(UNTITLED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01720R000400090035-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 18, 2004
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: October 30, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS STAFF
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To: The Director
FROM: GACarver, Jr.
SUBJECT:
Attached are (A) a packet given to Henry
Saturday afternoon (28 October) and (B) copies
of what I left in the Situat'~n Room last night
(29 October) to be given Al Haig first thing
Geor A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
Approved For Release 2004/06/14: CIA-RDP80RO172
 Approve dI9; 26M* 8dI IkDP80R01720R00 035-7
DATE: 28 Oct 72
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
GACarver, Jr.
Attached are two notes prepared for
me by FBIS at my request. You may find
them of interest.
1351
George A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
Attachments
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 'Approved For Relea&e 2004/06/14: CIA-RDP80RO172OR00UP0090035-7
MEMORANDUM FOR: George A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
SUBJECT The Question of Terminology for "Administration"
1. There are several terms in the Vietnamese language which,
depending on the user or the context, maybe translated as "government,"
"administration," or "administrative." Chinh phu is the most widely used
term for "government. " It is used by Saigon and Hanoi alike. The second
term, chinh quyen, usually is used to refer to "administration, " but often
as a substitute term for "government." The third term is ha:Eh chanh (chinh).
This term has, and is used for, the connotation of the administrative machinery
or body;:' it frequently is used in the adjectival form.
2. Throughout Hanoi's statement only two terms are used, chinh phu
and chinh quyen. ' Chinh Phu is used in sections dealing with reference to
the sides involved, i.e. , the U.S., the DRV, the PRGRSV, and the GVN
governments. In the point on settirig up an "administrative structure,"
Hanoi used co cau chinh quyen, literally "administrative or government
structure." While it is not wrong, linguistically, to use chinh quyen, the
term defies preci4e definition. One needs further details to determine this.
3. Hanoi commonly uses the term chinh quyen, or a variation on this
term, nguy quyen, on the other hand, to refer to the Saigon government.
The terms mean "administration" or "puppet administration" respectively in
this context; this is borne out in Hanoi's own English language broadcasts
for which corresponding Vietnamese texts are made available.
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4. While Hanoi did not use the word harsh chink (or chanh) anywhere
in this statement, the term is both in their lexicon. and in current usage in
North Vietnam. The head of the governmental structure at all levels below
the central level is entitled "The Chairman of the Administrative Committee
of (municipality, province, district, etc.), It the Vietnamese term being Chu
tich uy ban harsh chinh . . . .
5. On the basis of the fragmentary information available to us, we
cannot be sure how much weight ought to be put on Hanoi's selection of terms.
Their use of "chinh quyen" as their Vietnamese label for the tripartite
"administrative structure". however, could be a deliberate selection to give
it (in Vietnamese) somewhat more status or weight than the English term
"administrative structure" would normally convey. (The better literal
Vietnamese translation for the latter would be "hanh chinh. ") The terminology
Hanoi employs ("chinh quyen") will probably lift the eyebrows of Saigon's
lawyers, especially if the latter are in a skeptical or suspicious mood. In
this instance, Saigon's suspicions or skepticism would have a considerable
degree of linguistic foundation. "Chinh Phu" is the standard Vietnamese
term for "government." "Hanh chinh" is a sterile, neutral term with few
overtones or connotations other than "machinery" (in a subordinate bureau-
cratic sense). "Quyen" by itself means "authority." Hence the term "chinh
quyen" does incorporate the concept of "authority" and conveys or suggests
a body with considerably more clout than a simple "hanh chinh. "
STAT
Asia/Africa Division
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STATINTL