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4/25/1966 - The Anatomy of a Crisis Part I - Ky Dumps Thl by Takashi Oka

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS P O Box The Anatomy Crisis Part I Ky Dumps Thi Saigon Vietnam April Mr R H Nolte Institute Current World Affairs Madison Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Nolte On Thursday morning March ornate reception where French resident generals Annam court notables Hue witnessed axtraordinary scene between irate generals prime minister South Vietnam other corps commander government delegate First Region comprising country northernmost provinces There stood Nguyen Chanh Thi ruddy mustachioed paratrooper minor mandarin worked village outside Hue risen sergeant French colonial lieutenant general Vietnamese National Army commander First Region A swashbuckling backslapping fellow drove waving girls topknotted peasants young students dressed troopers whose their Vietcong prisoners remained tactfully respectful terms Buddhist bonzes preaching peace And there stood Nguyen Cao Ky years Thi junior mustachioed swashbuckling suave befitted bourgeois family learned speak perfect French before becoming cadet French sponsored Namdinh Officers Training School Hanoi A bantamweight daredevil fighter pilot Ky designed black flying lavender scarf would conspicuous should during clandestine night flights North Vietnam years before bombing North became official American Saigon policy Ky premier months But member general National Leadership Council which Thi Air Force commander former Youth Minister substantive without approval colleagues In Major General Air Vice Marshal preferred himself In between stood civilian suited Hong Du Chau elderly assistant government delegate civil servant First Region Though appointed Saigon Mr Chau Th The generals started quarrelling almost arrived corps headquarters Danang those present seemed though continuing dispute already begun private Ky wanted accounting piastres allocated First Region share confiscated wealth overthrown Ngo Dinh Diem family Th called Chau details This money principle supposed spent public works projects schools housing Behind Ky question implication Thi misspent funds Chau launched wordy account delays caused rising prices arrival supplies Saigon He complained about Saigon policies several other points Ky listened growing impatience abruptly You official central government represent Saigon criticize Sit Since assistant perhaps I better explain Thi black eyebrows quivering All troubles power resolve these issues locally To which Ky responded The demand power rational asking feudal seigneur The generals stood there tossing insults other while stiffly protocol conscious elders Hue stared ceiling their Some sympathized Thi local prevailing feeling seemed horror these officers ruling country months pretext ivilians incapable doing Since Thi despite plaint about being resolve issues locally undisputed master First Region Ky could depart Saigon signing orders dismissing unfortunate Chau during homeward flight They carried He Nhatrang weekend conference Americans including Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge rural pacification By ambassador whose hearty smile handshake faultless French conceal inner hauteur apprised quarrel Hue through telegram consul there No knows whether Ky brought quarrel directly ambassador solicited counsel either Nhatrang meeting Saigon during first following Ky denies asked Mr Lodge advice ambassador friends Ky Thi One after Hue quarrel Thursday March enerals comprising National Leadership Council plenary session Joint General Staff Headquarters Tan Son Nhut airfield outside Saigon Saigon abuzz rumors about sacked But which The Thi Ky quarrel spread stories bickered before without reaching final break TO The Thi Ky relationship least years Gen Nguyen Ehanh premiership Khanh overthrown first Ngo Dinh Diem junta headed easygoing popular Gen Duong Van Minh Jan He arrested relatively senior generals Tan Van Don Le Van Kim Ton That Dinh Mai Huu Xuan under detention resort Dalat Nhanh promoted number junior officers hoping their support diminish influence older generals surrounded Minh Among these officers Thi Ky Thi abortive paratrooper rebellion against Ngo Dinh Diem November fleeing Cambodia revolt failed He returned Saigon after Diem overthrow death three years later coolly received Minh comrades This impelled Khanh attack bitterly generals surrounding Minh revolutionary French neutralist Khanh Thi control First Corps command himself before Ky major But promoters successful rebellion against Ngo family Khanh Ky commander Air Force first Air Commodore Thi Ky several others promoted Khanh formed group which known collectively Young Turks their being reached general during Diem regime They castigated D generals corrupt pledged remain incorruptible dedicated revolution Most Y Turks succumbed temptations ruined their predecessors Furthermore religious differences between Bddhists Catholics others spilled political field fissures developed among Young Turks Some aligned themselves Buddhists others Catholics Thi Ky identified Buddhists Ky airforce commander played major suppressing Catholic etats sparked concessions Buddhists Catholics considered