III. Beginning of the Buddhist Crisis, May 9-June 16, 1963:
Incident in Hue, the Five Buddhist Demands, Use of Tear Gas in Hue, Self Immolation of Quang Duc, Negotiations in Saigon To Resolve the Crisis, Agreement on the Five Demands


172. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET Secret; Operational Immediate; Limit Distribution. Repeated to CINCPAC.


173. Telegram From Prince Sihanouk to President Kennedy

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. A copy of the original French text is Ibid. A notation on the French text indicates that the telegram was sent by MacKay Radio. In telegram 964 from Phnom Penh, June 14, the Embassy reported that Agence Khmere Presse in Phnom Penh had published in that day’s issue the text of Prince Sihanouk’s message to President Kennedy, along with the texts of similar telegrams sent by Sihanouk to U.N. Secretary-General U Thant, British Prime Minister Macmillan, French President De Gaulle, and Indian President Radhakrishnan. Ambassador Sprouse reported that the Foreign Ministry also told him the Cambodian Government had given a diplomatic note to the South Vietnamese Charge in Phnom Penh expressing concern over events in Vietnam following the deaths in May of Buddhists in Hue. (Ibid.) On June 18, Ceylonese Prime Minister Bandaranaike also sent a letter to President Kennedy expressing concern over developments in South Vietnam, and requesting that the United States use its good offices to enable the Buddhist majority in South Vietnam to enjoy the right to practice their religion. (Ibid.) And on June 28, the Representatives at the United Nations of Cambodia, Ceylon, and Nepal called on the U.S. Delegation at the United Nations to express mounting concern over religious difficulties in South Vietnam. (Telegram 4686 from USUN, June 28; Ibid.)


174. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Secret; Operational Immediate. Drafted by Wood and cleared by Rice and Forrestal. Repeated to CINCPAC for POLAD.


175. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam

Source: Washington National Records Center, RG 84, Saigon Embassy Files: FRC 68 A 5159, SGN (63) 19 GVN. Top Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Wood and cleared by Hilsman and Harriman.


176. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Secret; Emergency. Repeated to CINCPAC. A note on another copy of this telegram indicates that the President read it. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam Country Series, 6/63)


177. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Limited Official Use; Operational Immediate. Repeated to CINCPAC.


179. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State

Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET Top Secret; Priority; Eyes Only.

  1. Due to a delay in servicing, this telegram was not received in Saigon until June 16. Another copy of the telegram indicates that it was sent on June 14 at 10:25 a.m. (Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Vietnam Country Series, 6/63)