Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume III, Vietnam, January–August 1963

162. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State¹

Saigon, June 10, 1963, 6 p.m.

1141. CINCPAC for POLAD. Embtel 1137.² Thuan reported at 9 am that he had made some progress in talks with Diem and Nhu following our meeting yesterday (reftel):

1. Re Decree Law 10, Diem said he could not repeal it by Presidential action because National Assembly in session. (This is probably correct reading of Constitution; it is perhaps debatable whether he could act under emergency powers but that the latter apply only to matters of “security and manpower mobilization”.) I asked about possibility of quick action by Assembly. Thuan said that this would take time because law long and complicated. I said that if, for example, prominent Deputy announced intention to introduce legislation and government let it be known that it would support it, this might be all that was necessary. Thuan said that he would try for this.

2. Answer to our inquiry was that WSM resolution had not been cleared in advance by GVN. Diem had objected to characterization of resolution as “Madame Nhu’s statement,” pointing out that it was product bf popular organization. Latter remark was made (and received) with a smile.

3. Regarding reports of planned demonstrations in Saigon organized by Ngo Trong Hieu, Thuan said that President had telephoned Hieu in his presence and latter had denied report. In any case, Thuan said he had talked to Nhu as well about this and could assure me no such demonstrations would take place. Similarly for the reported action in Danang.

4. Re pagoda at Hue, Thuan said he was still working on this but r hoped to arrange for assurances to be given people inside that they could leave without fear of arrests or other reprisals. This might not apply to certain government functionaries who were in pagoda.

5. No GVN-sponsored ceremonies will be held for Pope John.

6. Thuan confirmed that WSM resolution banned on radio and will not appear in the Vietnamese newspapers. In fact, we have not found it in any papers and VTVN informed USIS this morning that resolution had been broadcast two or three times before presidential order received to ban it.

7. Regarding my statement to Thuan that I judged President was not interested in negotiations with Buddhist leaders until they were isolated, Thuan said President thought I had misunderstood; he wanted to isolate the extremists. I said I thought this was a distinction without a difference.

8. Thuan reported that Vice President Tho’s commission was meeting at 10 o’clock to consider new letter received from Saigon Buddhist leader.³ This letter was moderate in tone, acknowledged that GVN had taken certain steps in Hue, such as removing troops and traffic blocks, but asked for further action on cordoning off of pagoda. Thuan was hopeful that talks with Buddhists, including representatives from Hue, could continue.

9. Finally Thuan said that my remarks about air-dropping of leaflets in Hue and detaining of newsmen in Saigon had been passed to President, as had everything else I had told him.

Thuan asked when I would want to see the President to carry out my instructions officially. I replied that I had no particular interest in making demarches for their own sake, that I was primarily interested in seeing problem of Buddhists resolved. As Thuan seemed to be making some progress, I thought it might be a good idea to wait until after lunch before deciding about seeing the President. Thuan agreed but asked me to give him until tomorrow morning when we could have breakfast together and decide where to go from here. I said I would hold off until then, subject to any new instructions from Dept. I also said that what I would want to get across to President, apart from what was in my instructions, was that President should take this whole affair into his own hands and ensure that those negotiating with Buddhists were not undercut from any quarter.

In response to his query, I told Thuan that I had no plan to make any public statement at this time. He knows from our talk yesterday that I have authority to make one and I gathered from Thuan’s manner that this rather worries GVN.

Comment: Department will appreciate that I am handling instructions in such a way as in effect to be able to use them twice. Whether or not it will be desirable to repeat directly to Diem what Thuan has already told him is debatable. Unless the Department has objection, I propose to decide this in the light of progress Thuan is able to report tomorrow morning.⁴

Since dictating above have received word Thuan wants to see me at 6 pm.⁵

Trueheart

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Secret; Operational Immediate; Limit Distribution: Repeated to CINCPAC.
2. Document 161.
3. The substance of an exchange of letters between Vice President Tho and the Buddhist Executive Committee, including the June 9 letter under reference, was transmitted to the Department of State in telegram 1144 from Saigon, June 10. (Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET)
4. In telegram 1199 to Saigon, June 10, 5:30 p.m., the Department agreed with this procedure and added: “Suggest you particularly press GVN on removing cordon from around Pagoda in Hue and on most rapid possible repeal law no. 10. Due rapidity developments you are authorized decide on your own the timing of these and other demarches.” (Ibid.)
5. See footnote 2, Document 165.