It should be noted that after the example of 10 days 6-8-1950 until the early 60s, the religious situation in Vietnam changed a lot, but the number 10 on 6-8-1950 is not adjusted. Increasingly, the system of believers of Buddhism, Cao Dai and Hoa Hoa is organized. Particularly, on Buddhism, on May 6, 1951 Buddhist congregations from all over Vietnam gathered at Tu Dam (Hue), established the General Buddhist Association of Vietnam, passed the charter, monk and monk Thich Tinh Khiet as president.

Government Official Letter No. 10 - International Buddhist Flag - Tu Dam Pagoda in Hue

In the early days of the Republic of Vietnam, this example was almost inapplicable. On May 6, 1963, two days before the Buddha's Birthday, the Presidential Office sent a message requesting the local authorities not to display flags outside the temple grounds, (3) in the spirit of the 10-day 6-8-1950. This power not only discouraged the Buddhists, but also made the general public, even non-Buddhists, unhappy, because earlier on Christian holidays, the Court flag The Vatican (yellow and white) is suspended free of government restrictions. 

In the above areas, in the South Vietnam, Cao Dai and Hoa Hoa develop strongly in the southern provinces in the Mekong Delta; Buddhism prevalent in the northern provinces of Vietnam, especially Hue, where many temples were established from the 17th century onwards.

On the Christian side, then the archbishop of Hue was Ngo Dinh Thuc, brother of President Diem. Ngo Dinh Thuc was ordained bishop in Hue in 1938, was appointed the first bishop of Vinh Long. In 1961, Ngô Aình Thpc was renamed the Archdiocese of Huế. Up until 1963, he had been a senior bishop for 25 years.

At that time, it was claimed that on the occasion of the 25th year of his reign, Archbishop Thuc campaigned for the Cardinals to be ordained a cardinal. (4) It is further alleged that Thuc submitted to the Holy See The number of believers in the Archdiocese of Hue, then comprising Thua Thien and Quang Tri, was 80% of the population. In May 1963, the Apostolic Nunciature sent a delegation to Hue to investigate the Buddha's birthday. The initial conclusion of the delegation was that only 20% of the people in Hue Christianity, not 80%. (5) On May 7, 1963, after visiting the church of La Vang (Quang Tri ) and back to Hue, Thuc archbishop found that along the way people hung many Buddhist flags to celebrate Buddha's birthday (8-5-1963).

Ho Dac Khuong sent an urgent request to Saigon. "The confirmation of the ban on religious or party flags outside the campus and its headquarters remains valid."Relying on this message, Daciang " ordered local authorities in the central region to demolish the Buddhist flag ." (CVL, op. Cit., P. 229).

At Buddha's Birthday on May 8, 1963, when people gathered at Hue Radio Station to watch the report of Buddha's Birthday that day, a blast erupted, killing 8 people and injuring 15 people. News of the explosion spread quickly. People do not know exactly who caused the explosion. The government blamed Viet Cong terrorists.People blamed the Hue government for throwing explosives to disperse Buddhist followers. (6) Whoever caused the explosion, the explosion killed eight people.Immediately, the wave of opposition to the government increased and became increasingly violent.

First of all, on May 9, 1963, in Saigon, the Inter-Buddhist Committee for the Protection of Buddhism was established, chaired by Thich Tam Chau, Mai Tho Truyen as secretary general, Loi, on Ba Huyen Thanh Quan street. The commission consists of 11 Buddhist congregations.

After the Buddha's Birthday, Dac Khuong, the central government delegates were replaced on June 1, 1963. The person who was appointed was Nguyen Xuan Khuong, the former director of the Estate. Nguyen Van Do, provincial governor of Thua Thien province, and Major Dang Si, deputy head of the internal security department of Thua Thien province, were summoned to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Saigon. Another delegation was replaced by Lieutenant General Le Van Nghiem, 1st Corps commander, replaced on September 16, 1963 by a new colonel, Lieutenant Colonel Do Gao Xi. Meanwhile, on June 4, 1963, President Diem established the Intergovernmental Committee of the Government to study the requirements of Buddhism, headed by Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Tho.

