International Buddhist flag - US involvement - Coup Generals (5)
hyt...@my-dejanews.com
and they will kill you. Stay with me and I will protect you. We have lived
with each other for many years. It's the critical time; we should not
separate each other. Then, Mr Diem phones general Tran Van Khiem to tell
him to get him home and phones all protecting force to stop resistance.
Next, he tells Do Tho to let Tran Van Don know his whereabout. However,
Duong Van Minh doesn't let Don and Khiem go to get Mr Diem, but orders
general Mai Huu Xuan (who still hates Mr Diem because the latter has
destroyed Binh Xuyen gang which Xuan had some connection; Mr Diem did not
only remember about that connection but uses and promotes Xuan to the rank
of general), Colonel Nguyen Van Quan, Colonel Duong Ngoc Lam,
lieutenant-colonel Duong Hieu Nghia and captain Nguyen Van Nhung to organize
a convoy to get Messrs. Diem-Nhu.
Do Tho is regretful that he didn't tell both to leave Saigon-Cho Lon because
he believes that Do Mau, Tran Van Don and Tran Thien Khiem will protect the
men. However, Mr Diem says to Do Tho that,"I don't know whether or not I
will die and I don't care. Please tell Nguyen Khanh that I love him very
much and request him to revenge for me."
Duong Ngoc Lam says that when the group go to the church "Father Tam" around
7 pm, Messrs. Diem-Nhu were already there. Mai Huu Xuan approaches them and
say hello (some sources say that it's Nghia to do that while Xuan stands
behind); thinking that he will be sent abroad, Mr Diem asks Xuan to drop by
the palace to get clothing. Xuan answers that is impossible because he must
bring Mr Diem to the General Headquarter. Mr Nhu asks : Get a president by
this car (they are brought into an armored car) ? Xuan says it's because of
security. Mr Diem steps in the armored car without saying a word. There is
only one driver in the amored car. There are 4 cars before theirs. When
the convoy runs for a while, young officers ask to shot Mr Nhu, but Duong
Ngoc Lam says :"Nobody shots anybody; we must go to the general
headquarter." The convoy stops at many places, especially at the railway
crossing on Hong Thap Tu street. Arriving at the General Headquarter, Duong
Ngoc Lam comes to the armored car M113 finding that the corpses of Messrs.
Diem-Nhu lied on the ground : Their hands are tied to their backs; Mr Diem
was shot from behind his head; Mr Nhu was stabbed many times on breast,
back and shot on the head.
Later, Tran Van Don meets Duong Van Minh at the corridor of Tran Thien
Khiem's office and asks why the two must die. Minh answers disdainfully
:"Does that matter to me ? They were dead." Right at that moment, Mai Huu
Xuan comes to say to Minh that "Mission Accomplie". Don concludes that
Duong Van Minh ordered Mai Huu Xuan to kill them and that's only Minh to
decide it alone."
Nguyen Van Quang is later promoted to the rank of general and before his
death, says to Tran Van Don : "Diem-Nhu were killed at the railway gate on
Hong Thap Tu street (Co^?ng xe lu+?a ddu+o+`ng Ho^`ng Tha^.p Tu+.) by two
persons : Duong Hieu Nghia shot both men from the turret of the armored car
M113 with an automatic pistol (pistolet mitrailleur); Nhung, in the car,
used pistol and bayonet to finish the task..."
According to details Mai Huu Xuan lets Don know, Duong Van Minh orders Xuan
to welcome Messrs. Diem-Nhu. They are in the car with Duong Hieu Nghia and
Nhung. Xuan is in the car of Quan and Lam. The first and last civilian
strongman and his advisor die on the road to the General Headquarter.
Tran Van Don says that Nguyen Van Nhung has been known a cruel man and loved
to kill. Ba Cut (Ba Cu.t) has been beheaded by Duong Van Minh, but Minh
still ordered to let Nhung dig his corps and cut it into many pieces. Every
time to kill somebody, Nhung makes a mark on his pistol.
