EA eee pee MES ol De M, C nee Se e a B a Rgte : , Richardson gives headquarters his views on possible successor - i regimes. . ; ONE Staff Memorandum, No. 60-63, Internal OWE Working Paper CIA Dietribution Only } "On balance, we believe the best hope for the preservation of US : bot interests ond attainnent of US objectives in South Vietnam lies in the Po: ar a possibility of a coup d'etat by anti-Ccmmunist nationalists with a sufficient military support to obviate prolonged civil war. Such a - ot group mighs not prove able to salvage the situation and, indecd, might ro OTE - ; eventually prove no better than the present regime. Such a development would, however, enable the US and anti-Communist nationalist elements } | oh t . to make a fresh start uneccumbered and unnampered by political. errors. he, Sb ; of past years, months, and weeks. In such a fresh start, we believe, ae OX i - lies the only viable nope for the attainment of US interests and a : CG , . ‘@bjectives in South Vietnam.” : Anbassador Lodge presented his credentials to South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Dien. . _ Presidential Meeting on Vietnam. CIA participants: DDCI & DDP. Record by DDP. . The question was raised as to whether there had ‘been such a significant change in the Vietnam ‘situation that it really appeared desirable to dusp the Nhu! s and possibly Diem himself. Principal _ Points discussed werel Admiral Felt's concern over the dancers ~ a { rc . ' {pherent in the current US action in South Vietnam; the fact that . Lodge had not seen Diem to discuss the future role of the Nhu's; a
’ fhe President asked that the judgment of Lodge and Harkins be sought : on the prospects for victory or defeat of a coup. A cable waa drafted Inks 6. . : a ' asking if they still agreed with their concurrences to Deptel 263.” State telegram to Saigon (De tel 256) — . pe . "Pyamination of reports to date gives considerable hope but leaves unanswered questions. . - +.+ + Proceeding from the concept Gk outlined in Deptel 243 as modified; ‘now desire your prompt interim. a t appraisal of present prospects. « + » +.» Highest authority asks ; odd | whether you and Harkins, in light of developing situation, presently favor operation as currently planned by generals. we wish to give ; ' you all possible eupport in best available course but not to insist on ‘any decision thet developing evidence makes it wise to modify.” oon BB August . oo, rs wer Sp - +“ @YA eable from Saigon (SAIG 0363 Lge | Richardson reports that:. "situation here has reached point of a a * mo return...» + » Unless the generals are neutralized befcre ‘being i . : able to launch their operations, we believe they will act and that . : Py Beets they have. good chance to wine . + « « + We all understand that the - : 4 “ effort must succeed and that whatever needs to be done on our part of must be done. «+ « « @ « * . ‘ : a i vie C/FE. Record by C/FE.- i o ; _ .The President inquired into the status of ERE plans and vas told i" "".* - @hat these were well worked out. State Department participants insisted that Diem and Nhu had betrayed and double-crossed us and we had. no obligations to them and that we cannot win with Diem and Nhu. “4
Sete ted crag at eR Ort ae ee The President commented that. we had been vinning unt August. Rotting expressed his conviction thee Diem is the only man wh 20 ean Tun South “vietnan in ‘any fashion to permit a “continuance of the'var (effort. He . believed we should make anotiicr try to keep Diem. Harriman directly disagreed with him. The President airectea that a telegram be Prepared ‘to send to Lodge and Harkins asking their view of the chances of success, expressing concern over the unfavorable ratio of forces, and inviting their. Suggestions: as to how we could increase their possibilities. The President called for another meeting later in the day. i _ NSC Executive Committee Meeting on Vietnam. CIA participants not .. - 7 O -. -'. “Gdentified. Record by DBP. " ev of | The President met privately vith Rusk, McNamara, Taylor and . McGeorge Bundy. He reported to the rest of the Committee merely that three telegrams were being sent to Saigon: @ personal message to ; Lodge from the President, & general message from the Department to the Anbassador, and a telegram from Taylor to Harkins. . * ~ Belegram fron Taylor to Harkins {ses 3368-63) foe et ee "Important White House meeting on subject scheduled for 1200 ; Boel _ 28 August EMD, your views urgently weeded on overall feasibility of. a oe, ' Operation contemplated. .... . FYI State to Saigon 243 was prepared | “4. . without DOD or Jcs participation. Authorities are now having second i mre thfougnts.” : ca