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

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

Saigon, June 11, 1963, noon.

1147. CINCPAC for POLAD. Procession of approximately 400 bonzes carried body of dead bonze to Xa Loi Pagoda near USOM. At about 0130 an estimated 800-1000 bonzes now inside pagoda. Large group of pro-Buddhist students have now formed cordon around pagoda and refusing admission to anyone. Students have raised crude banner in English stating “This Buddhist priest cremated himself for five items demanded of the government.” Meeting at pagoda broke up at 1200 and bonzes quickly dispersed, leaving approximately 100 bonzes inside.

Very few spectators in evidence; however large group of bonzes and lay persons estimated at 2000 now gathering at site of cremation. Crowd orderly. Large number of police (estimated at 1000) in area. Police have allowed bonzes to proceed at will within area which is cordoned off and have attempted keep bonzes and spectators separate.²

Banners in English and Vietnamese carried by bonzes read as follows: “A Buddhist priest burns himself for our five requests,” and “Do not deceive us and the people in any way.”

Dead bonze identified as Thich Quang Duc, a middle level bonze from provinces (reportedly from Nha Trang but unconfirmed). He arrived on scene of his death in a vehicle with central Viet Nam license plates and carrying his own can of gasoline. Burning took place in front of Cambodian representation residence, apparently for purpose obtaining Cambodian attention.³

Colonel Tung, Commander Vietnamese Special Forces, has ordered two Ranger companies of Special Forces moved in from Long Thanh Camp (between Saigon and Vung Tau). Ranger companies will be disposed in the camp near Tan Son Nhut Airport. Colonel Tung stated that he expects further trouble today. Seventh Airborne Battalion also alerted according to MACV.

Reports persist that other bonzes may sacrifice themselves in front of public buildings.

Trueheart

1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, SOC 14-1 S VIET. Confidential; Operational Immediate. Repeated to CINCPAC. Received at 2:21 a.m.
2. The Embassy reported later in the day that at 6 p.m. the police arrested some 30 nuns and 5 bonzes after they refused to move a prayer meeting into nearby Xa Loi Pagoda. Access to the area cordoned-off around the pagoda was then limited to residents of the immediate area. While disturbances mounted in Saigon, the Embassy noted that the situation in Hue seemed to have returned to normal. (Telegram 1158 from Saigon, June 11; Ibid.)
3. On June 13, Charles C. Flowerree of the Embassy sent a memorandum to Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Melvin L. Manfull in which he assessed the impact of the Buddhist problem on relations between South Vietnam and Cambodia. Flowerree pointed to a May 22 speech by Prince Sihanouk, in which Sihanouk charged that President Diem was mistreating both Vietnamese and Khmer Buddhists. Flowerree noted that on June 9 the Times of Viet Nam, which often spoke for the Diem government, published an article underlining the prominent role of Cambodian, or Hinayana bonzes in the Buddhist difficulties in South Vietnam, in line with what the paper charged was the Cambodian policy of attempting to impose neutralism on Vietnam through diplomatic and propaganda efforts. Noting that “the GVN is ready and eager to see a fine Cambodian hand in all the organized Buddhist actions,” Flowerree concluded that the self-immolation of the bonze Quang Duc in front of the Cambodian Embassy tended to feed the suspicions of the Diem government. (Washington National Records Center, RG 84, Saigon Embassy Files: FRC 67 A 677, 320 GVN-Cambodia Jan-June 63)