DATES: 30 Aug. 1963 CATEGORIES: DIEM OCCURRENCE: On August 30, 1963, there was a VICE PRESIDENTIAL meeting on Vietnam, with HEMS, CARTER, and COLBY participating. The record is provided by C/FE COLBY which shows that: "RUSK referred to recent cable traffic and said that he was not even sure whom we were dealing with or what they were planning. McNAMARA pointed out that there was some question whether the generals ever did have a plan. BUNDY said he had re-read the earlier traffic and noted that they never said they did. GEN. CARTER said he believed that the general's coup was not likely at this stage and that in another week we will be approximately where we were before the attack on the Buddhist temples. BUNDY suggested we consider additional contingencies before the GROUP and whether the assumption that NIIU is impossible is well founded." (13) SOURCE: I.G. REPORT 1967, Part C., p. 13 STAFF: Dawson FILE: DATE: 28.6.75 PERSONS/ENTITIES: JOHNSON, Lyndon B. HARKINS COLBY CARTER RUSK HELMS McNAMARA LODGE DATES: 31 Aug. 1963 CATEGORIES: DIEM OCCURRENCE: At a VICE PRESIDENTIAL meeting on Vietnam, on August 31, 1963, a record by C/FE COLBY reflects that: "RUSK suggested we look at precisely what in the Vietnam situation made us think of a coup and what might be done to improve conditions in Vietnam. McNAMARA suggested the first requirement was reestablishment of communication between LODGE and HARKINS. RUSK directed that a telegram be prepared for Saigon making suggestions as to what we might ask the GVN to do." (14) DDCI CARTER and DD/P HELMS also participated.) SOURCE: I.G. REPORT 1967, Part C., p. 14 STAFF: Dawson