On June 6, 1963, in Saigon, Thich Quang Duc set himself on fire at the crossroads of Phan Dinh Phung and Le Van Duyet, in protest of the government. Photo Thich Quang Duc self-immolation in flames flickering to shake the entire people of Vietnam and the world. Following the meetings between the Intergovernmental Committee of the Government and the delegation of the Inter-Buddhist Committee chaired by Thich Thien Minh from 14 June to 16 June 1963, the Diem government concurred, agreeing to let the Buddha the free flag and the suspension of the 10th edict on 6-8-1950.

On 9 and 29 July 1963, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued two decrees recognizing the Buddhist flag and the hanging of the Buddhist flag. On the one hand, however, the rallies toward Buddhism in Saigon and in localities have not only been hampered, but some have been arrested, on the one hand the government has organized pro-government organizations. protest against Buddhism. Thus, the conflict between the two sides remains unresolved. Certainly this contradiction was also used by the Viet Cong to deepen the gulf between government and the people, and between religions.

On 1 August 1963, Ngo Dinh Nhu accused Buddhist leaders of attempting to overthrow the government and self-immolation was just " barbecue. " Professor "(barbecue a Bonze). (CD, nb IC, ibid. p. 312.) Subsequently, dated 3-8-1963, when speaking at the graduation ceremony of the training paramilitary groups Thanh Female Republic , Nhu condemned religious struggles. Nhu's words were told by her father Tran Van Chuong, Vietnam's ambassador to the United States, of "lack of respect" for Buddhism. (Doan More, pp 357.)

 

Venerable Thich Quang Duc self-immolation - Ms. Ngo Dinh Nhucho that is just "roast meat

Such opinions not only made the relationship between the Diem government and the followers of the Buddhists worse, but also made ordinary people dissatisfied with the regime. After Nhu's comments, in August 1963, there were repeatedly protests by the government, in which the most important were the burning incidents of Buddhist monks and nuns.

On 4-8-1963, in Phan Thiet (Binh Thuan), great virtue Thich Nguyen Huong, named Huynh Van Le, self-immolated in the province chief. Late at 12-8, at Xa Loi Pagoda in Saigon, Mai Tuyet An, an 18-year-old schoolteacher, was holding a knife against his left hand to protest against Ngo Dinh Nhu; more blood but not broken hands. On 13-8-1963, great virtue Thich Thanh Tue, the name is Bui Huy Chuong, self-immolation at Phuoc Duyen Pagoda, Huong Tra, Thua Thien. On August 15, 1963, Thich Nu Dieu Quang, known as Nguyen Thi Thu, set himself on fire in Ninh Hoa (Khanh Hoa). On August 16, 1963, Thich Tieu Dieu, the Doan Me, burned himself at Tu Dam Pagoda, Hue.

Also on August 16, 1963, in Hue, under the order of President Diem, Father Cao Van Luan, director of Hue University, was dismissed and Professor Tran Huu The was appointed. 261-263.) This change left many professors and university professors resigned, and the students were outraged.

The more the people protested and the social situation became more and more disturbing, the Diem government did not give in. (7) On August 18, 1963, ten senior generals suggested to the government that they should martial law, order re-order.Based on that proposal, President Diem decided to set up martial law nationwide from 0 am on August 21, 1963. This decision was signed by the Chief of Staff of the ARVN, Lt. Gen. Tran Van Don.

The important thing in this martial lawsuit was about half an hour after its enactment, that is, on the morning of August 21, 1963, the government ordered the pagoda to spread all over the country, arresting monks and nuns. fight against the government. Particularly in Saigon, the Special Forces attacked the relics on Ba Huyen Thanh Quan. Buddhist leaders were arrested, except for some who escaped.Thich Tri Quang was arrested, but he fled to the US Embassy on August 23, 1963. (8) Henry Cabot Lodge arrived in Saigon on August 22, 1963.

After the attack on the temple, the situation became more turbulent. On August 21, 1963, Tran Van Chuong, Vietnam's ambassador to the United States, was dismissed by the Diem government, and vice versa, Tran Van Chuong announced his resignation. Tran Van Chuong, whose real name is Than Thi Nam Tran, resigned from the position of Vietnamese observer at the United Nations. On the afternoon of August 22, 1963, in Saigon, Vu Van Mau resigned as foreign minister.

