168. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State1
1161. Embassy telegram 1157.2 Saw Thuan at 1130 for review of Buddhist situation and found he had two concerns: Behavior of Buddhist leaders from Hue once they reach Saigon and lack of firm negotiating instructions on GVN side.
Buddhist leaders are due to arrive at 1:15 pm. They include Tri Quang as well as those mentioned reftel.3 Tri Quang has been real spark plug of activities in Hue and is reputed to have considerable flair as a demagogue. Thuan indicated GVN was worried that Hue delegation would not proceed promptly to conference table but devote themselves first to some agitation in Saigon. GVN concern was heightened when they received word that group wants to walk into Saigon from airport.
Re negotiating instructions, Thuan continues to believe that commission will get what it needs from President in way of concessions but he admitted that certain unspecified essential points had not as yet been firmly pinned down.
I told Thuan that I thought it essential in terms of US support that GVN be prepared to make meaningful and substantial concessions to the Buddhist demands. It was my assessment that GVN had consistently underestimated force and determination of Buddhists. After first talks with Buddhists last week, situation had quickly calmed down in Hue, whereupon GVN had decided that danger had passed and they [Page 384] could get away with reaffirmation of minor concessions already granted and prevent further outburst by security measures. This was situation as of June 10. Following regrettable incident on morning June 11, GVN had again begun to think of concessions. (Thuan did.not disagree with any of this.) Now situation again appeared relatively calm in Saigon. I hoped that GVN would not again conclude that it can get out of this affair on the cheap. I did not think the Buddhists would stand for this, and if they did not—and possibly even if they did-the US wouldn’t, in my opinion. I told him that Department was withholding statement (Deptel 1202)4 but that one could be made very quickly if developments warrant.
I told Thuan that I wanted to be very sure that President Diem understood seriousness with which US regarded this matter and asked whether it would not be a good idea for me to see him before decisions taken on negotiating instructions. Thuan at first said he thought it would be best to let him handle it and call for help if he bogged down. On reflection, however, he suggested that I put in request through regular channels to see the President this afternoon or tomorrow morning. This I have done. He recommended that I “talk as tough” to President as I have to him.
No time has been set for commencement negotiations. GVN would like to start this afternoon or at latest tomorrow, in view of their concerns about what Hue leaders are up to. However, latter will need some time to get together with southern representatives (still not named) and I am inclined to doubt that talks will start before tomorrow.
Since dictating above, have received word Hue delegation arrived as scheduled, proceeded from airport to Saigon by car and is now installed at Xa Loi Pagoda.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET Confidential; Operational Immediate; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC.↩
- See footnote 5, Document 165.↩
- In telegram 1157, Trueheart reported that the Buddhist negotiators from Hue “will include Khiet, Minh and Mat Nguyen.”↩
- Dated June 11. (Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET)↩