Reshuffle In S. Vietnam

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30541, 9 September 1964, Page 17

Reshuffle In S. Vietnam

(N.Z.P Ji.-Reuter—Copyright)

SAIGON, September 8.

Major-General Doung Van Minh, who led last year’s coup against the Diem regime, is expected shortly to take over the functions of Chief of State with powers to veto the legislation.

The return to power of “Big Minh” is part of a detailed plan for South Vietnam’s political future expected to be announced

shortly. General Minh will be appointed chairman of the ruling triumvirate of generals set up during last month’s political crisis to restore order. He will be entrusted with the convening of a “high council of the nation” before the end of this month with the task of drafting a provisional constitution. Major-General Nguyen Khanh will remain as Prime Minister, at least for the time being, under the plan which aims at making general elections possible by November, 1965. Further Task General Khanh is expected within a few days to announce a reshuffle of his “transitional Government” which has a scheduled life of two months. The high council of the nation will later appoint a “provisional Government” to lead the nation until the elections but if General Khanh succeeds in gaining popular national support he might be asked to head this provisional Government also.

The high council would have a further task of convening a national Congress to act as the legislative body and draft a permanent constitu-

tion before the elections. The high council is expected to be relatively small, perhaps about 15, including representatives of the main religious and political groupings. After the formation of a national Congress it could act as the upper chamber of the legislature. The plan has been under discussion by the Cabinet and the triumvirate. General Duong Van Minh has been eclipsed by General Khanh since General Khanh ousted him in a coup last January.