[1]176-10036-10137, | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[3]JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM
[4]IDENTIFICATION FORM
[5]AGENCY : NARA
[6]RECORD NUMBER : 176-10036-10137 a -
[7]RECORD SERIES : National Security Files
[8]AGENCY FILE NUMBER :
[9]ORIGINATOR : CIA
[10]FROM:
[11]TO:
[12]TITLE : CIA Information Report
[13]DATE : 10/8/1963
[14]PAGES : 5S
[15]SUBJECTS : i
[16]DOCUMENT TYPE :
[17]CLASSIFICATION :
[18]RESTRICTIONS :
[19]CURRENT STATUS :
[20]DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000
[21]OPENING CRITERIA :
[22]COMMENTS : National Security Files, Box 200: Vietnam,10/6/1963-10/14/63. Box 2
[24]CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
[26]Thin material contains Information affecting the National Delonte of the United Stotes within the maaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, USC Secs
[28]13 and 794, tha trantmission o¢ ravelatios of which ia any manner to an unauthoried carson Is prohibited by law.
[30]CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[31]C-OoN-P-T-D-B-N-TelwAeL - NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD BACKROUID
[32]USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISSEM
[34]counray SOUTH VIETNAM | | REPORTNO. TOCS DB~3/657,133
[36]sugject) SITUATION APPRAISAL AS OF 5 OCTOBER 1963 ~~ bate pistr, 8 OCTOEER 1963
[37]. . PRECEDENCE : ROUIENE
[39]DATE OF | oe So REFERENCES : IN 33775
[41]INFO. . , . a .
[43]PLACE &
[45]DATE ACO, VIETNAM, SAIGON (5 OOTORER 1963)
[47]APPRAISAL COMMENTARY . "FIELD REPORT NO.
[49]THis is UNEVALUATED INFORMATION, SOURCE GRADINGS ARE DEFINITIVE, APPRAISAL OF CONTENT 1S TENTATIVE.
[50]source STAFF OFFICERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION. : we
[51]_ “1. ‘THIS Is A FIELD APPRAISAL OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. 2 IS NOT AN. -
[52]OFFICIAL JUDGEMENT BY THIS AGENCY OR ANY COMPONENT. If REPRESENTS THE.
[53]OBSERVATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF STAFF OFFICERS BASED ON INFORMATION “AVALLAELE.
[54]TO THEM AT THE TIME OF ITs FREPARATION - PREPARED FOR INTERNAL USE “AS. A GUILE TO
[55]THE OPERATTONAL ENVIRONMENT, THIS. COMMENTARY IS DISSEMINATED: IN THE BELIEF THA:
[56]mr MAY EE USEFUL TO OTHER AGENCIES IN ASSESSING THE SITUATION: FOR THEIR OWN
[57]PURPOSES. 7
[59]2, THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FOR THE WHEX OF
[60]29 SEPTEMBER-5 OCTOBER 1963, HAS BEEN A GREATER DEPTH OF REPORTING ON CQUP. .
[61]PLOTTING, PROVIDING INFORMATION IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AS TO THE PERSONALITIES
[62]INVOLVED AND THEIR ALLOTIED ROLES. STILL LACKING, HOWEVER, IS SOLID INPORMATION
[64]AS TO THE COHESIVENESS OF VARICUS GRCUPS REPORTED READY TO LAUNCH A CCUP AND &
[66]‘7 © CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS mon
[67]O-ON-PoI -D-E-N-T-1-A-L —_ NO_FORETGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM & OAD/BACKGROUND | szcia st
[68]Use Gey) CO ncLts DIDEE “BROAD Le
[70]ESSAY ZN EG AC CO TT
[71], AGELINFORMAT LON REPORT
[73]PER” 1 Kb OBSOLETE PREVIOUS ECTTONS. ; (15-23;
[75]CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[78]NO. FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD
[79]BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED
[80], DISSEM
[82]THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ENJOY FIRM LEADERSHIP: AT THE TOP OF THE: ICEBERG. OF WHICH
[83]WE ARE STILL CETTING ONLY TANGENTIAL: ‘GLIMPSES.
[84]3, THE GENERALS MEANWHILE ARE NOW PRESSING PRESIDENT. NGO DINH DIEM FOR A
[86]REPLY TO THE DEMANDS MADE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO DURING THE HEIGHT OF. THE MARTIAL -
[88]LAW ‘PHASE. AS DESCRIBED BY GENERAL TRAN van DON, THE. LIST OF DEMANDS ARB. QUITE
[89]EXTENSIVE, INCLUDING THE ASSIGNMENT OF MILITARY MEW: TO THE POSTS OF MINISTERS. =. :.:
[91]OF DEFENSE, INTERIOR, CIVIC ACTION AND EDUCATION. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR CONTROL «... ve
[92]OF ‘oa SAIGON /CHOLON POLICE AND. THE PLACEMENT OF THE ‘CAPITAL REGION: UNDER A ; a age
[93]PERMANENT MILITARY GOVERNORSHIP. DON SAYS THAT HE AND HIS FELLOW: ‘GENERAL : OFFICERS
[95]DO Nor EXPECT ‘DIEM TO ACCEDE TO THIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS, -ACCEPTANCE -OF WHICH ::
[97]WOULD INDEED “AMOUNT TOA VIRTUAL ‘SURRENIER oN. THE PART OF DIEM AND NGO -DINH NHU.
