THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000400010068-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2004
• Sequence Number: 68
• Publication Date: March 16, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Rjse 200 1VT4`T~V9T00826A*0400010068-7
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
16 March 1966
The Situation in South Vietnam
s o PM EST)
1. General Thi appears to have agreed to co-
operate-with Premier Ky in helping to quiet agita-
tion aroused by his dismissal as I Corps commander.
Thi's public statements made in Da Nang since his
arrival there today have all been in a helpful vein,
except for one sarcastic reference to his "sinus
trouble" causing things to "smell bad." He did
thank his followers for their loyal support, but
admonished them to look to the higher interests of
the nation and to settle down. He also stressed his
continued friendship with Ky.
2. Whether self-seeking political and Buddhist
elements will be able to influence Thi adversely dur-
ing his scheduled visit of about two days in I Corps
is not known. These elements, far from committed to
Thi, are seeking to promote his dismissal as an issue
to use against the government: to advance their own
ends. Premier Ky has admitted that permitting Thi's
return to I Corps is a calculated risk, but believes
on balance that it will be helpful.to undercut gov-
erfiment critics.
OCI No. 1122/66
25X1
3. Peaceful rallies, each attended by some
10,000 Buddhists, took place today in both Hue and
Saigon, the latter the first such demonstration in
the capital as a result of Thi's dismissal. There
is as yet no official reporting on the Saigon meet-
ing, and press accounts differ as to whether the
tone of remarks made by a ranking Buddhist monk were
in a moderate or inflammatory vein.
Approved For Release
 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP79T00826A000400010068-7
Approved For Release 2004/07/16 : CIA-RDP79T00826A000400010068-7