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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07275.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07275
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Title
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A Dilemma: Subversion by Political Priests
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Description
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First of a series of two articles on South Vietnam's attempts conflict with politically active Buddhist priests, for the New York Herald Tribune
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AI Usage Disclosure
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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.
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Transcript
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South Viet Nam's Buddhists
A Dilemma: Subversion by Political Priests
This is the first of two articles on South Viet
Nam's attempts to cope with Buddhist priests.
By Beverly Deepe
A Special Correspondent
BATOON.
Bouth Viet Nam's anti-Communist generals and Ameri-
can policymakers, in the midst of their present sharp but
relatively unimportant feuding, are quickly approaching
one of the most Important decisions of the war-how to
deal with subversive elements in the country."
The current problem of subversion is mirrored best in
the Buddhist movement, led by political priests who-if
not pro-neutrallet or pro-Communist agents-appear de-
termined to oppose, weaken and attack anti-Communist
governments which the United States supports.
The overthrow last month of the High National Coun-
ell by the Vietnamese armed forces has been of some tm-
portance to the Buddhist political-priests: It assists them
in their attempts to topple the Huong government, which
remains their goal
The question facing the anti-Communist generals and
the American policymakers is simply whether or not to
crush the Buddhist political priests, who wield enough
mass support to topple governments or make them in-
operative in prosecuting the war against the Communist
guerrillas.
The appropriate time to remove these Buddhist pollt-
ical pelesta from the scene-elther violently, through
amassinations and arrests, or simply by sending them on
missions abroad-was before the military stepped into
the political scene. That time is past. But the point of no
return, when the action could be taken, has not yet been
reached. A decision to remove the Buddhists would have
worldwide repercussions but a decision not to do so will
have long-range Implications
The decision not to crush the Buddhist political priests,
who apparently will oppose future anti-Communist govern-
ments, implies the adoption of a polley of containment of
abversive elements rather than a policy of eliminating
these elementa
The decision taken by the American policymakers and
the anti-Communist generals has the effect of creating
the mechanisma for negotiating in future years with the
Communist bloc, with the least loss of prestige for the
free world.
A consistent alternative to American polleymakers in
Viet Nam in the coming years or maybe decades-would
always be the possibility of negotiating with the Com-
munist blod and forming a Laotian-style neutralist coal-
tion government. One of the important elements in this
coalition government would be the Buddhist movement,
which by subverting and undermining anti-Communist
governments is of direct benefit to the Communtat bloe;
It is likely to be manipulated and exploited by them.
The decision to eliminate these subversive leaders from
the Buddhist movement can bence be taken only at-this
time by an already unpopular regime. The decision not
to eliminate these elements has the effect of creating a
mechanism for the implementation of a neutralist, coall-
tion government-with the least loss of face for the free
world
A decision to crush the subversive Buddhist elementa
in the movement would have a chain reaction of reper-
cussions In Viet Nam, in America and throughout the
world. I would give the world an unpleasant picture of
the anti-Communist forces to have them crack down on
those subversives who wear religious robes. I would mean
that American pollermakers would have to admit a mis-
take in their polley last year, which led to the withdrawsi
of support of Ngo Dinh when he raided Buddhist pagodas
It may be that the mass power of the Buddhists would
arlae in the streets, to be pitched against the armed power
of the Vietnames military with disastrously bloody
consequences.
But the decision not to crush the Buddhist subversive
elementa then leaves open only three other possible alter-
natives
One is to give the Buddhists control of the future
governments. This is considered an extreme measure vir-
tually paving the way for a neutrallst government in
Viet Nam. The second ta. If possible, to suppress them
enough to drive them underground-but this makes them
more dangerous and less accessible to government Intell
gence. The third is to attempt to contain them and this
is considered the probable course of the future.
The effect of this will be the acceptance of the extat-
ence of non-Communist or even pro-Communist elements
In every sphere of Vietnamese life, but the power of
these elementa would be contained by attempting to
diminish their power or balance them off against staunchly
anti-Communist forces.
Hence, in the balance of power the pro-neutrallat Bad-
dhist sphere of influence would be diminished by the
creation of rival anti-Communist Buddhist movement
which would be allied with the anti-Communist Catholic
The potential power of Buddhist schoolboys to demon-
strate against the government would be balanced off
against the potential power of Catholle students to demon-
strate. Buddhist religious committees in the armed forces
would be balanced off against Catholic committees. The
power of Catholle geherals to arrest Buddhist laymen in
the provinces would be counter-balanced by the power of
Buddhist generals in other provinces to do the same
against Catholic laymen.
This neat balance of power implies a policy of can-
taining the subversive elements rather than defeating
them. The effect of this miniature coalition arrangement
in the day-to-day dealings in every sphere of life in
Vietnam is the embryo of a de facto coalition government
at the national level at a well-chosen tline in the com-
ing years.
TOMORROW: How strong are the Buddhists, nou?
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Date
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1965, Jan. 4
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Subject
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Vietnam (Republic), 1961-1975; Buddhism and politics; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Religious aspects--Buddhism; Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Buddhist monks
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Container
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B186
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Format
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newspaper clippings
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