In a readjustment coup (cuo^.c chi?nh ly') of Nguyen Khanh (Nguyen^~n
Kha'nh), general Duong Van Duc (Du+o+ng Va<n DDu+'c), in the night of
30/1/1964, arrests Nhung right before Duong Van Minh and Nguyen Ngoc Tho,
but Minh dares not to protect Nhung. Nhung is handed to the paratrooper
army of Nguyen Chanh Thi, tortured to death and declared he hangs himself.
(In "Government and Revolution in Vietnam" by Dennis J. Ducanson, Oxford
University Press, 1968, p. 340 :
Death of the president - If things had not turned out quite as General Tran
Tu Oai's tape recording had been repeating over the air the previous
afternoon, Ngo Dinh Diem did nevertheless surrender by telephone to Joint
General Staff Headquarter during the morning of 2/11/1963. He and his
brother were collected by the commandant of the Civil Guard - oaths of
personal loyalty, even Can Lao ones, were forgotten in this moment - and he
consigned them to a Captain Nguyen Van Nhung with an armoured car. Later in
the morning, the Captain delivered their corpses to the Generals, battered
and shot. General Oai announced that they had committed suicide "inside the
church"; the Captain was arrested shortly afterwards on a charge of
corruption, and soon General Oai's staff were putting it about that he too
had committed suicide, after confessing to the regicide.
In "Assassin in our time " by Sandy Lesberg, Peebles International, London,
1976, p. 142 :
The general in charge of bringing back the prisoners rode in one of the
carriers and the prisoners in the other. A major who had a grudge against
Nhu for having ordered the execution of one of his close friend accompanied
the prisoners. An eyewitness report described the assassination which the
generals at first called suicide then "accidental suicide".
Diem and Nhu sat with hands tied behind their backs. While Diem remained
silent, the major lunged at Nhu with his bayonet and stabbed him 15 or 20
times. Then he took out his revolver and shot Diem in the back of his head;
seeing Nhu's body still twitching on the floor, the major administered the
coup of grace by putting a bullet through Nhu's head also.)
Washington's shaking
The assassination of Messrs. Diem-Nhu unmans strongly American generals
favoring the coup and U.S. public.
Mr Do Mau, self-claiming as main plotter, writes that he cries when seeing
them killed. General Ton That Dinh also cries and punches onto his desk in
frustration. Not knowing how to explain, general Tran Tu Oai (Tra^`n Tu+?
Oai) of the Information General Office, announces :"The death of Messrs.
Diem-Nhu is an "accidental suicide". A stupid announcement from a general
makes people laugh at an excuse for an illegal act of coup generals.
In the morning of 2/11/1963, when Conein goes to take a shower, he receives
a phone call from Cabot Lodge that Kennedy wants to know the whereabout of
Messrs. Diem-Nhu. Upon arriving at the General Headquarter he sees them
dead.
In Washington, the National Security Council convenes for a discussion about
the situation after knowing there was a coup d'etat. An official telegram
is delivered and put on the table; all are silent. Reading it, Kennedy with
a faded face stands up, goes out for a while, comes back and says :"Mr Diem
has fought against communists for 9 years; he should have something in
return."
Michael Forrestal, one of the men favoring the coup d'etat and co-drafting
the official message 243 to Cabot Lodge on 24/8/1963 requests a resignation,
but Kennedy says that he should stay.
Secretary of State Dean Rusk who has been called "a man of no image" due to
always repeating after Kennedy sends a message to Cabot Lodge : "I want to
show my adoration to your managing the complicated event with perfection."
Then, another message is :"Reports about the death of Diem-Nhu (shot with
details of blood all over) on the first pages of newspapers cause high
emotion. We think that is unexpected from the coup d'etat."
