152. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the White House1
Washington,
February 21, 1965, 4:50 p.m.
CIA 86906. The following is CIA/OCI Situation Report for Vietnam as of 1600 hours EST, 21 February:
- 1.
- General Khanh is resisting his ouster as Commander-in-Chief, officially announced by Saigon Radio today, and is attempting to rally behind him whatever forces he can muster. Late Sunday night2 (Saigon time) some 15 tanks and two truckloads of rangers, apparently acting on Khanh’s [Page 346] behalf, occupied Saigon’s airfield of Tan Son Nhut. The situation has been characterized chiefly by maneuvering and confusion, and is still far from certain how much actual support Khanh might secure in a showdown. Khanh is at his seaside command post at Vung Tau, southeast of Saigon.
- 2.
- The Armed Forces Council has issued an ultimatum to Khanh to leave the country immediately. General Thi, I Corps Commander, who is emerging as perhaps the most powerful of the young Turks, has warned that any forces attempting to reinstate Khanh would be subjected to air strikes.
- 3.
- A field appraisal of the loyalties of key military commanders shows an almost complete lineup against Khanh. General Dong, Military Governor of Saigon and strongly anti-Khanh, estimates that Khanh might at most be supported in the capital by three airborne and one marine battalion. However, as in the case of the 19–20 February attempted coup, there always exists some danger of split loyalties developing among individual field units.
- 4.
- Yesterday, the Armed Forces Council deputized General Co, II Corps Commander, to find Khanh and tell him of its no-confidence vote. When Co finally caught up with Khanh upcountry in Nha Trang, Khanh refused to accept the message. He claimed that the vote was taken at a rump session of the Armed Forces Council, and he insisted on the right to defend himself before the total membership.
- 5.
- On the afternoon of 21 February, the Armed Forces Council voted to name Major General Tran Van (Little) Minh, erstwhile Chief of Staff, as temporary armed forces commander. A formal decree to this effect was signed by Chief of State Suu and broadcast Sunday night.
- 6.
- Of the key military figures, only Navy Commander Admiral Cang at latest word is remaining with Khanh at Vung Tau, and Cang’s intentions and loyalties are not clear. General Quang, Special Forces Commander, earlier thought to be on Khanh’s side, now says he wants out and has asked for a plane to take him from Vung Tau. General Ky is arranging transport. Thus, while the situation is still subject to sudden change, the trend seems to be running against Khanh.