RETIRED GENERAL TRAN VAN DON'S VIEW THAT THE BUDDHISTS STOPPED ANTIGOVERNMENT A

Created: 5/12/1966

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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GENERAL TRaN VAN DON LAMENTED THE FACT THAT THE BUDDHISTS HAD STOPPED THEIR ANT IGOVERNME NTN THEHUAN EXPLAINED TO DON THAT THE BUDDHISTS HAD NOT WANTED TO BECOME TOO INVOLVED IN POLITICS (SIC) OR PERSONALITIES. THUAN CLAIMED THE BUDDHISTS ONLY WANT an ELECTED NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. DON REPLIED THAT IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE BUDDHISTS HAD NOT CONTINUED TO INDICATE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN PRIME MINISTER NGUYEN CaO KY, FOR IN THAT CASE DON WOULD HAVE SEEN ABLE TO MOVE

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PROFESSOR THUAXHAT HEPPOIN7ED IN DON BECAUSE DON HAD EARLIER HINTED THAT HE COULD TAKE OVER THE GOVERNMENT IF THE BUDDHISTS MOVED IN CENTRAL VIETNAM. DON CONTINUED TO STICK WITH HIS ARGUMENT THAT THE BUDDHISTS HAD STOPPED TOO SOON. DON STATED THAT HE UAS NOT IN CONTROL OF THE ARtfY AND HE HAD NEITHER THE MOSEY NOR THE CAPABILITY Or HANDING OUT PROMOTIONS IN ORDER TO BUY OFF KEY OFFICERS.

AINTAINED THAT THE BUDDHISTS do NOT WANT DON TOOUP 3UT RATHER TO ORGANIZE SOUTHERNERS POLITICALLY AND INSTILL IN THEM SOKE POLITICAL REACT IONS SO THAT THEY WILLOLE IN THE COUNTRY'S POLITICAL LIFE, THUAN SAID THAT DON HAS TWO POLITICALTHE "LIEN TRUONG" FOR INTELLECTUALS AND THE "DONG HAI" FOR WORKERS. (FIELD COMMENT!THESE ORGANIZATIONS mmo) HAD BEEN GRANTED OFFICIAL ORGANIZATION PERMITS.)

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