REMARK BY GENERAL TRAN VAN MINH THAT HE HAS HEARD THE BUDDHISTS WOULD ACCEPT HI

Created: 5/13/1966

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

Intelligence Information Cable mh ^

13

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bOUTH VIETNAM fi* Documeni

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REMARK BY GENERAL TRAN VAN MINK THAT HZ HAS HEARD THE -BUDDHISTS WOULD ACCEPT HIM AS PRIME MINISTER AND MISH'S VIEWEW GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE SOUTHERN LESHIP

I. ACCORDING TC GENERAL TRAN VAN MIJiK, WHO HAS BEEN UNASSIGNED SINCEGUYEN HCANG KINH OF ThE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS -TOLD MINH THAT MINH'S NAME APPEARSIST COMPILED BY THE BUDDHISTS OF PERSONS WHO WOULD SE ACCEPT ASLE FOR THE JOB OF PRIME HIRISTER. XlNH FURTHER TCLD MIKH THAT BUDDHIST INSTITUTE CHAIRMAN THICH TAM CHAU HAD Rl;-WSKDED THAT HUHODERATE CATHOLIC ACCEPTABLE TO THE BUDDHISTS.

XINri EXPLAINED THAT THE BUDDHIST LIEADERSHIP HAS ALREADYED

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REUSED GENERAL TRAN IaN DONUTURE PRIME MINISTER AND THATE HeOILD POSSIBLY BE CONSIDEREDDARK HORSE" OR CON-PRGHISE CANDIDATE ACCEPTABLE TO MILITARY-POLITICAL-RELIGIOUS LEADERS.

GENERAL MINK STATED THAT HE TENDED TO DISCOUNT THE EVEN hEKOTE POSSIBILITY OF HISHANCE FOR THE POST OF PRIME HlBISTEn. .MINH ADDED THAT HE WAS READY TO SERVE HISCOUNTRY IN ANY JaErUL MANNER. NINH CLAIMED HE WOULD NOT PERMIT HIMSELF TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ANY ACTION AIMED AT VIOLENT OVERTHROW OF THE PRESENT GoVESStfisvT.

AY NIMH EXPRESSED THE VIEW THAT GENERAL DON WAS PERHAPS IKE CUE PERSON WHO HAD ALL THE NECESSARY QUALIFICATIONS FOR MAKING HIM AN ACCEPTABLE PRIMEINH OBSERVED THAT KEY MILITARYWCJLD ACCEPT DON BECAUSE OF HIS MILITARYIRCU3-STAXCE WHICH WOULD INCREASE HIS LASTING POTENTIAL. FURTHERMORE, DONOUTHERNER. KINK THOUGHT FORMER PRIME MINISTER TRAN VAN HUONG WOULD-BE AN IDEALT ATE_ FOR DON. MINH CONTINUED THAT HE

7HIED ALWAYS TO REMAIN APOLITICAL BUTIF DON ASKED HIM TG PARTICIPATEEW GOVERNMENT, HE WOULD ACCEPT MINH, WHOOUTHERNER, EMPHASIZED THAT GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP'SOWN TO PROVINCE AND LOCAL LEVEL MUST BE IN THE HANDS OFHE_ COMMENTED THAT IT IS QUITE

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A KEY GOVERNMENT POST. THE AIDES HAD HEARD THISUMBER OF JJSIGft AXD FILLD GRADE OFFICERS.

GENERAL MINH SAID THAT ELECTIONS SHOULD BE DEFERRED HUH REMARKED THAT HE FEARED ELECTIONS WOULD SERVE TO CONFUSE THE SITUATION MORE AND THAT THE VIET CONG WOULD SURELY EXPLOIT SUCK TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.

FIELD DIS3EM: STATE USAID JUSPAO USMACV USARV HAVFORV 7TH AIR FORCE CINCPAC ARPAC PACAF PACFLT.

CLASS CONUi9Ni

Original document.

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