Article about public opinion in South Vietnam

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363-07482 to 363-07488.pdf

Digital Object Identifier

363-07482 to 363-07488

Title

Article about public opinion in South Vietnam

Description

Original title: "ANALYSIS", Article draft about domestic public opinion about the political situation in South Vietnam, for the New York Herald Tribune

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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.

Transcript

DEEPE ANALYSIS--1 MARCH 3, 1965 SAIGON--A high-ranking American official on a fact-finding mission from Washington was recently eating dinner with a Vietnamese couple, both staunchily anti-Communist, who were decrying the marked deterioration of the internal political situation. The American official asked if they were not encouraged “after recent events,” meaning the bombing of North Vietnamese military installations. The Vietnamese wife chipped at her [insertion: strawberry] fingernail polish and asked “What happened recently?” The Vietnamese husband responded, “Oh, you mean the aggression against North Viet Nam?” The American official was flabbergasted at their reaction, which indicated how [XXXX indicating deletion] much more worried [insertion: they [illegible]] about Saigon politics than they were re-assured by the bombing of North Viet Nam. (More) deepe analysis--2 march 3, 1965 For, the bombing raids against North Vietnam--including the largest one this week--came paradoxically when the internal political situation is potentially ripe for aye negotiated settlement. In short, as the American military posture grows tougher--or more hawkish--the internal political line is in parallel growing softer leaning towards dovish neutralist settlement. Those are the factors which are worrying the anti-Communist Vietnamese since the first retaliatory bombing of North Viet Nam on February _7_: 1. The unimpeded rise of the militant Buddhist Institute, which has become a most important political force in the country--second only to the Viet Cong [deletion: guerr] Communist political machine--and their public and official appeal for peace--[XXXX indicating deletion] [deletion: which] Vietnamese [insertion: [illegible]] stop killing fellow Vietnamese. The fear is this [insertion: [illegible]] issue could in time cause the collapse of the Vietnamese armed forces and government. 2. At least one quarter of the ministers in the new government formed February _16_ are considered “Buddhist ministers;” another one-quarter are considered pro-French, if not french agents; the remaining half are considered “the best-intentioned bunch of nitwits ever to fill a Cabinet”--they are considered weak personalities who would easily bend under prevailing political pressure from pro-neutralist factions. No element [insertion: [illegible]] is prepared to resist the Buddhists deepe analysis--4 march 3, 1965 4. The anti-Communist [XXXX indicating deletion] [illegible] fabric of the Vietnamese society and government are in disarray. The Catholics, [XXXX indicating deletion] usually anti-Communist in viewpoint, are divided among themselves and are discredited since the February 19th coup attempt. The Americans [deletion: in] officials in Saigon are generally discredited by both the left-wing faction who hold [deletion: the United States] responsible for the February 19th coup attempt, and by the right-wing faction who feel United States policymakers have made a general mess of [deletion: things] the political situation, hence jeopardizing the anti-Communist war effort. The most important operative element--the armed forces--are suffering from high desertion rates; the fear is that a “push for peace” might cause its collapse. For the first time, officers of as low a rank as captain are attempting to send their families to France. (More) deepe analysis--5 march 3, 1965 Hence, there are two distinct trends--militarily American policymakers are both escalating the war--both [deletion: in] by bombing North Vietnam and southern Laos, and internally by the use of American jets to pound Viet Cong guerrilla strongholds--and are internationalizing the war by the introduction of South Korean troops. But a second trend is for [XXXX indicating deletion] fewer and fewer anti-Communists to do less and less about the Communist political subversion--which is now considered to be [deletion: a] their major [deletion: couse of] reaction to the [insertion: [illegible]] military offensive. These two trends are considered contradictory--if Washington policymakers intend to prosecute the total war for victory. But the two trends are considered to be in parallel if Washington intends to negotiate--the tough military stance would be considered enough to give American an apparent military victory, but the Communists would be admitted into a coalition government--which would be the prelude to neutralization and years later to a Communist takeover. (More) deepe analysis--6 march 3, 1965 “It is a principle [XXXX indicating deletion] that the hotter the military war, the more the Communists will push the political subversives,” said one counter-guerrilla expert. Most foreign diplomats here consider the bombing of North Viet Nam at best a half-solution to the total problems of Viet Nam. A few consider the bombing raids have only created a second problem. [deletion: However,] The pessimists among foreign diplomats and observers here consider the anti-Communist war lost. The optimists believe the trends can still be reversed--with a great deal of luck. The [XXXX indicating deletion] question among the pessimists is whether American troops will be graciously invited to withdraw--or will be “chugged out”. Their fear is the Communists in the provinces--and the Buddhists in Saigon and the major cities--will begin street demonstrations demanding peace--at any price. They argue bombing of North Vietnam is now incidental; American policymakers, if they intend to hold in South Viet Nam, must decide to send in American combat troops. (More) deepe analysis--7 The fear amongst the anti-Communist Vietnamese is the emotional appeal of the Buddhist leaders, who are considered working on behalf of the Communists. The Buddhist political-priests have ignited the issue that being argued in the home of each Vietnamese--including the generals and colonels. The peace movement--launched by both the Communist subversives and the Buddhist political-priests--is considered “dynamite” as one Vietnamese businessman explained and is the most discussed development in Saigon. Vietnamese families refuse to hold piastre currency; the price of gold has risen up to 30-40 per cent during the past three weeks “and it is being buried in the ground outside Saigon”, according to one businessman. “The Vietnamese hope to get it out in the confusion before the Communists take over.” Other housewives have begun stockgiving rice; the price has risen sharply, although it normally drops following the Chinese New year. deepe analysis--8 Vietnamese friendships of long years standing are being broken up because of the tense political climate. “Who are our friends--and who are our enemies?” one young Vietnamese housewife [deletion: ached] pondered. “I have to ask myself that each time before I send out dinner invitations.” An increasing number of the “jet set of Saigon” have begun to play both the pro-American--and the pro-neutralist line. These middle and upper-class elements have for years, in a limited scope, sided with the Viet Cong by paying taxes. But this took the form of protectionism against Viet Cong gangsterism--without any political connections. [deletion: Nowever,] however, an increasing number are politically aiding these pro-Communist orpro-neutralist elements by signing pro-Communist peace petitions, by spreading an anti-American line--and perhaps [deletion: in the future] by joining street demonstrations. “It is a time when each Vietnamese has two feet and two faces,” explained one depressed Vietnamese housewife. -30-

Date

1965, Mar. 3

Subject

Vietnam (Republic), 1961-1975; Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Public opinion

Location

Saigon, South Vietnam

Coordinates

10.8231; 106.6311

Size

20 x 26 cm

Container

B4, F10

Format

dispatches

Collection Number

MS 363

Collection Title

Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers

Creator

Keever, Beverly Deepe

Collector

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