the meaning of the Esptoa�age Lew*, Title 12, T.T..S_C. Secs. 793 cad 794. ty0 or revelation of whLoh La say rosaaer to ea =Authorized person is prohibited by law THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT. NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. SE0,5kci- COUNTRY DOI SUBJECT ACO SOURCE - �SOUTH � 181816Z CITE DIST 18 t�RCct 1968 PRESIDENT .THIEL.P...-,CONCERN ..OVER .A POSSIBLE COUP, CONDITIONS IN ,THE DELTA, AND SUPPOSED AMERICAN USE OF THE NATIONAL SALVATION FRONT *-T 0.EFFECT. A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH THE VIET CONG I - - 3 -,f-{ ( VIETNAM, .SAIGON (18 MARCH 19 CS S) FIELD NO. 111111111111111 1 ,{F 'ED 7.JR'.VLIEAS, AUG 0 -7 197 Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 �1 � � � Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 FORM 3007 USE PREVIOUS I � 69 EDITIONS S-E- -T fetc?rrgcct' � ) (disntrt cantrott) 72477 PAGE 2 OF 11PAGES 3.4(bWl'i � SUMMAR Y: LIEUTENANT GENERAL KHANG III CORPS COWANDER SA ID THAT ON 14 MARCH 1965 PRESIDENT. NGUYEN VANrfT O ,EXPRE SSE D_"-C Oil CF.R N � S Tr:W.1-n U K HA NG - REASSURED THIEU THAT IN SPITE OF THE RUMORS, HE IS NOT 0 � I N VOL V E.-D IN PLANING A COUP. T H -VE :T HAT 0.NAT ION ALVA,T. ION; ,FRONT---( NSF) -WAS -0P.GAN IZ ED...B AMERICANS_ TO GE N.ERAT.E._.:S_U??0P.T FOR :A -C OAI.:IT_IONi-G OVER , - '� I � I:: IL 1: N F. -6-1E NATIONAL THELL IBERATION 0 S 0 UT VIE T T C 0 N CER NE D....W IT _X 1JAT N i- iv EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE NEWLY APPOINTED IV CORPS COMMANDER, MAJOR GENERAL NGUYE.N D UC C) -T HA NG , 3 UT SA ID THAT N HATS-- :0 SICIETTROOP3.ThIEU A SKED.A I E--:WER E.. A N_Y__E V ip EN.CE J.}-fE_US -HAD -A S-SIST-Eb T HE VC 'D UR r NG THE -.-TETHATT.ACKS -71erriELKHP....N.;,. ASSURED POIRTE-6-00-- - T T_ THE U.S. MISSION -IS--Ncif -MONO-LOTHICT.LIN ITS VIEWS. KHAN.G. DIESNOT EXPECT_AN.:ATT ACK ON SAIGON IN T.HE NEAR: � It FUT UR E . HE TOLD _I HIE.0 HE QUEST IONS.-T HE WISD OM OF MAKING THE CONTEMPLATED -CHANGES IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE _ IN THE PROVINCES AT THIS T END SUMMARY. ofS-E- p-E-T � Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 1.*) 3.4(b)(1) � (c:a331.teation) jApproved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 ' C (dissem controW IN .72477 PAGE OF �/ /PAGES 1.5(c) 3.4(b)(1) 1. DURING A LENGTHY PRIVATE CONVERSATION CN 14 MARCH 1963, PRESIDENT NGUYEN VAN T HIEU EXPRESSED � CONCERN TO LIEUTENANT GENERAL LE NGUYEN KHANG, III CORPS COMMANDER THAT SOME MEMBERS OF THE MIL-ITARY MIGHT TRY TO OVERTHROW T HIEU'S GOVERNMENT. KHANG TOLD T HIE U HE KNOWS THERE ARE MANY RUMORS THAT HE AND BRIGADIER GENERAL NGUYEN NGOC LOAN, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL POLICE, ARE BANNING A COUP, BUT THE RUMORS ARE NOT TRUE. KHANG DOES NOT KNOW HOW THESE RUMORS GOT STARTED BUT HE SUSPECTS SOME VO COMPLICITY. IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT SUCH RUMORS, KHANG SA ID HE HAS BEEN AVOIDING POLITICIANS BECAUSE MANY OF THEM ARE PRONE TO TWIST SOME REMARK HE MIGHT MAKE ABOUT HIS D1SSATISFACTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT INTO ALLEGATIONS OF COUP PLOTTING. RECENTLY KHANG TWICE REFUSED TO MEET WITH SENATOR DON. KHANG SAID THE PRESIDENT SHOULD NOT INTERPRET HIS OR LOAN' S REMARKS ABOUT THE NEED FOR STRONGER AND MO K.: DYNAMIC GOVERNMENT AS MEANING THEY ARE PLANNING A COUP. PRESIDENT JOHNSON IS ALSO SUBJECT TO STRONG CRITICISM BY THOSE IN THE UNITED STATES WHO DISAGREE WITH HIS POLICIES. KHANG SAID THAT HE CALLS THE PRESENT PHASE S-E '-E--T Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 1.