PERSONS/ENTITIES:
Richardson, David.
Diem, John, DCI
Saigon Station

DATES:
15 Sept. 1963

CATEGORIES:
DIEM

OCCURRENCE:
15 September 1963, Halberstam stated that the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency favors all out support for the present regime but that almost all other members of his staff are embittered over the raids in the pagodas. They also feel their close association with Nhu while necessary, has severely damaged intelligence gathering.

SOURCE:
IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 23

STAFF:
Dawson

DATE:
6/27/75

PERSONS/ENTITIES:
Richardson, John
Diem

DATES:
16 Sept 1963

CATEGORIES:
DIEM

OCCURRENCE:
In a CIA cable from Saigon (SAIG0922) of 16 September 1963 Richardson replied to Washington's request for his judgment on the desirability and feasibility of certain ideas, as Washington was then in the course of constructing an agreed plan. He cabled: "We must go on trying to win the war with current administration for as long as it persists in power (we should not attempt publicly to achieve objectives with respect to GVN with probability of attainment is virtually nil) we cannot covertly tinker with or engineer coup unless general situation is reasonably propitious and if we are unable to establish necessary working contact with Vietnamese leaders willing and able to do the job with necessary means. (Agree we should carefully explore and perhaps carefully experiment with graduated measures designed to pressure Diem, with context of persuading him to take steps needed. These measures would be more effective if they are limited to practical and achievable objectives.)"

SOURCE:
IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 24

STAFF:
Dawson