“Phouldpa IN the (Draft--9/8/75) A. Summary TRYEHARTS ON STARE South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and- his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, were assassinated during a coup by Vietnamese generals on November 2, 1963. Evidence before the Committ …”
“… . The Abortive Coup of August 1963 On May 8, 1963, South Vietnamese troops in the City of Hue fired on Buddhists protesting against the Diem Government, killing nine and wounding fourteen. This incident triggered a nationwide Buddhist protest and a sharp loss of popular confide …”
“-3- Duc and other Buddhist monks by stating that she would like to furnish mustard for the monks' barbecue. On June 12, Trueheart told Diem that Quang Duc's suicide had shocked the world and again warned that the United States would break with his govern ment if he did not …”
“… l." (Conein, p. 17.) Conein’s After-Action Report stated that: "The majority of the officers, including General Minh, desired President Diem to have honorable retirement from the political scene in South Vietnam and exile. As to. Ngo Dinh Nhu and .Ngo Dinh Can, there was never …”
“-4- with the columnist, Margurite Higgins, in which Diem asserted that his policy toward the Buddhists had always been conciliatory and asked for harmony and support of the government. Shortl …”
“above steps are taken immediately which we recognize requires removal of the Nhu’s from the scene. We wish give Diem reasonable opportunity to remove Nhus but if he remains obdurate, .then we are prepared to accept the obvious implication that we can no …”
“… s a basic decision from Washington and would proceed to do their best to carry out instructions", (I.G., C, PP • 7-8) but believed that Diem would refuse to remove his brother from his position in the government. Early in the morning of August 26, 1963, the Voice of America i …”
“… initial doubts about the strength of American support, grew in confidence. C. The November 1963 Coup American dissatisfaction with the Diem regime became increasingly apparent. On September 8, AID Director David Bell, in a television interview, stated that Congress might cut …”
“… aid unless the oppressive measures were curtailed (Pentagon Papers, pp. 214-215). In mid-September 1963, two proposals for dealing with Diem were considered by the Administration. The first contemplated increasingly severe pressure to bring Diem in line with American policy; …”
“progressing favorably, but warned of the dangers inherent in the political turmoil and recommended bringing pressure against Diem. This pressure would include announcing the withdrawal of 1,000 American troops' by the end of the year, ending support for the force …”
“… uested assurances of American support if it were successful. Minh outlined three courses of action, one of which was the assassination of Diem’s brothers, * Nhu and Can (Conein, p.25; cable, Saigon to Director, 10/5/63). The Acting Chief of the CIA Station, David R. Smith, cable …”
“… 62). McCone testified: "I felt that the President agreed with my position, des pite the fact that he had great reservations concerning Diem and his conduct. I urged him to try to bring all the pressure we could on Diem to change his ways, to encourage more support throughout t …”
“… General responded, "alright, you don't-like it, we won't talk about it anymore" (Conein, p. 36). The United States increased pressure on Diem to mend his ways. On October 17, General Richard Stillwell (MACV J-3) informed .Secretary Thuan that the United,States was suspending …”
“… Conein was at the Joint General Staff Headquarters during most of the coup (I.G., C, pp. 41-42). At 1:40 p.m., the Generals proposed that Diem resign immediately, and guaranteed him and Nhu safe departure (Conein After-Action Report, p. 15). The palace was surrounded shortly afte …”
“(Conein After-Action Report, pp. 17-18.) At 6:20 on the morning of November 2, Diem called General * CIA had apparently considered passing money to the coup leaders in early October (Colby, 6/20, p. 21). On October 29, …”
