central 1NTILLICENCE agency
intelligence information cable
in
a.
1ages
3IA AD*' NAVY AIM JU MIC AIO A SOO ONK OC" OBB DCS CM CIA/NHCC
EXO
n.war urvoW ponoti
lb AN iN'-HMAT.^r. RtPOBT. NOT
sksd)
south Vietnam"
Jr^
april -
prime minister quat's views on current
political situation
source
saigon ci0 .field no.)
(summary: former prime minister dr. phan huy quat recently remarked that he is willing to take no moreassive rcle -in preparations for the upcoming elections. q'jat said that
of
inner hosted by prime minister nguyen cao ky, kyroup of pr cmt politicians and cabinet members that he
APPROVED PCX
IN
page5 'ages
KD
a CERTAIN num3er cf MILITARY MEMBERS ELECTED TO IS CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY. KY OBSERVED THAT THIS MIL IT ARY GROUP WOULD be ABLE TO MANEUVER GROUPS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE BUDDHISTS, so THAT THE BUDDHISTS WOULD NOT be ABLE TO CONTROL THE ASSEMBLY. KY ALSO TOLD THE GROUP THAT THE MILITARY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STABILITY OF THE NATIONAT if ANY GOVERNMENT Oft GROUPINGS WIT-KIN THE GOVERNMENT FAVORED CGHHUXXSM or NEUTRALISM; THE MILITARY WOULD CRUSH THEM.)
a CONVERSATIONPRIL, FORMER PRIME MINISTER
DR. PKAN H'JY QUAT REMARKED THAT he did NOT INTEND TO PARTICIPATE in THE PREPARATION of THE MECHANISM FOR THE FORTHCOMING ELECTIONS. CUAT obszrvzd THAT he WAS PERFECTLY WILLING TO TAKE PART in MEETINGS--WHICH VOXD SET FORTH THE GENERAL PLANS FOR THE ELECTIONS BUT he had NO INTENTION of HELPING to FORMULATE THE VARIOUS DETAI! .
WmWWmWWwat was in high spirits, but not as optimistic as he
a PREVIOUS OCCASION CONCERNING THE SUCCESSFUL CARRYING
OUT OF ELECTIONS. ALTHOUGH QUAT DID NOT EXPLAIN HIS DECREASING OPTIMISM, QuAT's SUBSEQUENT REMARKS INDICATED THAT HIS CHANGE IN FEELING IS PROBABLY DUE TO "RECENT IRRESPONSIBLE ACTIONS" ONART of KY.)
INNER he HAD ATTENDED WHICH WAS GIVEN
t
ages
INISTER KY ONMONG THE GUESTS WERE PROMINENT POLITICIANS SUCH AS LAWYER TRAN THANH HIEP, VIETNAM NATIONALIST PARTY CVNCDD) FACTION LEADER NGUYEN TUONG BA, LAWYER VUOMG VAN BAC, DR. NGUYEN CAQ HACH, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOUTHERN OLD STUDENTS* ASSOCIATION, AND SOME MEMBERS OF THE CABINET. KY TOLD THE GROUP, WHICH TOTALED MORE THAN TWENTY, THAT HE WAS HOLDING THE DINNER TO "HANK THOSE PRESENT FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE DURING THEPOLITICAL CRISIS AND IN MAKING PLANS FCR AN ELECTION-LAW DRAFTING COMMITTEE. BUI DIEM, SECRETARY OF .STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INFORMED THEAT THE ARMED FORCES WOULDIN THE ELECTIONS IN ONE OF TWO WAYS. ACCORDING TO QUAT, DIEM SAID THE ARMED FORCES WOULD ASKUMBER OF SEATS IN THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY FOR MILITARY MEN SELECTED BY THE LEADERS OF THE ARi'iED FORCES OR WOULD PUT UP CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR ELECTIONHE ASSEMBLY.
4. QUAT SAID THAT KY THEN INTERRUPTED BUI DIEM, STATING THAT THE ARMED FORCES WOULD MERELY SELECT AND SPONSOR THEIR OWNFOR ELECTION, BUT WOULD NOT ASKPECIAL NUMBER OF " SEATS SE nZSZR>JLjj FOR THE MILITARY. (FIELDUATA-L
)
in 8
fage iff ofages
)
A-L
present candidates who would have no difficulty being elected sinceersons are in the militarycounting their families, this would total several million'people, from this remark quat conclat ky .was still infatuated with the ideailitary. political party on the korean model.)
explained" that ky then lapsedisabout the armed forces and told the group that theyto accept the fact that stability was the responsibilityarmed forces, even after the elections. ky continued thatwould have to be on its guard and would crush anyor groupings within the goi chor neutralism. cfield comment: quat remarkedthai he would bethe.'firsi ro support
resumption of powerthe military if THICH tri. quang's clique were to GAIN power and try toeutralistut, quat added, there are certain 7kings which should BE* done but not SAID.)
0 hours KY announced that HE
wanted to apologize but that he would have to leave to haveit
ofY departed with deputy prime MINISTEr'nGUYEN huu co.
*'
quat commented that het her went daxcing or gambling.
PAGES
)
Original document.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: