PERSONS/ENTITIES: Diem
DATES: August 21, 1963
CATEGORIES: Diem

TOP SECRET

OCCURRENCE: Higgins characterizes the raids on the Xa Loi and other pagodas on August 21, 1963, as the turning point in American policy toward Viet Nam. She states that this crystallizes the feelings of a powerful action inside the Kennedy Administration that Diem had to be opposed.

raised stories from Saigon scene that had all the inventiveness of an Oriental Ian Fleming. Soldiers in battle dress were wearing gasmasks "stormed" into shortly after midnight. A of bells, a blood-curdling scream shattered the spirits serenity. One eye witness professed to see two monks thrown twenty feet from a balcony. Extravagant rumors about the number of death and wounded spread like a wild malignancy.

"When the United Nations in Viet Nam investigated the rumors in !

SOURCE: Our Vietnam Nightmare by Marguerite Higgins
STAFF: Dawson
DATE: July 2, 1975
FILE: present during the acute affair Xa Loi and elsewhere. (50-1)

PERSONS/ENTITIES: DIEM
Ball, Undersecretary of State
Helms, Richard
Colby, Win.

DATES: 8/21/63
CATEGORIES: Diem

TOP SECRET

OCCURRENCE: On 21 August 1963, South Vietnamese troops and police attacked the occupied Buddhist pagodas throughout the country. DIEM imposed nationwide martial law. At a presidential meeting on Vietnam on this same date, the participants from the CIA, including the DCI, DDP, and Chief of Far Eastern Division, it was pointed out that on notes taken by the Chief of the Far Eastern Division that "on the matter of possible alternate leadership in Vietnam, it was pointed out that there was no indication that DIEM was not in full control."

SOURCE: 1967 I.G. Report, Part C
STAFF: RD
FILE: Cage
DATE: 6/28/75