The truth is that it is an unavoidable consequence because in the secret
file of the White House, there is no item as the prime condition to keep
safe Messrs. Diem-Nhu when Kennedy directed Cabot Lodge to support coup
generals.
General Maxwell Taylor who opposes the coup d'etat and replaces Cabot Lodge
says :"Mr Diem's soul haunts each one of us who knew the coup. Due to our
complicity, the Americans must take responsibility upon the tragedy the
South Vietnamese must bear and the consequent political chaos which is the
pretext of our withdrawal; by doing our role, we bring them into suffered
situations and this stops people to have any suggestions..."
Forrestal, talking about Kennedy, says :"The death in Saigon makes him
shocked morally and religiously, and this undermines his belief in any
suggestions related to Vietnam."
Doctor Hammer criticizes touchingly :"Now, a first Catholic head of state is
dead, assassinated due to the consequence of a policy of the first Catholic
American president who permits the plan."
To condone Kenedy, a friend says :"Anyhow, Diem and Nhu were tyrants."
Kennedy answers : "No, they were in difficult position. They did the best
they could for their country" ("A death in November, p. 301).
This is too late historical contradicting statement, restoration of honor
for Messrs. Diem-Nhu, rejection of propagandas related to the coup d'etat, a
condemnation of coup generals who followed the inducements of the Americans
by betraying their president and treason. Doctor Hammer writes :"Kennedy's
statement is an offering before the graves of Messrs. Diem-Nhu."
Although I have opposed Messrs. Diem-Nhu's policies in 1958, I acknowledge
that Messrs. Diem-Nhu's statement written down by Lodge in a message on
1/11/1963 is their effort of perfect compromise for the sake of the
self-governed interest of VN and that is praiseworthy. It is regretful that
their fate and SVN to confront a "colonialist and self-conceited" behavior
of a young Kennedy and a "governor-general" Cabot Lodge; this causes their
death.
When seeing Tran Van Don on 2/1/1963 at the U.S. embassy, Cabot Lodge says
:"President Kennedy and American public are shocked. I say to them that I
can't believe there are such deaths and are very sad".
Sadness and regret may disturb the mind of Lodge, Kennedy and other
responsible people, but that is unavoidable as general Maxwell Taylor has
critized them that, "They unconsciously play with fire encouraging the coup
d'etat. In the first message to Lodge on 24/8/1963, a message signaling a
coup d'etat. It's Kennedy who did verify that "we must cope with a such
situation that Diem's life is not guaranteed."
Around 10 am of 2/11/1963, Flott, assistant of Cabot Lodge, visits me and
makes excuse about his dirty suit because he did come to the Gia-Long palace
to look for Messrs. Nhu and some documents. Flott boasts that he was the
last man to shake hand with Mr Diem yesterday. Through an introduction of a
friend, I have came to know Flott. I did draft a letter and a report and
sent them to Kennedy dissuading him not to set up a coup d'etat and should
not send the U.S. army to Vietnam; that is my last advice to him. Flot has
come to see me many times , but I found way to avoid seeing him because we
hadn't the same political viewpoint.
The death certificate for Mr Diem says that he is a small mandarin of Binh
Thuan, and for Mr Nhu, a librarian (qua?n thu? thu+ vie^.n). It's ironic
that Messrs. Duong Van Minh, Tran Van Don,...have had titles promoted by not
a small mandarin in Binh Thuan, but by a president.
On 3/11/1963, I arrive at Tran Trung Dung's house on Doan Thi Diem street
for infos. Dung confirms that Messrs, have been killed. Dung and a priest
make shrouding their corpses according to Catholic ceremony. Their corpses
are then buried in the backyard of the General Headquarter. However, through
many coups d'etat after, generals still feel unsafe and rebury them at the
cemetery Mac Dinh Chi. I drop by to visit them seeing that their graves
have no tombstones.
