210. Telegram From the Embassy in Vietnam to the Department of State1
46. Dept pass USIA. Altercation took place this morning between Vietnamese plainclothes police and American correspondents, following Buddhist ceremony at Saigon Chantareansey Pagoda. One AP reporter (Arnett)2 roughed up; cameras at least two other reporters damaged by police.
I have talked to several of correspondents involved (Browne, Sheehan, Halberstam) as well as several Mission personnel present on scene. Appears that press had been informed by Buddhists in advance of ceremony (as had our people). They showed up at 0800 and were allowed to observe and photograph ceremony without hindrance. (I understand CBS had camera and lights actually mounted in window of pagoda.)
At about 0900 bonzes and bonzesses left pagoda and moved in procession up very narrow alley towards main street. Police stopped them at exit of alley with object of preventing their carrying procession further. This was eventually accomplished without apparently any serious protest from bonzes.
At point procession stopped American reporters moved into alley to take pictures. It seems clear that plain-clothes police sought to interfere with picture taking and that in process Arnett’s camera was snatched away from him and he was thrown to ground. Picture thereafter is far from clear but there seems no doubt that plainclothesmen sought to prevent picture taking and damaged cameras. Also clear that uniformed police made no effort to prevent damage to cameras and in fact tacitly abetted plainclothesmen. There is also no doubt that reporters, at least once fracas had started, acted in belligerent manner towards police.
[Page 471]Correspondents charge that above was deliberate GVN effort to provoke incident and indicative of tougher GVN line on foreign press and Buddhists. They demand formal Embassy protest to GVN3 and Embassy facilities to file their copy—which they claim to have information GVN will hold up.
On basis all available information, I am far from satisfied there was planned harassment of press in this instance, particularly considering fact that reporters had been operating freely for at least an hour before incident. Much more likely, in my view, that this was relatively commonplace contretemps in crowded place between reporters and police. Police officials on scene informed Embassy security officer that they so regard it and that incident, in their view, is closed.
Although I do not think there is basis for formal protest, we have nevertheless already expressed our concern to GVN and Mecklin is seeing DGI Tao at 4 PM for further discussion of matter, including making sure if possible that reporters’ cables are not held up.
I also do not believe that case of this kind justifies filing of copy by government channels but would welcome guidance on this point.
Since above written, Mecklin reports Tao and Khoi have told him that there no change in GVN policy towards press and that there will be no delay in transmission of press cables. According to Tao, police claim that correspondents provoked them by protesting police hold-up of procession and that one correspondent struck police first. Tao says he does not wish to pursue this, not feeling sure of police story. Given extreme emotional involvement of correspondents these days—amounting regrettably to intense hatred of all things GVN, in certain cases—I would not feel sure about refuting police.
Browne has just called to say he and Arnett have been ordered to report to police station 0730 tomorrow. At Browne’s request, I am assigning consular officer to go with them. We are also seeking explanation from DGI.4
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, PPV 7 S VIET-US. Limited Official Use; Operational Immediate.↩
- Peter Arnett, a New Zealand national.↩
- According to Mecklin, who was present, the correspondents had a “stormy session” with Trueheart in his office and demanded that a formal diplomatic protest of the incident be made to President Diem. Trueheart refused, on the grounds of inadequate information. (Mecklin, Mission in Torment, p. 173)↩
- The Embassy reported on July 8 that assault charges
were filed against Arnett and Browne. (Telegram 52 from Saigon, July 8; Department
of State, Central Files, PPV 7 S
VIET-US) The Department instructed the Embassy to request officially
that the charges be dropped, taking the matter to President
Diem if necessary to
underline the importance of the request. (Telegram 38 to Saigon,
July 8; Ibid.) Trueheart took up the pending charges with Thuan on July 8 and July 10, but
President Diem did not agree
to drop the charges until July 17, after the South Vietnamese
Directorate General of Information issued a communiqué supporting
the police account of the incident. (Telegrams 58, July 9; 67, July
10; 81, July 12; and 97, July 17, all from Saigon; telegrams 58, 67,
and 97 are Ibid., PPV 7 S VIET-US; telegram 81 is Ibid.,
SOC 14-1 S VIET)
In reporting on the incident, in telegram 65 from Saigon, July 10, Trueheart observed:
“Department should also be aware that in recent weeks resident correspondents have become so embittered towards GVN that they are saying quite openly to anyone who will listen that they would like to see regime overthrown. GVN no doubt has this well-documented. GVN also unquestionably considers that correspondents have been actively encouraging Buddhists. Diem is therefore most unlikely to accept view that correspondents merely carrying on normal functions of keeping US public informed.” (Ibid., PPV 7 S VIET-US)
↩