At that time, the Voice of America (VOA) reported that the army had attacked the temple, so Lieutenant General Tran Van Don invited Lieutenant Colonel Lucien Conein, a CIA agent, to meet. At that time, Lucien Conein was an adviser to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. During the talk with Conein on the evening of August 23, 1963 at the TTM, General Don said that the military was not involved in raiding the pagodas but the special police of the government. When Conein asked, "Do Vietnamese generals intend to take a coup?", General Don hesitates, "I will talk later." (9) Since then, Conein has frequently contacted and investigated Vietnamese generals. .

On August 24, 1963, President Diem appointed Truong Cong Cuu as Foreign Minister to replace Vu Van Mau, and on the same day, the government ordered the closure of schools in Saigon, but students continued. opposing the government. (The schools reopened on September 4, 1963.) On August 25, 1963, about 300 student students protested at Dien Hong Square, before Ben Thanh Market. Demonstrators were suppressed, a girl named Guo was shot dead. Quach Thi Trang, legal name Dieu Nghiem, about 15 years old, private girls Truong Son (Saigon).

In front of Ben Thanh Market, on October 5, 1963, the great Thich Quang Huong, named Nguyen Ngoc Ky, set himself on fire to protest the religious discrimination policy of the Diem government, according to the blood that the virtue left. . After Thich Quang Huong, Thich Thien My, the name of Hoang Mieu (1940-1963), self-immolation in front of Notre Dame Cathedral, Saigon.

In the world, on August 9, 1963, Cambodia, Ceylon (after Sri Lanka), Nepal brought the issue of Buddhism to the United Nations (UN). The UN General Assembly decided on 8 October 1963 to send a delegation to Vietnam. United Nations Mission to Saigon on October 24, 1963. The next day, the delegation met with President Diem and held a press conference. (Doan More, p. 364) The mission has not completed the investigation, the Diem government collapsed on 1 November 1963. 

3. THE ROLE OF THE US

Not only the United States, all donors, want the aid to be effective, and especially to rely on aid to intervene in the internal affairs of recipient countries; Guiding or controlling the country's guidelines in accordance with the guidelines of the donor country. In return, aid recipients always want to maintain national sovereignty over donor countries, against the intervention of the host country.

The situation between the United States and South Vietnam is the same. The United States provided aid to the Republic of Vietnam against the communists, but was not anti-Communist in the way of the Republic of Vietnam, but anti-Communist in the United States. The United States is a world power and the United States wants to maintain diplomatic relations with all countries. The United States is well known for its use, so the US government must also exercise the rights of US capitalists to be re-elected. Since then, there has been a conflict between the US government and the government of Vietnam in the conduct of aid and anti-communism.

It is noteworthy that US oil aid to the Republic of Vietnam, but within the US government, not everyone supports President Diem. American supporters of Diem argued that the Diem government was anti-communist, or that no one was more capable than Diem. Americans opposed Diem's ​​claim that the Diem government was corrupt, opposed to anti-communist efficiency. One more important thing for the Americans, but Americans to avoid publicly, is that Diem is not easy to follow the American way, and Diem defends the sovereignty of the nation quite tough, conservative.

After coming to power in January 1961, President John F. Kennedy sent Vice President Lyndon Johnson to Vietnam on May 11, 1961. At the meeting with the US vice president, President Diem declared not accepting that the United States sent troops to fight for Vietnam, but only asked the United States to send training consultants only. Then, in an audience with Ambassador Frederick Nolting (ambassador from May 10, 1961), when Nolting suggested letting the United States share its resolve On political, military and economic grounds, President Diem responded that "we do not want to be a US protectorate." (10)
It is documented that since 1961, the United States wants to establish air and naval base in Cam Ranh, but President Diem does not approve. (11) Indeed, until 1964, after President Diem The US Fleet lost a few units to the reconnaissance missions there, and from 1965 the United States officially established the Naval Base. At that time, this base controlled the activities of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

In the United States, President Dwight Eisenhower advocated the royal government of Laos, defeated the Lao Pathet, halted communist uprisings. Eisenhower, Kennedy change policy Laos. Kennedy handed over to Averell Harriman, seeking a political solution to the war in Laos. Harriman served as Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs from January to November 1961 and became deputy secretary of state for political affairs. . Harriman campaigned to convene an international conference in Geneva to neutralize Laos. (12) The conference began in May 16, 1961, to July 23, 1962, which led to an agreement to recognize Laos as an independent nation. and neutral, led by Prince Souvanna Phouma as prime minister.