“… the Joint General Staff headquarters and offered to surrender if he and Nhu were given safe conduct to an airport. Shortly afterwards, Diem offered to surrender unconditionally and ordered the Presidential Guard to cease firing. According to Conein, an escort for Diem appear …”
“forced, into an army vehicle (Cable, Saigon to State, No. 888). Minh originally told Conein that Diem and Nhu had committed suicide, but Conein doubted that Catholics would have taken their own lives in a church (Conein, p. 56). The Inspec …”
“… to get an aircraft for the next twenty-four hours, since it would have' to be flown from Guam. Conein testified that Smith told him that Diem could be flown only to a country that offered him asylum and that the plane could not land in any other country. There were no aircraft i …”
“… he United States . . . . . . . 3 3. American Officials Encouraged or Were Privy to Coup Plots Which Resulted in the Death of Trujillo, Diem, and Schneider............ 3 4. The Plots Occurred in a Cold War Atmosphere Perceived to be of" Crisis Proportions ..... 3A 5. America …”
“… ld Have Been Undertaken Without Express Authorization 14 2. Findings Relating.to the Level at Which the Plots Were Authorized . . 15 a. Diem 15 b. Schneider 16 C. Trujillo 16 d. Lumumba 17 e. Castro 18 3. CIA Officials Involved in the Assassina tion Operations Perceived'A …”
“… 3. Do me know hon tan they mens American Officials Encouraged or Were Privy to 7 Coup Plots Which Resulted in the Death of Trujillo, Diem, and Schneider American officials clearly desired the overthrow of Trujillo, offered both encouragement and guns to local dissi- dent …”
“… dissidents in the Dominican Republic intended to assassinate Trujillo; the contemplation of coup leaders to assassinate Nhu, President Diem's brother, was communicated to the upper levels of the United States Government; while the CIA and perhaps the White House knew that th …”
“… e involved plots to kill foreign leaders (Lumumba and Castro) that were instigated by American officials. Three of the cases (Trujillo, Diem, Schneider) involved killings in the course of coup attempts by local dissidents. These latter cases differed in the degree to which a …”
“… hat public officials be held accountable for their decisions. 2. Findings Relating to the Level at Which the Plots Were Authorized a. Diem . We find that neither the President nor any other . official in the United States Government authorized the assas- .sination of Diem …”
“is over than you were before? And I can give you I : think a very solid example of this which happened in Vietnam when President Diem was eliminated from the scene. We then had a revolving door of prime ministers, after that for quite: some period of tiem, during which t …”
“… RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 07-M-132 Document Information ORIGINATOR : SSCIA FROM: DAWSON, R. ' TO: TITLE: DIEM DATE: 06/00/1975 PAGES: 157 SUBJECTS : CIA COLBY, WILLIAM . VIETNAM KENNEDY, JOHN DIEM, ASSASSINATION DOCUMENT TYPE: SUMMARY CL …”
“… RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 07-M-132 DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR : SSCIA FROM : DAWSON, R. TO : TITLE : DIEM DATE : 06/00/75 PAGES : 157 - SUBJECTS : VIETNAM DIEM, ASSASSINATION COLBY, WILLIAM CIA KENNEDY, JOHN DOCUMENT TYPE : SUMMARY C …”
“se o 3 DIEM HW 50955 DocId:32423615 Page 3”
“7 PERSONS/ENTITIES: Nhnun DATES: CATEGORIES: McCone Coloy Hillsman Kennedy, John F. Tung DIEM Lodge Diem 11 Sept 63 1€9€ is NNT ay,, ( N OCCURRENCE: In a Presidential meeting on Vietnam with the CIA participants •YYVKTLNYBH being …”
“oh PERSONS/ENTITIES: o KENNEDY, JOHN F. DATES: CATEGORIES: Con 0 KENNEDY, ROBERT F. 5 Oct 1963 e MC CONE, JOHN — DIEM w €52 I • -E :7 t OCCURRENCE: On or about October 5, 1963 when the telegram of October 5 and 6 were sent • OCCURRENCE: to Saigon, MC CONE …”
“… e, Vol. 1, 2 of 5 DATE: FILE: pp. 62-32 29 June 1975 PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: Card 2 of 2 . OCCURRENCE: more stability if DIEM could be persuaded to change his ways than remove him and hope that some group of generals could run the country better." 1189 SOURCE: …”
