56. Memorandum From Wesley Fishel of Michigan State University to the Special Representative in Vietnam (Collins)1
SUBJECT
- Government en Famille
The President and I discussed at length the positions of his brothers with respect to the Government.
The President characterized M. Ngo Dinh Nhu as a “pure intellectual, who writes Latin and Greek better than he does French, and who would prefer to spend his time poring over old manuscripts instead of worrying about political problems.” He asserted that his brother does not play a role in political affairs, but that his contribution is more frequently negative than positive, and that his political judgment is not always correct.
He credited M. Nhu with being one of the moving spirits behind the organization of the Can Lao Nhon Vi (Workers Party). He added that this party consisted at last report of approximately 95 members. He noted that M. Nhu is often accused of forming said party as an instrument for helping his brother politically, and observed that the party actually was formed perhaps two years before he (i.e. the President) returned from overseas. He also attributed to Mr. Nhu the “spiritual backing” of the Quoc Gia Cath Mang (Party of National Revolution), but added that he did not know very much about this group other than that it was not of major political significance.
The President observed that many of his friends had urged him to form a political party to give him a base of support in political affairs, and to put him on equal terms with such parties as the various Dai Viet groups, the VNQDD, and others. However, he has never had time nor the inclination to concern himself with such activities. Furthermore, he cannot say with any accuracy exactly what his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu had done or is doing in that regard—except that he has not been outstandingly successful.
The President characterized his brother Ngo Dinh Can as a much misunderstood man. He pointed out that M. Can is an invalid whose heart is so bad that he cannot walk 100 yards at a time. Can is the family businessman. That is, he has for years been in charge of administering the family property and looking after their mother.
According to the President, M. Can is active in politics, but only in a negative sense. He defines this in the following terms: “My brother never used to be interested in politics until our eldest brother [Page 112] Ngo Dinh Khoi was killed, along with his son, by the Viet Minh in 1945. Since that time, Can has become increasingly interested in politics. He is, politically, the wisest of all of us. It is a pity that his health is so bad, that he cannot do this job instead of me. People have come to him for years for advice. Before 1945 they came to him for advice as to what to do with their crops, about their horses, and their businesses, etc. But they used to ask him for political advice too, d he would refuse it to them. After Khoi was murdered, Can started giving answers to political questions that were asked of him. And since his advice was good, people kept coming back to him for more advice. M. Duyen goes to him all the time for advice. I have told Duyen time after time, ‘For heaven’s sake, leave him alone. He is a sick man. Don’t bother him. You are the Governor of the Center, not he.’ But still he continues to go to him for advice.”
I questioned the President about the report that his brother Can had organized “assassination squads” and otherwise engaged actively in politics. He replied that his brother would never do such a thing and that he was positive that he never had done such a thing. He added that this rumor was first spread by General Hinh last fall, “not because Can had organized such squads, but because Hinh was afraid that if someone asked Can whether he should organize an assassination squad, Can might say yes, and since if he did say yes, my brother would give explicit advice as to how to go about it, General Hinh was afraid. But you may be sure that Can has never done anything of the sort.” The President then characterized Ngo Dinh Luyen, the youngest of the brothers, as “very capable, but very hot tempered.”
The President is extremely sensitive to criticism of his brothers. His reaction to the discussion of Can in particular was one of outrageous defense of a man whom he considers to have been wronged by malicious rumor mongers. He did admit however that he did not have time to check on the activities of his brothers, and that it was possible that they did engage in some activities of which he has no knowledge. He added at this point that he had not had a letter from Ngo Dinh Can since he returned to Viet Nam. “In fact, we have a saying in our family that the skies will fall in when Can writes a letter.”
Although there is no question in my mind of the President’s complete sincerity and honesty in making the above quoted statements, I am equally sure that both Can and Nhu are engaged in political activities of which the President has no knowledge, mainly because neither brother wishes to tell him what he is or has been doing. It is a fact that the three younger brothers (Nhu, Can and Luyen) are afraid of the President. They are extremely careful not to arouse him to anger. Nhu in particular remembers that his wife was [Page 113] “asked” to take a vacation in Hong Kong for two months because the President was angered by some of her actions.2
- Source: Collins Papers, Vietnam File, Series VIII, Dr. Fishel. Secret.↩
- The following note appears at the end of this memorandum: “Certificate. I certify that Dr. Wesley Fishel dictated the above memorandum to me on the night of 7 March, and authorized me to submit it to Ambassador Collins in his name, as he would be departing Saigon on the morning of the 8th of March, before having an opportunity to sign it. Jack J. Good, C[hief] W[arrant] O[fficer], USA.”↩