146. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State 1
1101. CINCPAC for POLAD. Following is text of joint situation report from Hue as of 2400 June 3 referred to in Embtel 1096:2
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Since noon June 3 Hue security forces have utilized tear gas and/or other irritant chemicals to disperse Buddhist demonstrators on six occasions.
After 1300 incident which reported previously,3 demonstrators departed area near Delegate’s residence. At 1400 group again attempted approach Tu Dam Pagoda area and were repelled by ARVN using tear gas. At approximately 1500, groups of bicycle riding students [Page 347] were observed circuiting areas of approach to Tu Dam Pagoda. The majority of students were high school and college age group. Subjects circled area occasionally grouping at routes providing access to pagoda. Several times gas was utilized to control groups of mobs. Sound trucks were also ordered into action requesting demonstrating Buddhists return home attesting current situation Viet Cong motivated. These pleas were met with jeers from participants. No injuries were reported from dispersal actions up to this point.
It is suspected Buddhists were further motivated by circulation rumor announcing death chief bonze Tri Quang. Local sources claim bonze now serious physical condition but not dead.
Worst conflict occurred 1830 when security forces attempted disperse crowd estimated at 1500. Soldiers were observed dispersing crowd colored glass vial contained liquid over demonstrators (as received). Observers indicated troops pouring liquid on heads of praying Buddhists. Rumors of deaths resulting from this encounter range to three. However no deaths confirmed to date but 67 casualties actually observed Hue hospital in various states of distress. Reliable source denies any fatalities.
MAAG reports June 1 demonstration approximately 2000 in Quang Tri City dispersed peacefully at Province Chief’s office. However, June 2 demonstration Quang Tri of several hundred at pagoda broken up with tear gas. All roads into city barricaded as of June 3.
Events of June 3 in Hue have resulted in highly charged atmosphere and volatile situation needing only small spark such as failing Tri Quang health or incident involving demonstrator and soldier to set off serious clash.
June 4. As projected Contel 183,4 youths now in vanguard of demonstrations, with two hundred now fasting Tu Dam. Population furious at regime and ARVN, hurling vulgarities at latter all day June 3 but particularly incensed following day’s final incident which caused casualties. Buddhists have made clear change of 3 officials still leaves original 5 demands unanswered. Source close to Ngo Dinh Can indicates VN has set course on no compromise and prepared for military showdown. Conflict involving violence appears almost inevitable June 4 unless one side or other capitulates.
No evidence yet of any anti-American tenor these demonstrations, but given enough mob violence we are watching this aspect closely.
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- Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Secret; Operational Immediate. Repeated to CINCPAC.↩
- Telegram 1096 from Saigon, June 4, 1 a.m., conveyed to the Department a message received from Consul Helble concerning the situation in Hue at 11 p.m. on June 3. Helble reported that the South Vietnamese Army had established martial law in Hue, and added that government officials continued to maintain that the Buddhist demonstrations were Communist-inspired. The Chief of Police for Central Vietnam told an American observer that the three leading bonzes in Hue were Viet Cong “without doubt”. The Embassy noted that it was Helble’s understanding that the local authorities had decided against further compromise with the Buddhists or the withdrawal of troops. (Ibid.)↩
- Helble’s first report to the Department of State on the use of gas to disperse Buddhist demonstrators was sent in telegram 107 from Hue, June 3, 2 p.m., which noted that 67 youths had been hospitalized as a result of the use of tear gas, and that possibly 1 to 3 deaths had occurred as a result of the gas. (Ibid.)↩
- Not found.↩