Office of the Historian

266. Telegram From the Department of State to the Embassy in Vietnam1

Washington, November 1, 1963—12:04 p.m.

674. If coup succeeds, acceptance and understanding of its purpose here will be greatly increased if Generals and their civilian associates continue to develop strongly and publicly the conclusion reported in one of their broadcasts that Nhu was dickering with Communists to betray anti-Communist cause. High value of this argument should be emphasized to them at earliest opportunity.2

Rusk
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 26 S VIET Secret; Flash; Eyes Only. Drafted by Hilsman and McGeorge Bundy and approved by Rusk. Apparently drafted before the 10 a.m. meeting at the White House; see footnote 1, Document 264.↩
  2. In telegram 871 from Saigon, November 1, received at 1:52 p.m. Lodge informed the Department that this “point has been made to Generals.” (Department of State, Central Files, POL 26 S VIET)↩