U.S. Urged To Condemn Diem

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30219, 26 August 1963, Page 11

U.S. Urged To Condemn Diem

{N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW YORK, Aug. 24. A leader of the antiCommunist underground movement in South Vietnam said in New York yesterday that the United States Government should publicly “clearly condemn” the regime of the South Vietnam President, Mr Ngo Dinh Diem, United Press International reported.

The United States should make it clear that if the Diem Government stayed in power, it would withdraw all assistance to it, Dr. Nguyen Thon Hoan said.

Dr. Hoan, president of the Democratic League of Vietnam, arrived from Paris, where he has been living in exile since 1955, in hopes of making a personal appeal to President Kennedy.

He insisted that the principal opposition to the present South Vietnam Government was anti-Communist and the fall of the Diem Government would encourage opposition to communism in Laos.

“We are convinced that if the United States withdrew

its aid. the Diem Government will fall and a nationalist force will rise to take its

place,” he said. “The people of Vietnam consider in the light of the atrocities of the Diem Government in the last few days that the Diem regime is worse than that of the Communists.” Dr. Hoan said the generals of the South Vietnamese Army were opposed to the present Government and “are only awaiting word from President Kennedy to act." United States Administra-

tion officials acknowledged that the United States had been unable to exercise any moderating influence on South Vietnam’s military and political leaders, who were reported ruthlessly suppressing all opposition elements in Saigon, U.P.I. said. The officials said that whether the United States, which is contributing massive military and economic aid to President Diem's regime, would ever be able to exert much leverage again for political reforms depended on who eventually emerged as top man there. There w-as some feeling in official quarters that the power struggle within the Diem regime was far from settled, and until the United States found out for certain who would be in control, it could do little to determine its future course of action.

The new United States Ambassador to Saigon. Mr Henry Cabot Lodge, arrived there on Thursday. Mr Lodge said today that he would have his first meeting with President Diem on Monday, the Associated Press reported. Cables from the American

J Embassy seemed to make it : clear that Mr Diem’s brother, i Mr Ngo Dinh Nhu, working with top military men, was ! in control for the time being, • U.P.I. said. However, diplomatic sources : said, it was far from certain • that all Army officials and i the bulk of the troops, who • are Buddhists, were in aci cord with the heavy-handed ’ repression of religious and ■ other demonstrators.

Participation yesterday by students for the first time in mass demonstrations against the Diem Government confirmed belief in Washington that the Buddhist protests were serving as a focal point to bring out long-smouldering opposition among intellectuals and other elements to the Government. A rally was held in the centre of San Francisco today to protest against the United States Government's support to the South Vietnam Government. About 200 signcarrying marchers paraded down one of the main streets and then gathered in a city square to listen to speakers. “Our protest is directed against both the South Vietnam Government and our own Government for supporting this one-family dictatorship with military supplies and personnel,” said Dr

Thomas Brewer, of the University of California medical centre. A lawyer. Mr Vincent Hallinan. said that because of the Government’s policy in South-east Asia, “we are now the most hated people in the world."