Laos's neutral treaty was opposed by the Diem government, as the Diem government feared that Laos would not be able to defend its borders against the intrusion of communist Vietnam, creating opportunities for North Vietnamese troops. Laos, and then Truong Son, down South Vietnam. At first, President Diem refused to sign the agreement on the neutralization of Laos. This made Harriman angry and hated President Diem. President Kennedy sent a letter to President Diem, ensuring that the United States would not neutralize South Vietnam, and that the United States would continue to provide aid to South Vietnam to counter the Communists. Due to pressure from the United States, President Diem granted concessions to the South Vietnamese Foreign Minister to sign this agreement. (Mark Moyar, pp. 163-164.)

In addition, since mid-1962, the United States was concerned about the sources that the Diem government was in liaison with the communist state of Hanoi. This began in the summer of 1962, when consultant Ngo Dinh Nhu headed the Vietnamese delegation through Morocco, visiting the country. Here, Nhu met Antoine Pinay, then minister of the French presidency. Pinay proposed a high-level meeting between Hanoi and Saigon to discuss the North-South dialogue. Back to Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Nhu borrowed the excuse of hunting tigers, secretly met in Binh Tuy a senior communist figure is Pham Hung, a member of the Politburo of the Lao Dong party. (13)

In August 1962, Joseph A. Mendenhall, a political adviser to the US embassy in Saigon, offered to remove Diem, the Ngo Dinh Nhu and his family members, with some Other characters, because Diem Nhu did not change the working style despite pressure from the United States. (Official Code, No. 256-257.) This means that the policy of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. This means that the Americans intended to remove President Diem before the Buddhist event in May 1963. 
On the occasion of Lunar New Year (25-1-1963), the president of North Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh sent a branch to the president of Nam Viet, Ngo Dinh Diem. This branch is displayed in the Independence Hall of Fame and on the branch there are Ho Chi Minh's New Year's greetings. (14)

After being nominated as foreign minister on August 24, 1963, Truong Cong Cuu opened his first reception on August 25, 1963, to launch the diplomatic corps in Saigon, while welcoming the new ambassador to the United States Henry Cabot Lodge. At this reception, the first Ngo Dinh Nhu consultant met Mieczylslaw Maneli, the Polish leader in the International Commission for Control of Combat.Ngo Dinh Nhu also met Maneli the second time at Gia Long palace on September 2, 1963 to contact the Hanoi. (Righteousness, see pp. 325 and 339.)

Surely US intelligence did not miss Ngo Dinh Nhu's communication with the communists and the excavation of Hanoi in the Independence Palace during the Tet holiday in 1963. To master the situation, late September 1963, President Kennedy sent Chief of Defense Robert McNamara and General Maxwell Taylor through Saigon. On September 29, 1963, they met President Diem. McNamara spoke directly to President Diem that the persecution of Buddhists hindered the anti-communist effort and complained about Ngo Dinh Nhu's claims. President Diem avoided the issues raised by McNamara.

Meanwhile, the US media has repeatedly criticized the Diem government, especially since the Buddhist event in Hue in May 1963 and after the Diem government ordered attacks on temples (August 1963) . American opinion suggests that President Diem, the author of the dictatorship of domination, became increasingly unpopular, less and more effective in running the country and against the communist guerrillas. IC, Doc. 357-361.)

1963 was the year preceding the presidential election of the United States (1964).Public opinion of the American press in 1963 is very important, which may affect election results in the following year (1964). President Kennedy fears the situation in Vietnam is adversely affecting his re-election in 1964.

For all of these reasons, the Kennedy government wants to find a new solution that will change the situation in Vietnam in a way that benefits the United States and is conducive to Kennedy's re-election. 

4.- 243 DAYS OF SATURDAY 24-8-1963

According to Tran Van Don, your coup group did not let the Americans know about the planned coup. However, Americans not only know this, but also support this, as Tran Van Don also said that their group admitted Tran Thien Khiem to the coup organization. thanks to Americans. (Vide., P. 193.) This means that Americans play an important role in mediating personnel for the supposedly coup group. 