Tran Trung Dung's wife is Hoang Anh, niece of Messrs. Diem-Nhu. Sobing, she
asks the Council of Generals to verify that the two were killed not suicided
because suicide is a disgrace to the family. Dung laments to me :"She is too
naive."
As Marguerite Higgins writes, when exiled in Bangkok, Duong Van Minh admits
to an American that he orders to kill Messrs. Nhu because "I couldn't do
differently". He couldn't let Mr Diem alive because "he got sympathy from
simple and rustic people in the rural areas, especially Catholics and
refugees." About Mr Nhu, Minh says, "Nhu was afraid of by many people and
did set up many organizations."
Mr Tran Van Huong, prime minister from 10/1964 to 1/1965, speaks to a
British diplomat : "They, generals, decided to kill Messrs. Diem-Nhu because
they were too afraid of them. They knew that they had no talent (ba^'t
ta`i), morality (dda.o ddu+'c va` lua^n ly'), and no support from the vast
majority of the Viets. They could not stop Messrs. Diem-Nhu taking back the
power if these men were alive."
Informed that Messrs. Diem-Nhu were assassinated, Mrs. Nhu who is staying at
the hotel Beverly Whilshire utters efficacious words :"This blood will flow
to Washington." It's true that 20 days after the death of Messrs. Diem-Nhu,
Kennedy is assassinated by Oswald in Dallas, Texas. Then, Robert Kennedy,
his younger brother, who once said to Kennedy that "why don't we eradicate
that painful prickle ?" had the same fate not long after.
Mrs. Nhu and her 3 kids are transported by an American airplane to anywhere
she wants.
Rewards ?
In an official message dated 30/10/1963 of the State Department to Cabot
Lodge, George Bundy notes that coup generals may need a hefty sum of money
at the last minutes to bribe the resistant group (Conein later says that that
money would be used for coup general to escape if the coup failed); he also
says that generals can keep that money if the coup d'etat is well-organized
and successful; the use of money should be done secretly. This order is
executed by Lucien Conein. However, Conein does it openly by bringing that
money to the Joint General Staff Headquarter on 1/11/1963. Lucien gives 3
million dollars to Tran Van Don and Ton That Dinh. The sharing of money
creates a bad reputation; due to this, in 1971, general Tran Van Don orders
major Dang Van Hoa (DDa<.ng Va<n Hoa) to conduct a search for receipts.
Major Hoa makes a report dated 14/8/1971 with details as follow :
- Tran Thien Khiem : VN $500,000
- Ton That Dinh : $600,000
- Le Nguyen Khang : $100,000
- Nguyen Van Thieu : $50,000
- Tran Ngoc Huye^n (Tra^`n Ngo.c Huye^'n) : $100,000
- Phan Hoa Hiep (Phan Ho`a Hie^.p) : $100,000
- Dao Ngoc Diep (DDa`o Ngo.c Die^.p) : $100,000
Total : $1,550,000
Another 1,450,000 dollars (dong ?) has been delivered to Duong Van Minh, Le
Van Kim (Le^ Va<n Kim), Ton That Dinh, Nguyen Huu Co (Nguye^~n Hu+~u Co'),
Tran Ngoc Tam (Tra^`n Ngo.c Ta'm), Nguyen Khanh (Nguye^~n Kha'nh) and Do Cao
Tri (DDo^~ Cao Tri'). Furthermore, Mr Duong Van Minh gets another 6,000
dollars found in a suitcase of Mr Diem.
White House's top secret documents about news
on Nhu negotiating with Hanoi
Two persons who have taken the important roles in the coup d'etat of
1/11/1963 are Tran Van Don and Do Mau. They all write memoirs emphasizing
the reasons for their opposition to Mr Diem are : (1) oppression of Buddhists
and (2) Mr Nhu's secret negotiation with communists.
