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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07446 to 363-07453.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07446 to 363-07453
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Title
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Article about a Unified Buddhist Church conference
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Description
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Original title: "conference", Keever's title: "Exclusive: Buddhist Politico-Preists, Having Sparked Overthrow of Three Saigon Governments, Confer to Decide Fate of Current One and More", Article draft about the Unified Buddhist Church and its conference, 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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deepe
conference--1
march 11, 1965
SAIGON-The United Buddhist Church--lead by politico-priests
who have sp over sparked overthrow of the three Vietnamese
governments--are preparing this week-end for a major policy
conference with delegates from throughout this war-weary nation..
Political observers amemtum are known to be ready to
watch the three-day conference to determine if the politically
important Buddhist movement makes any key policy decisions om
the issue of peace.
LAY
Some of the Buddhist priests, who are suspected of bing
being pro-neutralists, have issued nebulous religious statements
on the question of bringing peace to the country, but these
priests have influence over some pro-Buddhist elements which
gives them considerable politie de importance as a
political force in withim and outside the Saigon government.
(More)
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deepe
conference--2
During the
At the time of the recent arrivals of Koream soldiers and Americam
Marines, a whispering campaign was launched among the Saigom population
that the Buddhists would peacefully protest against the introduction of
DEENEX foreign soldiers, who would intensify thx and enlarge
the anti-Communist war in their country.
Hundreds of delegates are expected to attend the conference, though
inauguratiom
the exact number of unavailable.
ceremony
The brief introductory
session opens Saturday night, Saigon time, and full-day sessions
Feeto
be held Sunday and Monday..
Delega tes who have been invited to attend include Buddhist
priests, numbers, laymen, representatives from the provinces and districts
in the countryside, representatives of Buddhist-spone sponsored or allied
associations, such as Buddhist youth organizations, women organizations,,
charity services,
invited.
Some political party leaders are expected to be
(More)
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buddhist 3
deepe
Also
Reliable sources said invitations had been sent to the
heads of the six departments of the United Buddhist Church,,
delegates free of the Church from the provinces and Saigon,
the Buddhist university,,
he the Buddhist chaplains corps in the
American-backed Vietnamese armed forces and representatives of
Buddhist associations.
Aoc According to documents distributed to the incoming
delegates, the business sessions of the conference would be devoted
to reports of past activities of the United Buddhist Church, and all
its related agencies and associa tions, revision of the charter,,
"Consolidation "consolidation of leadership," to "discuss the
present situation and the line of activities of the Church," and
to draft the budget.
The rather vague wording of "consolidation of leadership"
raised the question to observers here whether there would be
a shift in the key leadership positions..
(More)
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deepe
ats 4/
buddhists-
The conference--a similar one was held a thirteen months ago--
comes at a time when the Buddhists have presented five demands to
AMERIC
the month-old/government of Prime Minister Pham Huy Qua t. These demands
call for reshing release of students and Buddhist priests
arrested by the previous prime minister--Tran Van Huong who regarded
the Buddhists as "playing the Communist game." Other demands include
Lotto Consider. TheMSELVES
permissiom for Buddhist civil servants in the government to
form and organize and joim Buddhist associations, to destroy the
police files of Buddhist students, monks and youth who had beem
arrested,
government,
opening some newspapers closed by the previous
and re-instating Thich (Venerable) Ho Giac as deputy
chief of chapai chaplains in the Vietnamese Armed Forces. Many of the
High-e highest-ranking Vietnamese officers regard Thich Ho Giac
GOVERNMENT HAS YET to tATE A.
And on the five demands,
as "pro-Communist."
SPECIF
The demand to allow government civil servants join and form
a Buddhist association withim the government is considered to
m.
allow the formation of a "q uasi-political cell" withim the
government's administrative apparatus.. The Buddhist movement has als
already been granted the permission to have 60 Buddhist chaplains im the
a rmed forces--and am additional 60 are being trained--and to have
three-man Buddhist groups within each army battaliom
(More)
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deepe
buddhists 54
The conference is considered politically significant to
for the foo following reasons: to give the Buddhist politico-priests
a rather exact estimate of their strength among the masses
throughout the country, to determine their organization strength
as well as their low-level Buddhist leadership in the provinces,,
and to take a pulse of the mood of the Buddhists about the
current political situation in the Saigon and im Vietnam.
Im behind-the-scene caucus caucuses, key Buddhist priests and
Va lay leaders are expected to form their over-all political
program regarding the issue of peace, their attitude to the
American military support to Vietna m,, and their positiom regarding
the government of Pham Huy Quat.
(MORE)
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deepe
buddhist 25
the Buddhist leaders have also called for reports from all
Ragdo
Buddhist associations, agencies and pagdo pagodas, at all levels of their
immpre impressive hierarchy-from the hamlets to the villages, the
districts, the provinces and then to the central level.
Political obs ervers are amazed at the efficiency of the Buddhist
They hav The Buddhist leaders have sent a "model form"
organization.
for their reports--asking detailed questions which low-level leaders
are to answer. These reports, which were sent to Saigon by March 5th,
are expected to give the Buddhist leaders a sweeping
barometer of the political mood of the country..
"This model form for their reporting is very, very scientifice,"
"It's als almost the
one Vietnamese political lea derm explained.
same way the Communists organize things."
An example of the "model form" for reporting throughout the
countrys is concerns the section about organix organizations:
101
who are
the members of the executive committee and what SEX Buddhist sects do
when was the organization established,
"what is the
they represent,
spirit of the (or mood) of the members-is it positive or not and what
元钻
او
are the ca uses of this--how often the organization meets-how often
members review the situation, the relatiship relationship between the
lower-level members of the organization and the leader.
(More)
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deepe
buddhists-7
Another area of intres interest in the "model form" included
reports at all-levels of the "Special Commissioner for Youth"-
important in view of past sutden student demonstrations in Saigom
and the provinces. Their reports are asked to include: The general
situation of Buddhist youth, how many members, what activities
Buddhist activities they a participate in, wha t is their "
"spirit or mood", what is the situation with the Buddhist Boy Scouts
a nd Girl Scouts.
The "model form" also asks for reports from all-levels about
"the permo performance" of the Buddhist movement: What is the
mood of the Buddhist believers, what is the spirt of the masses
after each campaign (of tx sparking overthrow of three suudative
governments)-does their spirit go higher after each campaign or
does it go lower and what is the inte sity of that spirit how the
non-Buddhist population fees react to the Buddhists campaigns,
what is the attitude concerning "the national situation", what is
the attitude of political parties and governme_nt officials to the
Buddhist movement after each campaign, what is the attitude of
other religions
End
def the Communists towards the Buddhists,
and the security situation im the provinces.
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Dear Mr. Rosenfeld:
I'm enclosing a rather drab news article--not analysis on the
The conference
upcoming Buddhist conference. The conference begins Saturday, March 13,
in the evening-hich is Sunday morning Ne York time.
will be undramatic and probably not worthy fo much spot nows coverage-
but it will be very, very significant in the future. I've tried to
include some specific examples of the model form" document of the
Buddhists used in gathering reports from the provinces--I think
no other correspondents have this and they may give the readers
some idea of the immense scope and depth of their organization.
Sincerely,
B
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Date
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1965, Mar. 11
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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; Giáo-há»™i Pháºt-giáo Việt-Nam Thống-nhất
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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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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B4, F10
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Format
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dispatches
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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
