‘(i76-10036-10151 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY : NARA RECORD NUMBER : 176-10036-10151 RECORD SERIES : National Security Files AGENCY FILE NUMBER : ORIGINATOR : CIA FROM : TO: TITLE : CIA Information Report DATE .: 10/3/1963 , PAGES : 3 SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATION : é RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000 - OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : National Security Files, Box 200: Vietnam,9/22/63-10/6/63, CIA Reports. Box 2
_ = — SFIGIO ttt “DE YEKADL 72915 3/1641Z OCT . 0 @31547Z ZYH . | frends FM CIA OO | _ ZEN “FOLLOWING IS CAS SAIGON 1385 = BRESERVATION COPY \Ne REIN PT 7 WEA? R-SG RECEIVED WHASA 965 0CT 3 17° 23 00 ESF | ° re 4 AAR TO WHITE HOUSE SITROOM PASS EXCLUSIVE FOR BUNDY - DEPT STATE (CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER) PASS EXCLUSIVE - FOR RUSK, BALL, HARRIMAN AND HILSMAN | | SSO ACSI DA (PASS EXCLUSIVE FOR MC NAMARA AND GILPATRIC. PASS EXCLUSIVE FOR GENERAL TAYLOR AND GENERAL KRULAK) SECRET 7 , SECRET EKG LSE 7 \ RECEIVED. IN WASHINGTON AS IN 32061 le ON 2 OCT 1965 LT COL CONEIN ACCIDENTALLY ENCOUNTERED MAJ GEN TRAN-VAN DON AT TAN SON NHUT AIRPORT. DON STATED HE HAD - BEEN ATTEMPTING TO MAKE CONTACT WITH CONEIN FOR SOME TIME.” REQUESTED THAT CONEIN COME TO NHA TRANG ON NIGHT OF 2 OCT FOR PRIVATE DISCUSSION. CONEIN WAS NONCOMMITTAL IN HIS REPLY. ~~ Ze coL CONEIN" Ss VISITING NHA TRANG TO TALK WITH DON was | | APPROVED BY TRUEMEART. , 3. TRUEHEART’ Ss GUIDANCE TO CONEIN WAS THAT HE NEITHER TO ENCOURATE NOR DISCOURAGE ANY COUP. THINKING OR ACTION, | TO ELICIT INFORMATION ONLY AND NOT TO COMMIT THE USG TO ANY ACTION
PRESERVATION COPY al - CONEIN MET WITH DON. IN NHA TRANG on’ NIGHT OF 2 ‘coct FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE . HOUR. “NO OTHER PERSONS WERE PRESENT DURING THE MEETING. DON MADE THE FOLLOWING POINTS: , | - | | he DOUNG VAN MINH DESIRES TO. SEE CONEIN FOR PRIVATE CONVERSATION. | | Be MEETING WITH NINH WILL TAKE PLACE .@800 HOURS 5 OcT AT JOINT GENERAL STAFF HEADQUARTERS, SAIGON, . -¢. AT THAT HOUR CONEIN IS TO PRESENT HIMSELF IN- UNIFORM AT. DON’S OFFICE. COVER TOPIC OF CONVERSATION WILL BE POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF UNITED STATES SPECIAL FORCES HEADQUARTERS. (COMMENT: THIS IS A COVER TOPIC ONLY SUGGESTED BY GEN DON. CAS SAIGON WOULD NOT UNDERTAKE DISCUSSION SUCH A MATTER SINCE THIS. WOULD BE SOLELY “WITHIN MACV PREROGATIVES.) ' . “De. CONEIN WILL SPEAK TO NINH ALONE." =. : ows ve ag Ee | GEN TON THAT DINH HaS REALIZED. HE WAS "PLAYED FOR. A FOOL” DURING HIS TENURE AS MILITARY GOVERNOR OF SAIGON. FOR ‘THIS REASON “MAY JOIN OUR SIDE.” F. GEN TRAN VAN KIM AND’ GEN PHAN XUAN CHIEU HAVE BEEN . GIVEN STAFF POSITIONS UNDER GEN. DON ON THE JGS. Gs. THE GENERALS (SPECIFIC PERSONALITIES NOT IDENT IF IED) HAVE REQUESTED PRESIDENT DIEM TO ACCORD THEM POSITIONS OF MINISTER ° OF DEFENSE, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, ' MINISTER OF EDUCATION, MINISTER OF civic ACTION, AND THE PREFECTOR OF THE POLICE FOR SAIGON/ CHOLON. IN. ADDITION, GENERALS “ASKED PRESIDENT DIEM TO APPOINT A GENERAL OFFICER MILITARY GOVERNOR SAIGON/CHOLON TO INSURE DEFENSE . OF AREA. GENERALS ARE CONVINCED DIEM HAS NO REPEAT NO INTENTION OF MAKING THESE APPOTNTMENTS.
Hos BRESERVATION COPY 5. “CONEIN ATTEMPTED. TO ELICIT ADDITIONAL DETAILS. FROME ‘DON WHO REFUSED ALL ATTEMPTS aT ELICITATION WITH [STATEMENT "YOU. “MUST TALK TO MINH." DON. DID VOLUNTEER, HOWEVER, “THAT GENERALS . "NOW HAVE A PLAN.” DON WAS | EMPHATIC | WITH: RESPECT | TO THIS: ‘Last : STATEMENT. | 6. DON ALso STATED THAT TWO DAYS PRIOR TO GEN DINH’S _ FIRST PRESS CONFERENCE (29 AUG) VIETNAMESE CIVILIAN OTHERWISE, E UNIDENTIFIED VISITED NGO DINH NHU, STATED THAT AMERICANS WERE ae, —_—— VARIOUS VIETNAMESE IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE A COUP. THEREUPON NHU HAD CALLED IN DON AND DON was: SHOWN LIST OF MERICANS ENGAGED IN SUCH COUP PLOTS. DON STATED. CONEIN® E NANE S NOT REPEAT NOT OW THIS LIST. Te AMBASSADOR HAS APPROVED CONEIN N's CONTACT WITH DON AND | ON 5 OCTOBER. = cseRET EXCLUSHE. _ Be SAA PAG ALUN Nad re ep comer ae seg, ‘ : o ™