Coup in Two Acts - A Viet Special

Item

derivative filename/jpeg

363-04774.pdf

Digital Object Identifier

363-04774

Title

Coup in Two Acts - A Viet Special

Description

Article published in the New York Herald Tribune about General Khánh peacefully overthrowing the military junta that had previously controled South Vietnam, page 4

Transcript

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Coup in Two Acts-A Viet Special
17/2422
Beefe
By Beverly Deepe
A Special Correspondent
SAIGON.
The reassertion of power
in South Viet Nam by a mili-
tary junta as a governing
super-body appeared yester-
day to be a coup d'etat in
slow motion, with more to
come.
The junta overthrew one
of the three pillars of the
Vietnamese government-the
High National Council, whose
nine active members were
the legal foundation of the
political structure.
The other two pillars of
government, Chief of State
Phan Khac Suu and Premier
Tran Van Huong, have so far
remained untouched. But
their continuation in office
appears doubtful.
There is speculation that
a "slow coup" is being con-
ducted in two installments-
with Mr. Huong and Mr. Suu
the next victims-to avoid the
question of the legitimacy of
an army takeover and hence
the problem of recognition
by other governments.
The re-emergence of a
military junta is considered
likely to be followed by the
re-emergence of a military
strongman leading the gov-
ernment Lt. Gen. Nguyen
Khanh, armed forces com-
mander-in-chief and former
Premier.
In this first phase of a
drive to centralize power in
the anti-Communist armed
forces, the junta also:
Forcibly retired 41 gen-
erals and colonels.
Arrested 10 troublesome
leaders of political parties
and student organizations
who had planned recent vio-
lent demonstrations against
the government.
Served a warning to re-
ligious leaders whether Ro-
man Catholics or Buddhists
that further acts leading to
political instability would not
be tolerated.
"We arrested only trouble-
makers," one Vietnamese gen-
eral involved in the seizure of
power explained. "We did not
arrest any Buddhist leaders,
but their turn will be next if
they cause any more trouble."
At least six Vietnamese
generals were reported under
house arrest, but this could
not be confirmed. Five of these
had been overthrown by Gen.
Khanh during his Jan. 30
coup but had been reinstated
in high-hranking military
posts.
American and Vietnamese
officials were unable to de-
cide whether the power shift
should be described as a coup
or a purge. "This is without
comparison to any other pow-
er maneuver in the world,"
one Vietnamese officer said.
"It's a Viet Nam special."
One Vietnamese political
observer called it a "coup a la
Alfred Htchcock. This is just
the first act. Everyone is in
suspense to see how the coup
finally ends."

Date

1964, Jan.

Subject

Nguyễn, Khánh, 1927-2013; Vietnam (Republic)--History--Coup d'état, 1964; Vietnam (Republic)--Government and politics

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Container

B4, F6

Format

newspaper clippings

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Copyright Information

These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.

Publisher

Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

Language

English