[99]THE LATTER WILL PROBABLY GO. PART WAY, HOWEVER, IN MEETING THE TESTRES:, OF THE an
[100]MILITARY IN AN EFFORT TO DETER THE LATIER FROM- ATTEMPTING. AN: BARLY: COUP: THEIR.
[101]TACTIC IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF SEEKING TO. ENMESH THE GENERALS: IN ‘TIME-CONSUMING
[102]NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO ‘THE PROSPECTIVE REVAMPING. OF THE GoveERmeEN? WI HA VIEW
[103]“TOWARD GAINING TIME IN WHICH TO MONITOR AND BREAK UP ANY COUP COMBINATION WHICH
[105]MAY BE DEVELOPING. THE ourcome OF MANEUVERING BETWEEN DIEM AND NHU AND ‘THE:
[107]- MELTTARY DURING THE COMING FEW WEEKS, OR POSSIBLY EVEN DAYS, Is LIKELY TO BE
[108]OF TECISIVE IMPORTANCE TO FUTURE COURSE OF EVENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.
[109]4, DESPITE THE ‘TMPRESSION OF THE, RETURN TO NORMALITY THAT IS BEING FOSTERED
[110]BY THE REGIME, THE ATMOSPHERE IN: SAIGON CONTINUES TO BE PERVADED 70 A CONSTIERABLE
[112]DEGREE ‘BY FEAR “AND UNCERTAINTY. ARRESTS REPORTEDLY ARE CONTINUING, ‘AS wet’ AS
[114]CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[116]C-O-N-F-I-D--N-T-I-A-L ‘NO FOREIGN DISSEM /NO. DISSEM i ABROAD/RACKGROUND USE oy
[117]Tae ROLLED DISSEM
[119]oe LOR ON cannons #
[121]CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[123]_.. aw | NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABRG
[125]C-OsN-F-I-D-B-N-T-I-A-L BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED
[126]DISSEM
[130]SEARCHES OF PRIVATE HOMES BY THE SECURITY FORCES. a .
[131]7 5. |THERE ARE SCATTERED. INDICATIONS ‘THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM (Gyn) Is
[132]PLANNING TO SPRING SOME SURPRISES, ON THE .26 OCTOBER NATIONAL, DAY CELEBRATIONS,
[133]HU,’ FOR EXAMPLE, TS, REPORTED TQ HAVE TOLD THE GENERALS THAT IN A FEW WEEKS BE.
[134]‘Wout UNDERTAKE AN UNSPECIFIED ACTION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NATURE. WHICH. NEITHER
[135]“THE WEALTHY NOR ‘THE AMERICANS. WOULD LIKE." WE ALSO HAVE A REPORT ‘THAT SWEEPING.
[136]CHANG! IN THE POLICE AND CIVIL INTELLIGENCE COMPLEX WILL-.OCCUR. MORE FRIVOLOUS
[137]_ BUT PERHAPS, SUGGESTIVE OF THE DESIRE BY THE REGIME TO.FASE THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE
[138]IN SAIGON ARE THE. RUMORS THAT THE BAN ON DANCING WILL. BE. LIFIED., , NATTONAL, DAY.
[139]WOULD.E THE LOGICAL TIME FOR DIEM TO ANNOUNCE, REVAMPING OF. HIS. GOVERNMENT, . PROVIDEL
[140]THIS DELICATE OPERATION CAN BE COMPLETED INTIME. 0 eieeetne st ty ad
[141]_ 6, A STRIKING. THING ABOUT THE. ELECTIONS WAS THE. FACT THAT. THEY. WENT. OFF.
[142]VIRTUALLY WETHOUD, INCIIEND, EITHER. IN SAIGON OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE..,.THERE HAD
[143]_EBEN SEVERAL INDICATIONS. THAT THE VIET.CONG (VC) INTENDED DISRUPTION .AS A, COMPANION
[144]TACTIC TO THEIR ‘PROPAGANDA CALL FOR TRE: ‘BOYCOTT, OF THE. ELECTIONS. NEITHER DURING
[145]THE ELECTIONS, NOR DURING THE PRECEDING BUDDHIST CRISIS, DID THE. COMMUNISTS SEEM
[146]‘ABE 1 TO. CAPITALIZE ON THEIR IMMEDIATE: OPPORTUNITIES. -ESPHCIALLY LACKING WAS THE
[147][DERCISE OF THEIR, MUCH VAUNTIED CAPABILITIES FOR TERRORISM, RAISING. SOME QUESTION
[149]was
[150]IN OUR ‘MINDS. AS TO. WHETHER vc. ABILITY. TO USE TERRORISM IN CITIES/AS GREAT AS WE
[152]HAD BEEN LED TO. BELIEVE. IT, WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TQ MEASURE. THE SUCCESS OF
[153]THE VC BOYCOTT APPEAL. SINCE. THE GVN, IN ‘MANY: AREAS | MORE. OR LESS FORCED THE. ELECTORATE
[155]_ T0.VOTE AND IN AREAS WHERE ITS CONTROL WAS . Nor THAT. * STRONG, THE REGIME. ALMOST...
