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Title:
Situation in South Vietnam : information as of 0730 EST, 6 Nov. 1963
Date of Creation:
November 6, 1963
Date of Declassification:
August 2, 1991
Type of Document:
Memorandum
Level of Classification:
NOT GIVEN
Status of Copy:
SANITIZED
Pagination, Illustration:
4 p.
Abstract:
The South Vietnamese coup leaders have formalized their control of the regime with the appointment of a 12-man Military Executive Committee which will be the highest authority in the country. It is headed by "Big" Minh, with Tran Van Don and Ton That Dinh as vicechairman. There are offices for political, economic, military, security, and foreign affairs, and four members-at-large. Appointment of a new consultative council, to draft a new constitution, supervise elections, and concern itself broadly with matters which would normally come before the disbanded national assembly, is expected to be announced soon. It is to be headed by former Dai Viet opposition leader Dr. Phan Huy Quat. Quat has characterized the regime as being mainly southern, in contrast to Diem's preference for officials originally from the north. He says that many of the new appointees are good technicians, but there are few capable administrators, and appointment in many cases appears to have resulted from personal friendship with either Minh or Premier Tho. Most of these technicians began their career under French colonial administration, are described by some observers as "steeped in the French tradition" of government, and while not necessarily pro-French, are probably innately open to French example and influence. One respected business source characterized the new provisional government as 70 percent pro-French.
Declassified Documents Reference System Location:
1992-000045