To the matter (1), one can know that the oppression is just a make-up story
in order to label the man Buddhists did not like and then progress their
ambition; the years to come explained the unrest created by religious people
abusing their rights and prestige. The Buddhist "incident" has been blown
out of proportion basing on ambiguous accusation by An Quang Buddhist sect
and others. At last, the 3 forces -- this Buddhist sect, U.S. and Viet
generals who thought that their interest and plans would be gone if U.S. cut
aid -- cooperate with or just take advantage of one another to bring down Mr
Diem. Each side has its own perfect pretexts for a criminal act. McNamara's
words about the failure reflected this big mistake.
About (2), as one may know, Mrs. Hammer, a Ph.D. graduate in International
Relation at the university of Columbia and author of "The struggle for
Indochina", has spent more than 30 years following events in Vietnam,
especially the period from 1956-1966, the time span of her stay in Vietnam.
In her book "A Death in November", searching for secret files of the White
House under free access act, she has found out that the news of Nhu secretly
negotiating with communists is totally false. Mrs. Hammer mentions about
(1) the memorandum of Roger Hilsman and Hilsman & George Bundy's telegram to
Cabot Lodge in order to teach Viet generals how to spread out rumors, (2)
Through the mediums of Mieczyslaw Maneli of Poland and Goburdhum of India
the International Commission for Supervision and Control or ICC (U?y Ban
Kie^?m soa't DDi`nh Chie^ 'n), it's Ho Chi Minh to suggest a trade with the
South so that the North can get SVN's rice for a starved NVN while SVN is
still independent under the presidency of Mr Diem.
Here are details :
(1) Roger Hilsman's memorandum and Hilsman & Bundy's message to Lodge : In
his memorandum of 16/9/1963, Roger Hilsman records that Mr Nhu's minimal
goal is to reduce abundantly the number of American advisors at essential
spots having political significance like the Strategic Hamlets. His maximal
goal is to negotiate with the North, withdraw the Americans out of Vietnam
and keep Vietnam as separate but neutral state. Basing on these easons and
calling it an adventure, Hilsman drops the moderate stand to convince Mr
Diem and chooses using strong measures against Mr Diem's regime.
According to these two goals mentioned above, the majority of the Americans
must withdraw. It's clear that Mr Nhu doesn't want to see too many Amricans
in Vietnam and keeps SVN separate and not united with communists.
However, upon contacting ambassador Buu Hoi (Bu+?u Ho^.i), Hilsman, with a
scornful behavior, detests rumors about Mr Nhu's negotiation with communists
and says that he doesn't believe in any words of those, giving that Mr Nhu
just lies and U.S. is never threatened by that.
Cabot Lodge did meet Mr Nhu and was let known that there has been a contact
with communists with the aim at "opening arm" (chie^u ho^`i). If a treaty
can't be reached, Mr Nhu will resign. He also says that he has intention to
take a rest in Dalat after lifting the martial law and when the Americans
are gone. It's also the reason that Cabot Lodge opposes strongly Messrs.
Diem-Nhu because Lodge comes here to organize a coup d'etat.
About Hilsman & Bundy's message to Lodge in order to teach Viet generals how
to prepare pretext for their action, it is as follows :
"If the coup d'etat is successful, the sympathy and recognition of the reason
for it will be enhanced if generals and civilians cooperate tightly with each
other by publicly developing the conclusion that Mr Nhu negotiates with
communists and betrays anti-communist ideal. This must be emphasized to the
public as soon as possible."
(2) Mieczyslaw Maneli and Goburdhum in the the International Commission for
Supervision and Control (ICC) :
According to Mrs. Hammer's "A Death in November" :
- Maneli : In a reception at the Foreign Ministry, Maneli meets Mr Nhu and
the latter says to him that he wants peace and just only peace. The ICC must
play an important role in restoring peace in Vietnam. Maneli answers that he
will be ready to receive an active and constructive role available for the
ICC to re-establish peace and reunification for Vietnam. Nhu answers that
the government of Vietnam wishes that will be done within the spirit of
Geneva Accord.