[156]. CERTAINLY FALSIFIED THE PERCENTAGES OF THE VOTE. a - j
[158]. CLASSIFICATION = DISSEMINATION CONTROLS a
[160]: 0-0-N-PoI-D-E-N-Pol-AcL, _ NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE owLy/”
[162]CONTROLLED DISSEM
[165]: CLASSIFICATION = DISSEMINATION CONTROLS, 1, wre ~ uo . . mY
[166]- NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD, TDCS 9B-3/657,133 - }
[167]C-O-N-F-I-D-B-N-T-I-A-L BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISGEM - :
[169]4. ONE INDICATION OF THE REGIME" iS) INCREASED CONFIDENCE THAT IT HAS; oe,
[171]OF SPECIAL FORCES ° "TROOPS FOR OPERATIONS AGAINST THE VC.
[173]8. _ ALTHOUGH MOMENTARILY (QUIESCENT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY GVW. SECURITY. _CONTROLS,
[174]THE STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL. AOTIVITIES AND ARE DEVELOPING. PLANS For |
[175]FURTHER ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO HE CONSIDERABLE DIVISION
[176]OF OPINION AMONG THE VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS, SOME OF WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO THE
[177]BUDDHIST CRISIS AND SOME HAVE SINCE ‘EMERGED. REPORTING RECEIVED TO DATE WOULD,
[178]INDICATE THAT THE VC HAVE NOT Yer MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE STUDENT MOVE-
[179]MENT, ALTHOUGH THIS 18 OF COURSE AN INCREASING. POSSIBILITY IP. RELATIONS. BETWEEN
[180]THE ‘STULENTS AND THE GVN LONG REMAIN IN THEIR PRESENT UNSATISFACTORY STATE. IN
[181]PARTICULAR, WE HAVE LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE THESIS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE.
[182]FLEEING/THE COUNTRYSIIE TO JOIN rH ve ALTHOUGH SOME REPORTEDLY DID LEAVE SATGON
[183]AND HUE 10 AVOID ARREST DURING THE PERIOD OF. THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN. ti.
[185]9. A-REPORT FROM ‘A VIETNAMESE TRAE uvtow, OFFICIAL PROVIDES ADDITIONAL -.
[186]BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE NEU-MANELT MEETING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND ON, THE
[187]GENERAL SUBJECT. OF POSSIBLE GYN-DRV RAPPROCHEMENT. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION |
[188]RECEIVED BY THE SOURCE FROM A FRENCH ‘EMBASSY OFFICER, HO CHI MINH-HAD AT ONE Tne .
[189]INDICATED TO A FORMER FRENCH | REPRESENTATIVE IN, NORTH: VIETNAM HIS “DISCOURAGEMENT
[191]| OVER CASUALTIES SUSTAINED IN, TH WAR Tht THE, ‘SOUTH, Hs ‘DISTAST FOR. THE. CHINESE
[193]PRESENCE IN THE mV, AND HIS RESTIVENESS OVER ‘SOVIET "TNTERFERENCE OF AN
[195]UNSPECIFIED NATURE, LLALOURETE WAS RERORTED ‘TO HAVE PASSED THIS’ ON. TO" NHU, HO,
[197]j CLASSIFICATION = T DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[199]| CeO-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L | NO FOREIGN DISSE - DISSEM ABROAD/ BACKGROUND USE ONLY / —
[200]De CONTROLLED DISSE
[202]CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[204]C-O-N-F-I-D-B-N-P-1-A-L NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD TDCS DB-3/657,133
[206]BACKGROUND. USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISSE
[208]ACCORDING ‘TO THE FRENCH, LEAKED IT TO JOSEPH ALSOP, THUS HETRAYING THE CONFIDENTIAL
[209]FRENCH CONVERSATION WITH HO. ‘THE FRENCH ALLEGEDLY FEEL THIS PUT LALOUBTIE” IN’ AN
[210]UNTENABLE POSITION; HENCE, HIS FAILURE TO RETURN TO SAIGON. 17 Is DIFFICULT To
[211]BELIEVE THAT THE FRENCH REALLY CONSIDER ‘NEU! s “INDISCRETION" AS SERIOUS, AS THEY LET :
[212]ON. ‘SOURCE CLAINS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MANELI TOLD NHU PRRCTICALLY THE SAME STORY
[213]ABOUT HO'S PREOCCUPATIONS. | |
[215]10. FIELD DISSEM. . STATE (AMBASSADOR, Dom), USMACV (HARKINS),- CINCPAC, PACFLE,
[216]PACAF, ARPAC. | | a
[218]BND OF MESSAGE
[222]CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
[224]mT: -” NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO.DISSEM ABROAD /BACKGROUND USE BoM /
[225]C-O-N-P-I-D-B-N-T-[-AcL CONTROLLED DISSEM.