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176-10036-10137

2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY : NARA

RECORD NUMBER : 176-10036-10137

RECORD SERIES : National Security Files

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

ORIGINATOR : CIA

FROM :

TO :

TITLE : CIA Information Report

DATE: 10/8/1963

PAGES: 5

SUBJECTS :

DOCUMENT TYPE :

CLASSIFICATION :

RESTRICTIONS :

CURRENT STATUS :

DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS : National Security Files, Box 200: Vietnam, 10/6/1963-10/14/63. Box 2

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SER SHINGTILE

NiK 80•55 70461,60

"LEGRAM IN URMATION

INFORMATION REPURT TELEGRA

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

and 294, 1ho tenemision di ravalation

ol the Espionago Lama, Tille 10, U.S.C Sees

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-I-I-A-L

COUNTRY

SOUTH VIETNAM

SUBJECT, SITUATION APPRAISAL AS OF 5 OCTOBER 1963

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND

USE ONLY/CONTROLLED DISSEM

REPORT NO. TDCS DB-3/657,133

DATE DISTR.

8 OCTOBER 1963

PRECEDENCE

ROUTINE

DATE OF

REFERENCES

IN 33775

INFO.

PLACE &

DATE ACO.

VIETNAM, SAIGON (5 OCTOBER 1963)

APPRAISAL COME NARY

FIELD REPORT NO.

THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION. SOURCE GRADINGS ARE DEFINITIVE. APPRAISAL OF: CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.

SOURCE STAFF OFFICERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION.

1. THIS IS A FIELD APPRAISAL OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. IZ IS NOT AN

OFFICIAL JUDGEMENT BY THIS AGENCY OR ANY COMPONENT. IT REPRESENIS TEE

OBSERVATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF STAFF OFFICERS BASED ON INFORMATION AVAIT AELE

TO THEM AT THE TIME OF ITS PREPARATION. PREPARED FOR INTERNAL USE AS A GUIDE FO

THE OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT, THIS CONMENIARY IS DISSEMINATED IN THE BELIEF THAE:

IT MAY BE USHFUL TO OTHER AGENCIES IN ASSESSING THE SITUATION FOR THEIR OWN

PURPOSES.

2. THE MOST SIRIKING FEATURE OF THE INTELLICENCE REPORIS FOR THE WEEK OF

29 SEPTEMBER-5 OCTOBER 1963 HAS BEEN A GREATER DEPIH OF REPORTING ON COUP.

PLOTTING, PROVIDING INFORMATION IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AS TO THE PERSONALITIES

INVOLVED AND THEIR ALLOTTED ROLES. STILL LACKING, HOWEVER, IS SOLID INTORMANION

AS TO THE CORESIVENESS OF VARICUS GROUPS REPORTED READY TO LAUNCH A COUF AND TO

• CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

invari from arena

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

NO FOURIS

DISSEENO DISSEM AEROAD/ 3ACKERCOND

door. grading on

CORERCI

DISSEM

destarsalratos

19L0

TELEGR

INFORMATION REPOR

1Kb OSSOLETE PREVIOUS EDITIONS.

125-20%

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CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO. FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

• BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED

TDCS DB-3/657;133

DISSEM

IN 33.775

PAGE

TWO

THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ENJOY FIRM LEADERSHIP. AT THE TOP OF THE ICEBERG. OF WHICH

WE ARE STILL GETTING ONLY TANGENTIAL GLIMPSES -

3. THE GENERALS MEANWHILE ARE NOW PRESSING PRESIDENT NGO DINE DIEM FOR A :

REPLY TO THE DEMANDS MADE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE MARTIAL :

LAW PHASE. AS DESCRIBED BY GENERAL TRAN VAN DON, THE LIST OF DEMANDS ARE QUITE

EXTENSIVE, INCLUDING THE ASSIGNMENT OF MILITARY MEN: TO THE POSTS OF MINISTERS:

OF DEFENSE, INTERIOR, CIVIC ACTION AND EDUCATION. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR CONIROL.

OF THE SAIGON/CHOLON POLICE AND. THE PLACEMENT OF THE CAPITAL REGION UNDER A F

PERMANENT MILITARY GOVERNORSHIP. DON SAYS THAT HE AND HIS FELLOW GENERAL: OFFICERS

DO NOT EXPECT DIEM TO ACCEDE TO THIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS, ACCEPTANCE: OF WHICH.