In 7/1963, when Maneli goes to Hanoi for discussion, Hanoi agrees NVN will
let Mr Diem to be head of SVN. This contradicts with Hanoi's Stalinist
behavior and violent temper. Ho Chi Minh appeals for cease-fire and wants
the Americans not to interfere in his negotiation with Mr Diem (this happens
at the time the Americans are planning the coup d'etat). Maneli cites that
Pham Van Dong asks him how to contact Mr Nhu. With this plan, the Americans
must go so that a cease-fire can be reached, peace will be restored and
reunification will be worked out basing on basic realities.
According to Maneli, the reason NVN wants peace is from 1954, NVN was in
regular droughts and crop failures. The water level in rivers was so low
that water couldn't be bailed up to paddy fields and as a result, seawater
reached to the mainland. NVN would be starved if there was no aid of rice
from the South; due to this, NVN must need rice from the Soviets and Chinese
and always thinks about how to self-defend. However, the Soviets and Chinese
were opposing each other and this made NVN bear the conflict, and at the same
time it must stand the pressure from the Chinese. Maneli lets only the
Soviets and Poles know about this, not the Chinese.
Maneli also says that in the 7/1963 trip to Hanoi, he has heard about a North-
South contact; Cabot Lodge got the same rumor. According to Mrs. Hammer, the
negotiation is not in detail and related to reduction of rebel and military
actvities. Late in 8/1963, communists reduce relatively their activities.
- Goburdhum : Goburdhum says that when he goes to Hanoi he is informed
that Hanoi wants to have trade with the South, but not in the atmosphere of
war. Ho Chi Minh says :"Mr Diem is a patriot in his way. With his
independent character, he will have some difficulty in his relation with the
Americans because U.S. wants to control all affairs. If you see Mr Diem,
make a connection for me."
Goburdhum recognizes that Ho Chi Minh, as an Asian and a citizen of a
country of the Third World, sympathizes with the Saigon regime's eagerness
of trying to detach from American screwing. Ho also praises Ngo Dinh Nhu to
be wise enough to get out of political frame of the past. Goburdhum thinks
that is a openness in diplomacy to help North and South sympathize each
other in restoring peace. At that time, Vietnam can follow the way of India
and other neutral countries.
- Meanwhile, general De Gaulle talks about an invitation of both North and
South Vietnam to participate in a national effort towards independence,
peace and reunification. He emphasizes that he doesn't want to interfere in
Vietnam's affair. French Foreign Minister Maurice Couve de Murville
explaines that declaration is for a long-term policy. De Gaulle will
cooperate if Vietam wants so. Mrs. Hammer acknowledges that De Gaulle's
words are important, pragmatic and invaluable because Pham Van Dong also
admits that despite the wars with the French in the past the French-Viet
friendship is still strong due to its democratic and social tradition.
However, that is also the time the Americans are striving for the coup
d'etat to continue the war and searching for new men who are "more docile".
Knowing about this, L'Alouette says that Vietnam will lose the opportunity
to get peace because Mr Diem is the only man of determination to keep
independence and peace.
Maneli telegraphs to Poland and at the same time sends "news" to Hanoi and
the Soviet embassy in Hanoi.
Wish of negotiation of Ho Chi Minh
5 days after De Gaulle's suggestion, on 2/9/1963, Mr Nhu says to Maneli that
he doesn't oppose a negotiation and cooperation with the North :"The Viets
never forget who they are and who foreigners are even in fierce wartime. If
we can talk face to face we can reach a sympathy...But in the near future, I
see nothing leading to a face to face talk. However, we can wait for a clear
revelation."
According to "A death in November", Mr Diem agrees to exchange letters with
the North and South Vietnam's rice to North Vietnam's coal. Until 7/1963,
Hanoi agrees to let Mr Diem lead South Vietnam and the South follow the
Western democracy, and Ho Chi Minh no longer asks for reunification.
