PERSONS/ENTITIES:
NHU
KENNEDY, JOHN F.
LODGE
DIEM

DATES:
Oct. 25, 1963

CATEGORIES:
DIEM

OCCURRENCE:
On October 25, 1963 Presidential meeting on Vietnam, with the only participant from CIA being MCCONE, MCCONE's notes show that the President stated that the purpose of the meeting was to consider: (1) recent actions in South Vietnam with respect to coup planning and qualifications of the individuals reporting, and (2) our policy in South Vietnam as he wished to be assured there was unanimity within the government prior to the return of LODGE for consultations. MCCONE stated his views in detail. In essence, he held: (1) DON might be managed by NHU; (2) CIA has not control and therefore could assume little responsibility; (3) DON could have a coup in the making and could pull it off; (4) we are handling a delicate situation in a non-professional manner; (5) successful coup would lead to confusion because generals would provide weak leadership; (6) one coup would be followed by another and the war might be lost during periods of political confusion; (7) civilians capable of running South Vietnam could not be injected into the government and exercise effective control; (8) ARVN: discuss important political issues with DIEM because of the policy of "cool correct attitude; (9) we either have to work with DIEM and NHU or we have to take aggressive steps to remove them and it is not clear that the succeeding government would be much better.

IG Report 1967 (CIA) p. 36