WOULD INDEED AMOUNT TO A VIRTUAL SURRENDER ON. THE PART OF DIEM AND NGO DINH NHU.

THE LATTER WILL PROBABLY GO PART WAY, HOWEVER, IN MEETING THE DESIRES: OF THE

MILITARY IN AN EFFORT TO DETER THE LATTER FROM ATTEMPTING AN EARLY COUP: THEIR

TACTIC IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF SEEKING TO ENMESE THE GENERALS: IN TIME-CONSUMING

NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO THE PROSPECTIVE REVAMPING OF THE GOVERNMENT WITH A VIEW.

TOWARD GAINING TIME IN WHICH TO MONITOR AND BREAK UP ANY COUP COMBINATION WHICH

MAY BE DEVELOPING. THE OUTCOME OF MANEUVERING BETWEEN DIEM AND NHU AND THE

MILITARY DURING THE COMING FEW WEEKS, OR POSSIBLY EVEN DAYS, IS LIKELY TO BE

OF DECISIVE IMPORTANCE TO FUTURE COURSE OF EVENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

4. DESPITE THE IMPRESSION OF THE RETURN IO NORMALITY THAT IS FEING FOSTERED

BY THE REGIME, THE ATMOSPHERE IN SAIGON CONTINUES TO BE PERVADED TO A CONSIDERABLE

DEGREE BY FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY. ARRESTS REPORIEDLY ARE CONTINUING, AS WELL AS

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY/

CONTROLLED DISSEM

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## Page 4

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROADCSDB-3/657,133

BACKGROUND USE ONLY/CONTROLLED

DISSEM

IN

33775

PAGE

THREE

SEARCHES OF PRIVATE HOMES BY THE SECURITY FORCES.

5.

THERE ARE SCATTERED INDICATIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM (GVN) IS

PLANNING TO SPRING SOME SURPRISES ON TRE 26 OCTOBER NATIONAL, DAY CELEBRATIONS:

NHU, FOR EXAMPLE, IS REPORTED IO HAVE TOLD THE GENERALS THAT IN A FEW WEEKS HE

WOULD UNDERTAKE AN UNSPECIFIED ACTION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NATURE. WHICH NEITHER

"THE WEALTHY NOR THE AMERICANS. WOULD LIKE." WE ALSO HAVE A REPORT THAT SWEEPING

CHANGAS IN THE POLICE AND CIVIL INTELLIGENCE COMPLEX WILL OCCUR MORE FRIVOLOUS

BUT PERHAPS SUGGESTIVE OF THE DESIRE BY THE REGIME TO EASE THE CURRENT AIMOSPHERE

IN SAIGON ARE THE RUMORS THAT THE BAN ON DANCING WILL BE LIFTED, NATIONAL DAY

WOULD BE THE LOGICAL TIME FOR DIEM TO ANNOUNCE REVAMPING OF HIS GOVERNMENT, PROVIDEI

THIS DELICATE OPERATION CAN BE COMPLETED IN TIME.

6... A SIRIKING. THING ABOUT THE ELECTIONS WAS THE FACT THAT THEY WENT OFF

VIRTUALLY WITHOUT INCIDENT, EITHER IN SAIGON OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. THERE HAD

BEEN SEVERAI INDICATIONS THAI THE VIET CONG (VC) INTENDED DISRUPTION AS A COMPANION

TACTIC TO THEIR PROPAGANDA CALL FOR THE BOYCOTT OF THE ELECTIONS: NEITHER DURING

THE ELECTIONS, NOR DURING THE PRECEDING BUDDHIST CRISIS, DID THE COMMUNISTS SEEM

ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THEIR IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES. ESPECIAILY LACKING WAS TRE

EXERCISE OF THEIR MUCH VAUNIED CAPABILITES FOR TERRORISM, RAISING SOME QUESTION

IN OUR

MINDS AS TO WHETHER VC ABILITY IO USE TERRORISM IN CITIES/ AS GREAT AS WE

HAD BEEN LED TO BELIEVE. IT WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE IO MEASURE THE SUCCESS OF

THE VC BOYCOIT APPEAL SINCE THE GVN, IN MANY AREAS MORE OR LESS FORCED THE ELECTORAIE

TO VOTE AND IN AREAS WHERE ITS CONTROL WAS NOT THAT. STRONG, THE RECIME AIMOST..