“NY PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: MC CONE, JOHN DIEM 5 Oct 1963 DIEM • : OCCURRENCE On October 5, 1963, MC CONE sent, to some locations, including SAIGON the following message: "Believe as …”
“… ree general ideas, this was the first time that a leader had mentioned the possibility of assassination. This assassin atio n was not o f DIEM. This was they could not do anything, if would be the it . elimination of NGO DINH CAN, who was the war lord in central Vietnam and NGO D …”
“eliminate CAN and NHU and keep DIEM." That was one of the altern ativ es. P. 25 dAVLS SOURCE: : Hearings, SSCI, June 20, 1975, Conein R. DAWSON DATE:”
“$ : : SZLVC PERSONS/ENTITIES CATEGORIES: Q CIA - Saigon Station DIEM 4 — 31 Aug. 1963 VIETNAMESE GENERALS — H 1 PT 1 - L U 1:1 1. 07 8C 110 xxA “I OCCURRENCE: “I In an August 31, 1963, CIA cable from Sa …”
“/ ENTITIES: DATES : CATEGORIES: TAYLOR, Maxwell DEPTEL 243 28 Aug. 1963 HARKINS, John DIEM V in — w o (31 DEFENSE DEPARTMENT Participation JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF 1 15 1 -•1 1 o OCCURRENCE: 1 (86 1 0 EA 0 • The following te …”
“ionoUNS/ENTITIES : i DATES: CATEGORIES ; SLODGE, Henry Cabot DIEM V WHIG a 26 August 1963 rm L . © 1 ) 01 3) OCCURRENCE: 9 9 15 / / pf 4 1 1 — * 100/09LAkm7 L a r ( On August 26, 1963, AMBASSAD …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: RICHARDSON, John DIEW 25 August 1963 LODGE, Henry Cabot CIA DIEM • A 1 TRUEHART, William H i HARKINS, Gen. Paul D. (Commander, MAC/V) A tW W WEEDE, Gen. OCCURRENCE: CIA On August 25, 1963, the followin …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: HARRIMAN, Averell KENNEDY, John F. 24-25 August HILSMAN, Roger TAYLOR, Maxwell 1963 DIEM V McCONE, John (Mil. ass't to McNAMARA, Robert RUSK, Dean OCCURRENCE: Pres.) GILPATRIC, Roswell 6A60 551847 (CARD 1 or 4y B +i & 1 1 …”
“1967, pp. 5-6 STAFF: Dawson PART C DATE: 28.6.75 FILE: PERSONS/ENTITIES: (cont) DATES: CATEGORIES: Diem 4 DI Ee0 13 4Iar HELMS, Richard DIEM 4 NHU (CARD 2 of 4) •Cat P a g e 12 OCCURRENCE: SECRETARY OF STATE DEAN RUSK was attending a ba …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: Diem OCCURRENCE: Aunt (CARD 3 Of 4) L: 50 persuade DIEM to fire his brother, release the Buddhist rebels, end press censorship, and restore …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: LODGE, Henry Cabot (Amb. to SVN) NHU DIEM DEP16L 243 24 August 1963 / Diem V CARD TEANLA A Afing PL: OCCURRENCE: 847 “to 4)AU 10 a In a State telegram to Saigon (DEPTEL 243), on …”
“Fx 1Alven Ka Page 14 OCCURRENCE: (con’t from card 1) we might bring about DIEM’s replacement if this should become necessary. You will under stand that we cannot from Washington give you detailed instructions as to ho …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: Thich Tri Quang Aug. 21, 1963 Diem. Diem OCCURRENCE? 469%9 84 Higgins states that the Xa Loi pagoda, based on her own experiences, was more a political command post than a …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: Milting, Ambassador Aug. 21, 1963 Diem Lodge, Ambassador Diem Thich Tri Quang OCCURRENCE: Higgins claims that "...the raids by the Vietnamese Army and the pagodas took place fi …”
“DIEM OCCURRENCE: (5L ”AAL %RA+ 19 Aeha 4 Page 16 »On August 21, 1963, at a meeting between CONEIN" [an officer or the CIA Saigon station …”
“%* PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: GENERAL DON AMBASSADOR NOLTING July 1963 DIEM V CONEIN OCCURRENCE: On July % 1963, CONEIN received a message from DON, Commander of I Corps at the time, to met with him in the Carav …”
“DATES: CATEGORIES: PERSONS/ENTITIES: DIEM 7/63 DIEM • GEN.MINH NGO DINH NHU 3 -81a H ' - OCCURRENCE: €% 9AEG Ona of 6031/cosed -r-iA 100 a the decision to 3 00?.2, 1 .Dj m.mo …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES: CATEGORIES: DIEM May 6, 1963 f DIEM • THICH TRI QUANG. OCCURRENCE : Diem on May 6, 1963 revived a regulation banning the public display of any religious …”
“PERSONS/ENTITIES: DATES : CATEGORIES: TRUEHEART, WILLIAM June 1963 ; DIEM v MECKLIN, JOHN (Dir. USIA) NOLTING, AMBASSADOR Card 1of 2 OCCURRENCE: Mecklin stated that the American position following the incident …”