REACTIONS OF THE SAIGON POPULATION TO THE VIET CONG TET OFFENSIVE

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Tet Declassified
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06786682
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: April 27, 2019
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2019
• Publication Date: February 28, 1968

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Intelligence Information Cable
� ROUTINE
IN 60128
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STATE/INR DIA NMCC/MC �SECDEF JCS ARMY NAVY AIR) CIAMPACC NIC NSA SDO ONE CRS
OER FBIS DCS IRS AID USIA
0011, EY'
This material contains information affecting th National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C.
Secs. 793 and 794. the tmnaminaon or revelation of which In any manner to an unauthorized person Is prohibited by law.
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THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT. NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE.
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COUNTRY SOUTH -VILTNAM-.
CITE
DIST 28 FEBRUARY. 1968
COI 822 FEBRUARY 1968
SUBJECT REACTIONS OF THE SAIGON POPULATION TO
ACO
SOURCE
THE VIET CONG TET OFFENSIVE
SUMMARY: SINCE THE VIET CONG TEl CFFENSIVE, THE
MORALE OF THE ARMY OFFICER CORPS IN SAIGON HAS REMAINED
HIGH, ALTHOUGH CRITICISM OF ITS HIGHER COMMAND ECHELONS
CONTINUES TO EXIST. MORALE OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION
IS LOW, RANGING FROM GLOOM OVER LOST BUSINESS TO DEEP
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FEAg:-IN'd2NERAL:;-THE PEOPLE GAVE ASSISTANCE TO THE
VIET CONG ONLY UNDER DURESS. END SUMMARY.
1. FIGHTING MORALE AMONG OFFICERS OF THE ARMY OF
VIETNAM (ARVN) AND THE VIETNAM AIR FORCE (VNAF) HAS RE-
MAINED CONSISTENTLY HIGH, WITH THE CONTINUING CONVICTION
THAT THE BATTLE HAS GONE HEAVILY AGAINST THE VIET CONG (VC).
HOWEVER, AN UNDERTOW OF CRITICISM, PERCEPTIBLE FROM THE OUTSET
STILL PERSISTS AGAINST THE HIGH COMMAND. CIRCUMSTANTIAL
STORIES OF NEGLECT, INCOMPETENCE:AND SOMNOLENCE AMONG THE
GENERALS CONTINUE TO CIRCULATE AMONG JUNIOR AND FIELD
RANKS,' BOTH ON STAFF DUTIES AND IN FIELD UNITS. HOWEVER,
THERE IS STILL NO DETECTABLE TALK OF-ANY PLANNING BY JUNIOR
OFFICERS TO REBEL AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT OR THE HIGH COMMAND.
2. THE DOMINANT REACTION AMONG GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM
(GVN) OFFICIALS OF RANKS FROM CLERKS TO UNDER-SECRETARIES
HAS FROM THE FIRST MOMENT OF SHOCK BEEN ONE Of FEAR.
THEY ARE DEEPLY APPREHENSIVE OF VC REPRISALS AGAINST THEM-
SELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES SHOULD A SECOND ATTACK BE MADE
ON SAIGON. STORIES OF VC EXECUTIONS IN HUE, BROADCAST
BY THE GVN WITH THE EVIDENT INTENTION OF STIFFENING PESTS-
S�E C�R�E�T NO FOREICN DIEM
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,
TANCE, HAVE HAD THE DIRECTLY CONTRARY EFFECT. OFFICIALS
r.
IN SAIGON WERE SO SHAKEN BY THE TET OFFENSIVE THAT FOR
SOME TWO WEEKS THEREAFTER MANY WERE MARKEDLY RELUCTANT
TO APPEAR AT THEIR OFFICES OR INDEED IN PUBLIC AT ALL.
� THEIR PRINCIPAL CONCERN WAS IF POSSIBLE TO DISASSOCIATE
THEMSELVES FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT. WHILE ATTENDANCE AT
C,
OFFICES IS IMPROVING, CIVIL SERVANTS REMAIN VERY FEARFUL.