Mr Diem answers that he doesn't expect a neutrality for South Vietnam because
that will break the tie with American ally.
Asked about his reaction to De Gaulle's announcement,Mr Nhu says :"Who
doesn't participate in this war has no right to interfere. Our loyalty to
the Americans doesn't permit us to scrutinize their announcements. The
Americans are just the only ones on this planet who has helped South Vietnam.
Due to this, I have no comment."
Declarations of Messrs. Diem-Nhu emphasize that they take side to the
Americans although they don't totally accept American policies.
According to an Italian ambassador, Mr Nhu lets him know that there is a go-
between to contact communists for a talk. Communists suggest peace not
because the success of the Strategic Hamlets but Hanoi is under heavy
pressure from the Chinese, and the trade will benefit both. The North
doesn't request a neutral South Vietnam because after the war ends, the
presence of the Americans are not necessary.
French ambassador L'Alouette tries to convince Cabot Lodge to let Mr Diem
hold the power and says to Lodge that Pham Van Dong is ready to negotiate for
a trade as he has said to Goburdhum. However, whatever he tries L'Alouette
knows that Lodge's mission is to overthrow Mr Diem. On 10/9/1963, L'Alouette
meets Cabot Lodge about the matter; Lodge answers :"U.S. decides not to
withdraw and wants decisively that Saigon must shuffle the personel and
policy. We must negotiate in a strong position."
The New York Times writes that ambassador L'Alouette tries to rally Western
diplomats to convince Lodge to reconcile with Mr Diem, and France will
support Mr Nhu in the task to reunite Vietnam. However, Quai d'Orsay denies
the news and says that France doesn't support anybody. After this,
L'Alouette is recalled to France and never returns. French embassy in
Vietnam has now only officials to carry on normal business and none to be
go-between in this affair.
Late in 10/1963, De Gaulle comes to Viet embassy at Rambouillet street,
informs about latest news from Saigon and suggests help. De Gaulle wants to
warn Saigon that may be a coup d'etat. However, there is no answer from
Messrs. Diem-Nhu.
Nobody knows whether or not Mr Nhu wants to trick the Americans and has shown
some behavior which seems to replace Mr Diem.
About the rumor that Mr Nhu may negotiate with communists, Chester Cooper of
CIA reports to CIA Director Mc Cone that the validity of the rumors is below
50%. However, Cooper met Mr Nhu for 3 hrs in 3/1963 and recognized that Mr
Nhu knew very well about communists' scheme. CIA ananlyzes that American
pressure can make Messrs. Diem-Nhu mad. Cooper can not predict what one of
them will decide to do.
In brief, the mentioned above details shows one that the wish of negotiation
has been suggested, but that is only struck up through the medium of Maneli
and Goburdhum. Furthermore, that suggestion is not from Mr Nhu but Pham Van
Dong and Ho Chi Minh who may want to get out of the pressure and domination
of the Chinese and Soviets and trade rice with the South.
There is no matter of reunification because Ho Chi Minh agrees to let SVN to
follow Western democracy and be led by Mr Diem. It means there is no such
thing as Messrs. Diem-Nhu sell the South to communists as accused by generals
Tran Van Don and Do Mau in concordance with directives from Hilsman & Bundy's
message to Cabot Lodge. This is also proved by Mr Diem's words to Cabot
Lodge by having him sent to Kenndy at 12h15 of 1/1/1963 as follows : "Please
tell President Kennedy that I am a good and frank ally, that I would rather
be frank and settle questions now than talk about them later when we lose
everything. Tell President Kennedy that I take all the suggestions very
seriously and wish to carry them out, but it is a question of timing."
It's these last words from Mr Diem to verify that Mr Diem shows his utmost
compromise due to national interest to show his allying to the Americans.
(As one see later that the play card of "Buddhist incident" is dropped by the
Americans and media. They never see any "Buddhist struggle" as genuine
anymore)
(continued)
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