REFERENDUM IN VIETNAM

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 13

REFERENDUM IN VIETNAM

Rivalry Between Leaders (Rec. 8 p.m.) SAIGON, October 18. Rivalry between the Head of the State and the Prime Minister of South Vietnam, who are trying to depose each other, took a new turn today when former supporters of the Government called for an end to the counter’s “one-man rule.” Their declaration was released by a former Prime Minister (Dr. Nguyen Phan Long) and Mr Xuan Chu, a refugee from Communist North Vietnam. It was believed to be supported by about 60 other prominent politicians, who asked that their names not be released immediately for fear of arrest. The leaders accused the Prime Minister (Mr Diem) of trying to put the cart before the horse m planning a referendum for next Sunday to decide whether he should replace Bao Dai as Head of the State. The leaders said they objected to the referendum because “the system of one man’s rule which has lasted too long should be done away with as quickly as possible and replaced by a truly democratic regime. They called, instead, for the Government to appoint a committee of representatives of all political groups to plan a democratic election of a National Assembly.