In fact, as noted above, Americans have been thinking of changing the South Vietnamese leader more than a year ago by the suggestion of Joseph Mendenhall, the political adviser to the US Embassy in Saigon, in the vote. submitted on August 16, 1962.

After the Buddhist event of May 8, 1963 in Hue, Vietnam's ambassador to the US embassy, ​​Ben Wood, prepared an emergency plan on May 23, Diem. After Thich Quang Duc set himself on fire on June 11, 1963, the US State Department instructed June 14, 1963, for the Saigon embassy to expedite a plan to replace President Diem.

On June 27, 1963, President Kennedy announced the decision to change the US ambassador to Vietnam. Changing ambassadors in the face of tensions is a sign of policy change, but to calm the Vietnamese government, the US State Department asked the embassy in Saigon for President Diem to know that the policy of the United States I do not change, continue to support the government of Vietnam against the communists. (Righteous, IC, op. Cit., P. 302.) Continuing to support Vietnam's anti-communist cause does not mean support for individual government executives.

On August 22, 1963, new ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge arrived in Saigon and submitted his letter dated 26 August 1963. Two days ago, August 24, 1963, Lodge sent a message to Washington DC that Nhu was the one who ordered the attack on the temple and spoke about the planned coup against some generals. 

On August 24, 1963, Saturday, President Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Secretary of Defense MacNamara, CIA Director McCone was on holiday for the weekend. Deputy Secretary of State George Ball, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Harriman (Deputy Foreign Minister), Hilsman (Assistant Secretary of State), Forrestal (co-presidential), signed the 243 The United States in Saigon on August 24, 1963, then transferred to President Kennedy and Secretary of State Rusk. They agreed to send it. The content of the last paragraph of the message is very important, is translated as follows:

" The United States government can not afford the status quo in Nhu's hands. Diem must remove Nhu and his subordinates instead by elite troops and politicians.

If Mr.  [Lodge ambassador]  tries his best, but Diem is stubborn and refuses, we must confront the possibility that even Diem himself can not survive . "(15)

Secretary of State Cabot Lodge's Secretary 243-1963 ordered the president to remove Nhu's adviser. (This is what Americans know Diem never did.) If Diem did not approve, then Diem was removed. In other words, the secret would allow Ambassador Lodge, if necessary, to conduct a coup, overthrow President Diem.Noteworthy: Averell Harriman, a neutralist in Laos, was opposed by President Diem, one of four who wrote the 243 secret. Harriman hated President Diem. Is this the occasion for Harriman to seek revenge, because this secret can be considered the death certificate of President Ngo Dinh Diem?

CONCLUDE

In the administration, in terms of domestic affairs, the Diem government advocated centralization of power, was condemned as dictatorship family domination. Diem's ​​government firmly applied the 10th Law of 1950 from the time of the government of Tran Van Huu, unfairly between religions. In the will of King Minh Mang in 1819, King Gia Long said, " Do not abuse religion, because it causes disorder and sometimes dehydration ." (16)

Although Ngô ĐìnhDiệm's regime was not at the level of religious persecution, the ten-tier implementation of the struggle broke out the Buddhist struggle, which constituted the majority of the Vietnamese population. At that time, there were certainly many from many sides taking advantage of the Buddhist protest to disrupt the Diem government and disrupt the Republic. Meanwhile, despite President Diem and the government showing goodwill to deal with the crisis, there are some people in the government who are lacking in transparency, causing more divisions between the government and the people, as claimed. of Ms. Ngo Dinh Nhu. The contradictions between the two sides are increasingly acute.

On foreign policy, the Diem government insisted on independence from Americans, while Americans wanted to control the government of Vietnam. Diem and Nhu had direct diplomatic initiatives with North Vietnam to resolve the war between the North and the South, not only causing panic among the Vietnamese public, but also making the US government suspicious and unpopular. Because the Americans were out of the negotiations.
Americans are not interested in the interests of the Vietnamese but only worry about the interests of the United States. The issue of Buddhism and political opposition in Vietnam is only important to the Vietnamese, not to the American people. Americans relied on these issues, inciting and supporting generals to overthrow Diem, for American interests and for Kennedy's re-election. The support of the US Embassy and Henry Cabot Lodge helped decisively in the success of the November 1, 1963 coup. (History of the history of the episode 6.)