62. Editorial Note

On September 5, 1963, President Diem sent United Nations Secretary-General U Thant a letter responding to an appeal by U Thant on August 31. On behalf of Asian and African member states, U Thant expressed grave concern over the situation in the Republic of Vietnam. The Secretary-General added his own “personal appeal” to Diem “to find a solution to the questions which are so deeply affecting the population of your country.” Diem’s response denied that there was suppression of Buddhism in the Republic of Vietnam, charged that such an allegation was “an imperialist invention,” and stated that the African and Asian members of the United Nations were “allowing themselves to be poisoned by an international conspiracy of the East or West against the Republic of Viet-Nam.” Diem stated that Vietnam was upholding public order, freeing the Buddhist hierarchy of outside influence, and had already found a solution to the Buddhist question. U Thant’s letter of August 31 is printed in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1963, pages 869-870. Diem’s letter of September 5 is ibid., pages 871-872.