CERIAINLY FALSIFIED THE PERCENTACES OF THE VOIE.

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

C-O-N-F-I-D-E -N-T-I-A-I

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY/

CONTROLLED DISSEM

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CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ TDCS DB-3/-657,133

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-I-I-A-L BACKGROUND USE ONLY/CONTROLLED DISSEM

IN

33775

PAGE FOUR

7. ONE INDICATION OF

'THE REGIME'S INCREASED CONFIDENCE THAT IT HAS THE:

SITUATION UNDER CONTROL IS THE FACT THAT COLONEL TUNG HAS RELEASED TWO COMPANIES

OF SPECIAL FORCES TROOPS FOR OPERATIONS AGAINSI THE VC.

8. ALTHOUGH MOMENTARILY QUIESCENT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY GN SECURITY CONTROLS,

THE STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL. ACTIVITIES AND ARE DEVELOPING. PLANS FOR

FURTHER ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO BE CONSIDERABLE DIVISION

OF OPINION AMONG THE VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS, SOME OF WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO THE

BUDDHIST CRISIS AND SOME HAVE SINCE EMERGED. REPORTING RECEIVED TO DATE WOULD

INDICATE THAT THE VC HAVE NOT YET MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE STUDENT MOVE-

MENT, ALTHOUGH THIS IS OF COURSE AN INCREASING POSSIBILITY IF RELATIONS BETWEEN

THE STUDENTS AND THE GVN LONG REMAIN IN THEIR PRESENT UNSATISFACTORY STATE. IN

PARTICULAR, WE HAVE LITILE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE THESIS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE:

TO .

FLEEING/THE COUNTRYSIDE TO JOIN THE VC ALTHOUGH SOME REPORTEDLY DID LEAVE SAIGON

AND HUE TO AVOID ARREST DURING THE PERIOD OF THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN. : Vis

9. A REPORT FROM A VIETNAMESE TRADE UNION OFFICIAL PROVIDES ADDITIONAL:

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE NHU-MANELI MEETING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND ON THE

GENERAL SUBJECT OF POSSIBLE GN-DRV RAPPROCHEMENT. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION

RECEIVED BY THE SOURCE FROM A FRENCH EMBASSY OFFICER, HO CHI MINH HAD AT ONE TIME

INDICATED TO A FORMER FRENCH REPRESENTATIVE IN NORTE VIETNAM HIS DISCOURACEMENT

OVER CASUALTIES SUSTAINED IN THE WAR IN THE SOUTH, HIS DISTASTE FOR THE CHINESE

PRESENCE IN THE DRV, AND HIS RESTIVENESS OVER SOVIET "INTERFERENCE" OF AN

UNSPECIFIED NATURE, LALOUETTE. WAS REPORTED TO HAVE PASSED THIS ON TO NHU WHO,

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A•L

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY/

CONTROLLED DISSEM

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## Page 6

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

C-O-N-F-I-D-E -N-T-I-A-L

, NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD

TDCS DB-3/657,133

BACKGROUND. USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISSEM

IN

33775

PAGE FIVE

ACCORDING TO THE FRENCH, LEAKED IT TO JOSEPH ALSOP, THUS BETRAYING THE CONFILENTIAL

FRENCH CONVERSATION WITH HO. THE FRENCH ALLEGEDLY FEEL THIS PUT LALOUETIE IN AN

UNTENABLE POSITION; HENCE, HIS FATLURE TO RETURN TO SAIGON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO

BELIEVE THAT THE FRENCH REALLY CONSIDER NHU'S "INDISCRETION" AS SERIOUS, AS THEY LET

ON. SOURCE CLAIMS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MANELI TOLD NHU PRRCTICALLY THE SAME STORY

ABOUT HO'S PREOCCUPATIONS.

10. FIELD DISSEM. SIATE (AMBASSADOR, DOM, USMACY (BARKINS), CINCPAC, PACFLI,

PACAF, ARPAC.

END OF MESSAGE

C-O-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE ONLY/ ..

CONTROLLED DISSEM

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