*) 3.4(b)(1) S�E ,Ica:fo-.^.. �T (V-Tien confrol.$) Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 .... --�_ PAGE Li OF PAGES 3 4('-,)-(1) OF ENY STRATEGY "1-1,E WAR 07 TENSION'. a ONE IJI,PORT AN r FACET OF TIS E-.:TRATEG1 IS TO Sr_,"45 D Ot.i7,7. AND D An V' T VIET N A :;1::.SE AND ANER ICAN LOADERS AND PGP LE Ki-.ANG TOLD THJEU TO IGNORE THT.TS': RUMORS AMD DEVOTE HIS ENERGIES TO CO1IG TO Gi IPS 1 N i R Al . PR 0 E;L. E Ft? S OF T.,E TOY:. IF T KIEU HAS ANY SUSPICION ABOUT KHANG S CG?LiCTY IN Pi_OTT.ING A COUP, 'HE NEED ONLY SAY SO AND KHANS WILL PUT :-..IS S TGNED RE S. TG JAT ION ON THIEU' S DESK. TH:EU7_XPR:SSED CONFTDENCF I XHANG, K;-ip.rG SAID THAT SU3ZEZUENTL SE.T HIS 'J-LI-"E T.0 VISIT :1;RS. THEU AS ANOTHER OF REAURANri;E 2 T ; HJ CAUSE CO7JCER:;: hE 1=WS VIANY OANE ARE NCtT SAT ISFIED THAT PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S OUNT ING 9 AND I HAT i\'lls,!Y VIETNAMESE ARE CALL.I1',10. FOR g CHrN3 IN C2..10VERN7,�IENT KI-IAN'S S;s.Iff IT IS HIS 1 HES2O THAT T;-:* IJS., GOtJET IE VERY Nr,:CH OPPOSED TO A CTOUP. TH U SA:1) Q7 r.n., THAT 7i-1RP A clE� f-VD 0 P. 3L.N BUT UN � FORT UW,TEL! !'ERE ARE '70URTEE:2; PE'D.:;LE WHO SPEA. FCR THE --11111111111.11111111� Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 1.5.c 3.4(b)(1) � ec:cs3{,Icc:ion) Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 ecntrols) PAGE 5 OF i PAGES - 1. 3.4(b)(11. . U.S. GOVERN .riEN";." IN VIETNAM." KHAr.4.2 SAID HE TOLD THIEU THAT HE SEES MANY PARALLELS BETWEEN 1963 AND 1954 IN VIET- NAM. DUR ING 1954- THE FRENCH WERE WINNING MILITA.-;ILY BUT HE: 73 E-FE AT IS? PSYO HOLOGY 0:7 I liE FRE NCP, PE.OFL E. MAL'. E IT ..1.11=-'3 ES IBLE FOR THS FRENCH TO DEFEAT THE COMMUNISTS. TODAY. KHANG FELS THE - U.S. .FORCES ARE WINNING M_ 71:IT ARIL Y BUT HE VO ICES OF DEFEAT IS GET LOUDER EACH DAY. HE THOUGHT IT IMPORTANT THAT THIEU NOT PE.-VICT IMIZED qy RUNORS, :NY OF WHICH ARE SPREAD BY THE COMMUNIST S .AND DESIGNED TO SOW SUSPICION AND D IVISIVENESS. KHANG SA ID HE TOOK A PART ICULARLY STRONG POSITION ON THIS SUBJECT NOT ONLY BECAUSE HE. FERVENTLY BELIEVES WHAT HE SAID BUT BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIEU WAS PREOCCUPIED BY MANY DOUBTS. . T H IEU FEELS THE Al'(IER 'CANS USED NC.:UYEN XUAN OA NH AND DANG. DUO. KHO.I TO ORGANIZE THE NSF WITH THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE OF CINE-RAT ING POPULAR SUPPORT FOR A COAL IT ION VERN .NT WHICH:-WiLL INCL UDE THE NATIONAL FRONT FOR THE LIBER',T ION OF SOUTH VIETNAM (NFLSV). ..FOR THIS REASON, THE AmERINS SELECTED SENATOR T RAN VAN DON, MAI HUU XUAN , it ND OT HER FORMER GENER AL S OF PRO-FRENCH., NEUTRAL IST S-E- -E-T Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 1.5-(0 - �_ 3.4(b)(1) � Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO0118651 . IN � 727T: ' PAGE 6 OF 11PAGES fez...