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Title:
Views of Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Tho concerning the declaration of Martial Law
Date of Creation:
August 23, 1963
Date of Declassification:
June 28, 1991
Type of Document:
Information report cable
Level of Classification:
NOT GIVEN
Status of Copy:
SANITIZED
Pagination, Illustration:
2 p.
Abstract:
On 27 August 1963 Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Tho made the following statements: 1) He had no prior knowledge of the operation planned for the early morning hours of 21 August; 2) He first learned of the President's plan to declare Martial Law when Diem called him at 0500 hours of 21 August; 3) He believed that Diem had received bad advice and did not agree with the action taken, which he described as the use of Martial Law solely to eliminate the Buddhist problem; 4) The attack on Xa Loi Pagoda could only cause bitterness and damage to what little prestige the government still had; 5) Irresponsible advice could not be followed if the government expected to defeat the Viet Cong. He also indicated that he would like to retire from politics at an early date, a desire which had been strengthened by the events of 21 August.
Indexing Terms:
Declassified Documents Reference System Location:
1992-000042