sweeping In February after second these would coups Young Turks deserted Khanh depriving position commander chief forcing exile Just before Buddhists demonstrating fasting against Tran Van Huong civilian regime Ky represented Armed Forces numerous talks Buddhists students The Buddhists found Ky sympathetic leading bonze Thich Thien Minh wrote young airforce commander letter saying Armed Forces overthrew Huong bonzes would return their pagodas least years The Armed Forces overthrow Huong bonzes their pagodas During Buddhist civilian regime Dr Phan Huy Quat Ky Thi leading supporters government Late May Dr Quat involved constitutional dispute Chief State Phan Khac Suu Catholics Southerners fanned quarrel June Dr Quat forced appeal Armed Forces mediation By Young Turks including Ky Thi determined power themselves They replaced Messrs Suu Quat National Leadership Council composed exclusively generals Thi offered premiership turned would First Corps power north Ky accepted understanding Thi would resign commander airforce order concentrate premiership Wilier Thi temporarily airforce which after Tan Don Nhut airbase outside oamgon Later other enerals taking cabinet portfolios their military But asked press conferences about would disarmingly request journalists raise pointed questions Though premier Ky primus inter pares meetings National Leadership Council Ltl Nguyen Van Thieu Chairman Lt Gen Pham Xuan Chieu Secretary General But powerful members Council generals commanded corps capital military region Nguyen Chanh Thi commander First Corps northernmost provinces Vinh Loc commander Second Corps central highlands lowlands provinces Nguyen BaD Tri commander Third Corps provinces Saigon Dang Van Quang commander Fourth Corps provinces Mekong delta Le Nguyen Khang commander Marine Brigade capital military region Saigon Giadinh These corps commanders anomalous position In military chain command subordinate Defense Minister Chief Joint General Staff In civil chain command government delegates their areas representing various Saigon ministries But members National Leadership Council equals premier Defense Minister Chief General Staff If banded together Council sessions could overrule order might received individually Saigon since Council thesu preme State organ Partly because SOD distance Saigon partly because traditional exclusiveness Central Vietnamese temperament because forceful personality revolutionary Thi probably independent corps commanders He hired fired province chiefs little regard Saigon desires openly criticized central policies orders capital marginal notations This stupid order Ky reportedly complained Th should comments verbally writing documents messenger could While Quang Fourth Corps Vinh Loc Second Corps acted pretty independently Saigon Thi corps commander enjoyed genuine popular The people region proud against Diem though failed Thi carefully cultivated popularity becoming closely identified numerous religious political factions maintaining relations He respectful Thich Tri Quang forceful leader Buddhist clergy Central Vietnam He honored Vietnam Quoc Dan Dang oldfashioned conspiratorial party strong Quang Nam Quang Ngai provinces south Oanang In Quang Tri supported civilian province chief belonging another party Dai Viet until elected provincial council requested removed He Catholic Buddhists Thi popular students young people preached nationalism while rejecting communism neutralism His hatred Communists legendary Intelligence officers complained captured Vietcong cadres before chance extract useful information Thi responded convinced Communists thoroughly indoctrinated repent change their information might supply bound false Thi cultivated civilians He relations politicians imprisoned during Diem delighted statements milit regime dilatory about proceeding towards civilian political activity He named several civilians province chiefs At sacked three provinces Danang civilian chiefs No other corps commanders appointed civilian province chiefs He gathered around civilian brain trust ideas Thi American Marine Division which beginning March perimeters Danang Chu La Phu Bai He seemed freer complexes other corps commanders Quang Fourth Corps refused American troops except advisers Vinh Loc Second Corps created kinds difficulties Americans particularly their relations montagnard tribesmen manning Special Forces camps Thi asserted Vietnamese nationalism calculated appeal local population He ordered cantering Americans Danang relocated streets center He refused tolerate foreign names restaurants other shops street eliminating garish profusion San Francisco Hawaii Romance Melody Smart other blaring signs typical establishments favored merican military He tolerated student professorial outbursts against prices alleged diminution mational sovereignty caused American presence carefully controlled spurts Sinh Vien Hue published Hue University students allowea issues articles criticizing TO Americans suppressed editors advised wanted avoid trouble authorities Thi policy seemed allow various groups enough steam major explosions Thus sacking single group First Corps including Buddhists unreservedly favor Each appreciated ertain while being disturbed angry about other things How Thi could political balancing uncertain Nevertheless Americans scene credit considerable political shrewdness evaluation unfortunately shared Amemican ambassador himself political counsellor Thi independent observers agreed ideal First Corps commander In nationwide scope however believed qualities successful Hue Danang might undoing Though elationship Buddhists close critics believed close enough cause Catholics particularly militant Northern variety abhor During Feb abortive Gen Lain Van Phat Col Pham Thao Catholic officers pamphlets naming Buddhist Vien Hoa Dao Institue Execution Dharma anization would delive country Communists Thi general would Vien Hoa Dao policy While hiding after failure Feb Colonel Thao Thi assassination squads looking similar squads prowling aftem Thi Thi being native Hue Southerners Northerners Central Vietnamese devious dissimulating His peasant speech pleased fellow provincials offended Saigon sophisticated intellectuals considered French inadequate Vietnamese During latter stages commandership Thi official speeches polished Professor Le Tuyen Hue University But Thi manage followers positions The Prefect Mayor Saigon Dr Van Van Cua pistol packing surgeon paratrooper brigade The Director National Police Col Pham Van Lieu Thi subordinate during The commander Division outside Saigon Col Pham Trong Chinh another comrade Chinh brother became mayor Camranh another companion Major Nguyen Kien Hung appointed chief Khanh Hoa province which includes airbase American military complex Nhatrang Thus National Leadership Council March Ky complaint against Thi apparent Thi whose removal would entail whole series changes within military among civilian officials First Corps Saigon Some Thi closest friends Saigon Police Director Lieu Information Minister Dinh Trinh Chinh heard rumors March I0 meeting might decide Thi But there rumors before And there other rumors seeking Ky Catholic Southern support Americans trying dislodge Quang Vinh Loc Ky having urned Honolulu February President Johnson personal accolade promise another rendezvous June July urgently seeking reassert central government authority corps commanders And Thi friends decided there except await outcome Council meeting hoping removed would Quang Vinh Loc instead Thi By Thursday evening however clear Thi The Council Joint General Staff headquarters while Kys airforce planes circled protectively overhead At point version events Ky telephoned Ambassador Lodge Council decided Lodge reported asked whether eventualities thought through Ky replied Within Council Ky himself speech proposing Thi removal saying premier could without authority local commanders asking council members choose between Thi himself Thi emotional rejoinder defending record The members divided The headquarters group those posts Saigon supported Ky These Chairman Nguyen Van Thieu Secretary General Pham Xuan Chieu Defense Minister Nguyen Huu Co Chief staff Cao Van Vien Saigon Giadinh military commander Le Nguyen Khang So Nguyen Bao Tri commander Third Corps devout Northern Catholic bitterly opposed Thi In quixotic gesture himself supposed voted removal Quang Fourth Corps Vinh Loc Second Corps caught difficult position They Thi Quang Southern Catholic while Vinh Loc French trained cavalry officer member former Imperial family looked Thi upstart But Quang Vinh Loc Ky complaints against Thi meant equally They abstained voting hurried Saigon fearful stayed might detained deprived their commands The Friday Vietnam Press circulated official announcement saying Thi taking vacation because illness To mollify Buddhists Hue citizens Maj Gen Nguyen Van Chuan Hue commander First Division headquartered Hue appointed acting commander First Corps Brig Gen Pham Xuan Nhuan commandant Rangers fervent Buddhist command First Division On evening Council meeting after known Thi before official TO announcement political counsellor American Embassy arranged briefing forty foreign correspondents mostly American To surprise expected sidestep Thi ouster counsellor lengths assure audience incident likely cause uncopeable difficul Ky regime because political soundings taken apparent Thi popularity vastly overrated On basis briefing number correspondents including representatives major American media wrote stories fairly optimistic nature rearding Thi dismissal Later Ky friends Ngo Trong Anh Inspector General known Buddhist Hue evening before Council meeting sound Buddhist hierarchy Anh arrived Hue contacted Thich Don Hau titular leader hierarchy Thich Thien Sieu superior Tu Dam pagoda classmate Thich Tri Quang He government considering replacing Thi Chuan Since Chuan Hue acceptable Buddhists Thi questio posed apparently aroused objections At following morning morning Council meeting Anh brought message Ky But important Buddhist Thich Tri Quang contacted Tri Quang Sa Ky indirectly Tri Quang particularly pleased Thi variety reasons mostly flirting groups other Buddhists But Ky specifically contact Tri Quang after decision Thi removal He friends later consider necessary A friend minister Ky cabinet country Thi ouster Urgently recalled Saigon hurried Ky residence Tell thing impulsively planned To which Ky replied I impulse I thought three My friend rejoined Three enough important Sincerely yours Takashi Oka Received New York May