THE SITUATION IN VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A001400010024-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 14
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2004
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: November 2, 1966
• Content Type: MEMO

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Yap Secret
DIRECTORATE OF
INTELLIGENCE
MEMORANDUM
The Situation in Vietnam
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106
Information as of
2 November 1966
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ano.i waited until the Cuban delegation led by Presi-
dent Dorticos and Defense Minister Raul Castro de-
parted for Moscow before acknowledging that they had
visited North Vietnam.
I. The Military Situation in South Vietnam:
The only significant military activity on November
was a 12-hour engagement between US soldiers of Oper-
ation THAYER II and a battalion-size Communist force
--possibly elements of the 3rd NVA/VC Division in
northeastern Binh Dinh Province (Paras. 1-2),
II. Political Developments in South Vietnam:
Premier KT-told the press on 1 November that he is
calling off a scheduled visit to the US in mid-November
(Para. 1). The ten-day amnesty period being offered
to members of the "struggle movement" in hiding in
the Hue area has been extended (Para. 2). There are
unconfirmed rumors that the government is seeking
replacements for some of the ministers who withdrew
their resignations from the cabinet last week (Paras.
3-4).
III. North Vietnamese Military Develonments:I ~ 25X1
a-possinie prison tor captured Americans
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V. Communist Political Developments: Hanoi'has
publicized the three-day visit of a Cuban delegation,
led by President Dorticos and Defense Minister Raul
Castro (Paras? 1-2)? The Liberation Front Central
Committee has issued a special appeal to its fighting
units to disrupt US plans for a major offensive during
the coming "dry season's' (Para. 3).
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NGAI
Boni so
.HOAI NHO
Area of 1-7~November engagement
VINH THANH I\ 13
AN TUC
(A, Khe)
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THE MILITARY SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM
1. Company-strength elements of a six-battalion..
US 1st Air Cavalry Division task force conducting Op-
eration THAYER II in the coastal lowlands of north-
eastern Binh Dinh Province engaged an estimated Commu-
nist battalion five miles southeast of Bong Son on
1 November. Sporadic contact continued for more than
12 hours, resulting in enemy losses of 37 killed and US
losses of seven killed and 19 wounded.
2. Since its initiation on 24 October, Operation
THAYER II, whose primary mission is to assure allied
control of Route 1 and adjacent coastal areas in north-
eastern Binh Dinh, has produced cumulative Communist
losses of 156 killed, 10 captured, and 529 suspects
apprehended. Some of these losses may have been sus-
tained by elements of the 3rd NVA/Viet Cong Division
(formerly the 610th Division) which may have deployed
to this area in an effort to elude operation IRVING,
the highly successful allied ground offensive con-
ducted from 1-24 October in the south-central coastal
portion of Binh Dinh Province.
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II. POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM
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1. Premier Ky told the press on 1 November that
he is calling off a scheduled visit to the US in mid-
November because of his heavy work schedule. Ky had
been invited to address the annual meeting of the As-
sociated Press Managing Editors Association in San
Diego and accepted on condition that his official du-
ties would allow him to attend.
Political Conditions in Hue
2. Thua Thien Province chief Khoa recently
agreed to extend for
an additional three days the ten.-day amnesty period
being offered to all members of the "struggle movement"
still in hiding in the Hue area. Khoa stated that he
had also agreed to several requests made by Thich Don
Hau, the ranking Buddhist monk in the I Corps area,
who recently returned to Hue, regarding Buddhist prop-
erty being held by the government. Hau told Khoa that
the Buddhists are now ready to join other nationalist
elements in carrying on the fight
but Khoa believes that Hau's real
to Hue probably was to improve the
dhists, and then await orders from
Saigon.
against
the
Viet Cong,
purpose
in
returning
morale
of
local Bud-
Thich
Tri
Quang in
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4. The status of Premier Ky's cabinet has re-
mained unchanged since the replacement of Economy Min-
ister Thanh on 28 October, and the basic agreement be-
tween Ky and four of the dissident ministers on 27 Oc-
tober appears to be holding. The situation, however,
still appears to be somewhat uncertain, and it is quite
possible that government leaders are at least attempting
to determine what kind of alternative to the present
cabinet lineup is available.
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HANOI
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at a military headquarters area near the main rail
line. The possible prison is a large walled-in
if American pris-
oners are being e in Hanoi, they are imprisoned
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establishment. The walls--surmounted by three strands
of electrified wire--were freshly painted white and
lighted all night. 25X1
once in early September people inside the walls were
heard speaking what seemed to be English. 25X1
I Irig t
atter the attack. on oil depots outside of Hanoi on
29 June a pilot captured in the attack was taken along
the street from this area and later brought back.
2. The location of this reported prisoner of
war area is only a short distance from the main Hanoi
prison.
held at the main prison.
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2 November 1966
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V. COMMUNIST POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
1. On 1 November, Hanoi publicized the
visit of Cuban President Dorticos and Defense
Minister Raul Castro to North Vietnam. The
delegation was apparently in North Vietnam for
three days and all publicity was withheld un-
til after the delegation left for Moscow. The
post-visit propaganda indicated that the Viet-
namese reception was extremely warm and cordial.
The party daily featured a picture of President
Ho Chi Minh hugging Dorticos, and the turnout of
the North Vietnamese leadership for the welcom-
ing ceremonies was impressive. Only three
politburo members were absent from the list
broadcast by Hanoi radio: Nguyen Chi Thanh,
who is in South Vietnam; Hoang Van Hoan, who is
attending the Albanian party congress; and party
First Secretary Le Duan.
2. The reason for Le Duan's absence is not
clear. Although he has made occasional public
appearances in Hanoi in the past several months,
he has been conspicuously absent from the pub-
lic aspects of talks with four foreign Communist
party delegations which have visited Hanoi in
recent weeks. His last known public appearances
were in Hanoi at celebrations on 30 September
in honor of Chinese National Day and at a public
rally on 19 October. It is possible that Le
Duan is occupied with important party responsi-
bilities connected either with the war in the
South or with the Sino-Soviet dispute. It is
also possible that his role in the party leader-
ship has undergone some change. His inactivity
in interparty relations for a period of several
months is most unusual for the man who holds the
number-two rank in the party politburo and is
the party first secretary.
2 November 1966
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Liberation Front Calls for Military Ste -Up
3. The Liberation Front Central Committee has
issued a special appeal to its fighting units to
disrupt US plans for a major offensive during the
coming "dry season." Hanoi radio broadcast the
appeal on 1 November calling for all "necessary
Sacrifices and hardships" to defeat the US and
demonstrate Communist determination to continue fight-
ing. The appeal stated, "We will make them understand
our iron-like determination and, if they do not un-
derstand it now, we will make them understand it in
five, ten, or 20 years." The appeal asked for stepped
up military action against US forces and was directed
to the guerrillas, and the regional and regular Lib-
eration armed forces. The appeal said that the US
must be convinced that the Vietnamese people will not
negotiate "on capitulation terms."
2 November 1966
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