(DELETED) THE STRATEGIC HAMLET PROGRAM

Created: 7/3/1962

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

INFORMATION REPORT

ENTRAL VIETNAM AS AMERICANS WERE LARGElY CONTROLLING THE PROGRAM THERE AND WERL* ESTABLISHING THE HAMLETS ON AN EXPERIMENTAL OASIS WHICH WAS

NOT

ON THE MEKONG DELTA *REA WHERE THE HAMLETS REPRESENTEDOF VIETNAM EFFORT.

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INFORMATION REPORT

sabotaged dy military field commanders and, most dangerously, by thf.

chiefs. BHHIHHI^HHHILV-iewthat

thgsc uamlcts forced too much of the armed forces into static defense,

opP3SEc ro the practice or ignoring chains or ccwo

ano proper coordination practicedhe military commanders, particularly the held generals and the regional ano zone commanders,

the independent approach OF the province chiefs, rather than the military attitude, is what may wreck the wholc strategic hamlet pr r an example the first class Or trainees at the th| nghe strategic hamlet training center por which frovince CHlErS selecteo personnel from the lowest elements possible. the trainees were illiterate peasants, the lowestr the SELr OErE'iSE corps ano the civil guaro, criminal elements, juvenile delinquents, ano others whoontrol problem OR were persons Or whom the province chieps simply wanted TO be rio. this indicated that the province CHlErS had paio NO attention to the initial requests eor trainees IN good standing IN their communities and having enough prestige TO iNELUENCE THE people when they returned rROM the training course.

confidAtial

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THE SECOND TRAINING CLASS, SPECIFYING THAT THEY BE CHOSEN FROM AMONG DISTRICT CHIEFS, ASSISTANT DISTRICT CHIEFS, AND GOVERNMENT BUREAU CHIEFS. IF SUCH PERSONS COULD NOT BE DESIGNATED TO ATTEND THE CLASS, TRAINEES WERE TO BE DRAWN FROM RESPECTED ELEMENTS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY OR FROM THE EDUCATED CLASSES. ^pBHSBtWHif THE PROVINCE CHIEFS HAD POINTEDLY IGNOREDORDERS AND THAT THE SECOND CLASS AT THE NGHE WOULD PROBABLY PROVE TO BE LITTLE BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

PPES'OENCY IS CONCERNED OVER THE CONTINUED MISUSE OF THE PEASANTS BY THE PROVINCE CHIEFS IN BUILDING THE STRATEGIC HAMLETS. THE FAILURE HERE IS NOT SOUESTION OF THE NECESSITY FOR USING THE PEOPLE AS IT IS OF THE HARSH, DICTATORIAL APPROACH BY THE PROVINCE CHIEFS, WHICH IS TURNING THE PEASANTS MORE AND MORE AGAINST THEEEP-SEATED HATRED A'ONG THE PEASANT! AID THE ENTIRE CONCEPT OF STRATEGIC HAMLETS, ggjjpj

HAS BEEN &XTEnsivE CORRUPTION IN THE USE OF FUNDS AND SUPPLIES PROVIDED THE PROVINCE CHlErS rOR SETTING UP THE HAMLETS.

M IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED WITH THE STRAGEGIC HAMLET PROGRAM AS CONCEIVED AND flH IS ALS0 CRITICAL -rjjmBB APPROACH TO THE

PROBLEM IN CENTRAL VIETNAM ^jHmSH^'r DOES NOT REALLY CARE WHAT THE AMERICANS DO. DIEMfll

Original document.

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