3. THERE IS MUCH GLOOM AMONG THE INDUSTRIALISTS
AND ENTREPRENEURS. MANY INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ARE
AT A STANDSTILL THROUGH VC ACTION OR FROM ALLIED COUNTER-
' \..) MEASURES. AT LEAST ONE MAJOR FACTORY IN GIA DINH, OCCUPIED
BY THE ARVN, IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN LOOTED BY THE SOLDIERY.
SEVERE LIMITATIONS ON BANK DRAWINGS HAVE MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR FACTORY OWNERS TO MEET CURRENT DEMANDS OR EVEN PAY
THEIR LABORERS. THEY VIEW THE FUTURE IN PESSIMISTIC TERMS.
MERCHANTS ARE BEING PRESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CLEAR
GOODS QUICKLY FROM THE CUSTOMS UNDER THREAT OF PENALTIES.
THEY ARE FORCED TO PAY DUES IMMEDIATELY, BUT REGARD THE
PROSPECT OF SALES AS HIGHLY DUBIOUS.
4. AT THE WORKING CLASS LEVEL THERE IS WIDESPREAD
SECRET NO roRrict4 DI a"..EM
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AND DEEP FEAR OF THE VC, FELT MOST INTENSELY BY THOSE
MANY WHO HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES AND POSSESSIONS. ALTHOUGH
MANY WORKERS HINT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD TO HELP THE VC
IN AREAS OCCUPIED BY THEM, FEW BUT THOSE ALREADY ENLISTED
AS VC CADRES DID SO. THE MAJORITY HAVE CONTINUED TO BELIEVE
IN THE SUPERIOR STRENGTH OF THE GVN. HELP HAS THUS
GENERALLY BEEN GIVEN TO THE VC ONLY UNDER DURESS. VC
AGITATORS ADDRESSING MEETINGS IN OCCUPIED DISTRICTS MET
WITH LITTLE RESPONSE. HOWEVER, THE GVN, WHILE STILL FEARED,
IS HELD IN ALMOST UNIVERSAL CONTEMPT, AND THE ARVN PARTICULARLY
IS WIDELY DENOUNCED FOR ARSON AND LOOTING. MANY REFUGEES
CAMPED IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS HAVE AS YET HAD NO RELIEF FROM
THE GOVERNMENT'S EMERGENCY MEASURES AND VIEW THESE WITH
CYNICISM. TO A HIGH PROPORTION OF WORKERS, UNEMPLOYMENT
IS AN IMMEDIATE THREAT.
5. ALTHOUGH SOME ETHNIC CHINESE SEEM TO HAVE HELPED
OCCUPYING VC UNITS TO TRACK DOWN GVN OFFICIALS AND OFFICERS
FOR EXECUTION, THESE MAY WELL ALREADY HAVE BEEN VC CADRES.
THE CHINESE COMMUNITY AT LARGE SEEMS TO HAVE DONE ITS
BEST IN TRADITIONAL FASHION TO MINIMIZE INVOLVEMENT WITH
NO rOREICN DISSEM
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THE VC. PREVAILING FEAR OF THE COMMUNISTS IS PERHAPS
EVEN MORE INTENSE IN CHOLON THAN AMONG THE VIETNAMESE
IN SAIGON, BUT CO�OPERATION WAS VERY LIMITED. CHINESE
FAMILIES ASKED FOR FOOD BY THE VC SUPPLIED IT WHILE KEEPING
GRILLES OF THEIR HOUSES FIRMLY LOCKED AGAINST THEM.
6. THE PREVAILING MOOD OF THE CIVILIAN POPULATION
IN SAIGON REMAINS ONE OF APPREHENSION. THE VC IS
MUCH MORE DEEPLY FEARED THEN EVER BEFORE. BY ALL LEVELS
OF CIVILIAN SOCIETY INCLUDING HIGH OFFICIALS OF THE GVN.
THE ARVN OFFICER CORPS, WHILE RETAINING THE HIGH BATTLE
MORALE, REMAINS CRITICAL AND DUBIOUS OF ITS COMMAND
ECHELONS. THE LEGEND THAT THE AMERICANS ARE SOMEHOW IN
LEAGUE WITH THE VC HAS TAKEN ROOT FIRMLY EVEN AMONG SENIOR
POLICE OFFICERS.
REPORT CLASS S CR
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