VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR'S VIEW THAT THE UNITED STATES MUST DEMAND POLICIES CONDUCIVE TO UNITING GVN LEADERSHIP FROM PRESIDENT THIEU

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Keywords: DEMAND
• Keywords: GVN
• Keywords: POLICIES
• Keywords: SOUTH VIETNAM
• Keywords: THIEU
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00210148
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: March 5, 1968

Approved for Release: 2019/04/17 C00210148
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Intelligence Information Special Report
P
COUNTRY South Vietnam
DATE OF
- INFO.
�Men ry :
Case # NIT j
)OCUZflrit
SUBJECT
EO
13526
-3.3(h)(2)
1.5(e)
3.4(b)(1)
DATE 5 March 1968
1.*)
N �
VIETNAMESE AMBASSADOR'S VIEW THAT THE UNITED STATES
MUST DEMAND POLICIES CONDUCIVE TO UNITING GVN LEADERSHIP
FROM PRESIDENT THIEU
-SOURCE 1.5(c)
3.4(b)(1)
1. a discussion about the lack of
cooperation within and among the newly-organized anti-
communist fronts gave rise to the following remarks by thg_
Vietnamese. Ambassador to the .United States Bui
that �tha fault-7.1.ie
Ft hat -Vic-es. -:Pr es i d e . PA.�. X.ytwishes7::trol:_workvith
"407.; es e h -__TT yhas. pa des--...g.tf p.r.t.s.::.-tzezsee�Th1ell,7fh-ut?
Ky-off and -;never-e).cpr psses-....appr e;p:i_at ion z;
Ky-for.-Ky'-s- efforts -Thieu -apparently--continues-to-be-suspicfous
:: u:Ls.: At.o.uz a g xacLex trAlataitinzair
cpiita.tingaistXy::1-7-ir
2. According to Bui Diem a number of Ky's supporters,
particularly those in the military, have in the past urged Ky
to seize initiatives and assert authority, but Ky has always
refused to do this. Bui Diem warned that the day might come
when these military officers could not be put off by Ky, but
would move ahead on their own and "wipe out Thieu." They
would not eliminate Ky, Diem remarked, because they understand
his position. Diem speculated that some Major might be
running things some day. He explained that he has no particular
Major in mind but just wanted to make the point that an element
RET
--APPROVEDFOR
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1.5(e)
3.4(b)(1)
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ill111111111111111111
1.50)
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of younger army officers exists which will not be content to
see the country slipping down the drain because of inefficiency
at the top.
3 .
A. T.kw:::.thaitgd.7:State..s......su.ppor..t.s,T1.21...us..,;and:K5t3a-s
B. 3Theze....-:arezzaanyz-76fideildegzithat-7-Thieta?.1...d-,KY,a;.e�.4,2t -
Q ooper
C. hiea.,must,-;;put,asii.s-f-si.4sPj.-.4ons.-...of71-Ky.--77,-He.=m,
� 41:nu st.:5,a
--bo'th-may-,-worls.,..A.armonipusly72zneffectivel-y--:talwards::_tte.i=
-� .
-" D. TI:kiew.-.mtra-t-:...,putza�n7-7e1i.d:.:t.a...--the'.7:di-ixisiverat�td..._tp.d@s.-
.
.and.
ptft aside their petty .rLvalrles :cooperlte7:effedtivelyi-vrith
_ .
-o.thg:_r ,elepents .
The government's- successes.and.failures will be his successes
and failures. TliezIgavet:iinfent:sAnT,succep,d,:pn,lz:-7if--A;-.4i.siturtited
im-:purpose �
4. Bui Diem said that alri-pu.r_vrouldzintit'-':r."eten.-&-ii-1611:'-3:g-t-FOng
language and Thieu would not show
mddh reaction at all initially, but would think it over that
night in bed. Diem explained that this is the difference .
between Ky and Thieu.
would
lectitr
S E r-E T
� 3.4(b)(1)
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5. Bui Diem reiterated that tii-e7;:b�ss.entialz,fix�st_point
to . be -.Ina ed.t.-States:;':suplior.ts.1.1.M7
_ � �� �
With this reassurance
. ,
anethe-knowledge that his success or failure depends entirely
on American support, Thieu would accept the admonition.
6. Bui Diem said it was difficult to talk in this manner
to an American because he was "100% Vietnamese" and had the
pride of the Vietnamese. He had not made this recommendation,
he said, to anyone else and under normal conditions would not
want any American interference in Vietnamese politics.
Conditions were not normal because of the war and because of
American presence. If the Americans were not in Vietnam, a
situation such as now exists between Thieu and Ky could not
exist - at least not for long. �He,--a44,6d�Plat...eLtrfi
1?e.
,h-ave..,be been presidential and par lia.mentarlectionsnrNia-r7tiMe
You see ",-het"''-cf. conclude-you.71ave:. ower.-=d.:ygn.t:lidVe
xesponsibilittes-.-"---
But Diem emphasized
that he believed that his foregoing views must reach policy ..
levels in the United-States Government
1.544
3.4(b)(1)
7. FIELD DISSEM: STATE (AMBASSADOR BUNKER ONLY).
S EE T
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3.4(7)(1)
1.5(e)
3.4(b)(1)