-!rf.�tectfors)(djrein cvntro!s) 1.4(b\M POST URF. TO LEAD THE NSF. THIEU SAID HE IS FOLLOWING THE TACT IC OF PAYING LIP SERVICE TO DON'S REQUESTS FOR SUPPORT FOR THE NSF WHILE TRYING TO COUNTERBALANCE IT WITH Pa- IICAL EFFORTS OF HIS OWN GENERATED BY NGUYEN VAN HUONG, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PRESIDENCY, AND TRAN VP.N AN. THIEU SAID FORTUNATELY THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE NSF DOES NOT HAVE THE UNQUALIFIED SUPPORT OF VICE PRESIDENT NGUYEN CAD KY' S FOLLOWERS AND CITED LOAN AS AN EXAMPLE. 1111.111 COMwtENT: 11111111KHO I HAS COMPLAINED THAT LOAN HAS BEEN ''i...CKING THE NSF THROUGH THE NEWSPAPER CONG CHUNE...)- THIZ.0 ASKED FOR KHANG' S VIEW OF THE NSF. KHANG SAID HE COUI NOT GUESS THE NSF' S TRUE MOT IVES BUT HE SHARED HIEU' F. SUSPICIONS OF MAI HUU XUAN. - 5. IN DISon-SIN.G� THE IV -CORPS AREA, THIEL; SAID HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE VIET KONG (VC) WILL SE ABLE TO CONSOLIDATE - THEIR PRESENT CONTROL OF THE COUNTRYSIDE. THIEU SAID THAT _Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 CO0118651 1.50 3.4(b)01 1-50) 3.4(b)(1) 1 3.4(b)(1). � FORM S.68 � 3907 USE PREVIOUL EalTIONS Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 (; C_ - IN :72-477 (diszern con:ro:s) PAGE 7 OF PAGES 1.*) 3.4(b)(1). HE HAS. BEEN. SOMEWHAT SKEK .T.CAL OF PACUICAT :! 2ES..iLIS CLAIMED IN THE DELTA BECAUSE HE FEELS THAT THE F.:FFORT HAS E.:EEN SUPERFICIAL HE SA` ID IT ISUNQUEST ICNABL TR UE THAI THE SITUATION IN THE C,OUNTR','SIDE IN 1T1/4. HAS WOR SE ..;E'D .MAPiCEDLY SINCE THE ENEMY'S TET OFFEASI�Pi' THTELi EXPR'D CONCERN OVER THE NUMBER OF OUTPOSTS '.�;HICH 1-AV.-" BEEN OVERRUN, AND SA ID THE VC ARE EVEN ACTIVE POLITICALLY IN SOME AREAS AND APPARENTLY ARE RECEIVING OOME POPULAR SUPPORT . HE ASKED IF KHANG HAD ANY COC."ENTS OR SUGGEST IONS ON THE IV cops SITUATION, KHANG SALE) THAT MAiOR GENERAL NGUYEN DUO TH:%M.3, NE1.1L Y APPOINTED TV CORS � COM1'�IANDER; HAS A VERY D ASSIGNMENT AND HE-XHANC) IS NOT CERTAIN THAT THAN HAS SUFFICIENT TROOPS TO DO THE j05. KHANG 'FEELS THAT CO LD BE TAKE; TO LE EN I HAN' S SE CUR IT Y PR OBL BE A Wz�-. L---PLANNED� CONSOL ID AT ION OF' HAMLETS.. SUC.H CONSCI. ID AT IN VOULD INCREASE �THE EFFECT IVENESS OF STAT IC � DEFENSE AND PCSSIBL Y RELEASE FORCES FOR THE ALL-IMPORTANT � � STR T S ON ENEMY BASES. EQUALLY.IMPORT ANT , IT WOULD � FAO IL ITATE THE CREAT ION OF' INTERNAL CONTROL MECHANISMS:. S immimmimmkpproved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 1.5-(c) 3.4(b)(1) . � : � � * -PORM "007 USE PREVIOUS I - 08 EDITIONS ' :1;23 rele-33-:?!cc017.1 /Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00118651 �-�; ;-, PAGE 8 OF PAGES _ � 3.4(0(1) � (df..Tse-rn et:mires) .. � - �� IN. HE HAMLETS. AT PRESENT, }

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PRESIDENT THIEU'S CONERN OVER A POSSIBLE COUP, CONDITIONS IN THE DELTA, AND SUPPOSED AMERICAN USE OF THE NATIONAL SALVATION FRONT TO EFFECT A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITH THE VIET CONG