SOUTH VIETNAM COUP WAS ‘ONLY A TROOP MOVEMENT’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30546, 15 September 1964, Page 17

SOUTH VIETNAM COUP WAS ‘ONLY A TROOP MOVEMENT’

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) SAIGON, September 14. The South Vietnam coup collapsed early today. The commander of the coup forces has joined loyal generals in a statement of support for the Government of Major-General Nguyen Khanh. Generals on both sides reached agreement during peace talks at dawn to put a list of demands to the Government.

Most coup forces withdrew early today and one of the principal leaders, Brigadier-General Lam Van Phat, was in hiding. The coup forces commander, Major-General Nguyen Van Due, appeared nervous and almost sobbing at a press conference alongside the Air Force commander, Air Commodore Nguyen Cao Ky, who had rallied loyal forces to put down the coup without bloodshed.

The principal demands of the generals on both sides were the purging of Communist and Neutralist elements from the Administration and a clear separation between politics and religion. Air Commodore Ky told correspondents there was really no coup yesterday, but only a movement of troops. He said the Air Force believed any coup, whether good or bad, could help only Communists. The Japanese semi-Govern-ment radio station NHK, quoting Saigon. Radio and its own correspondent, said Air Commodore Ky told today's press conference the coup leaders had agreed to cooperate with General Khanh in line with the transfer of government to civil- administration, scheduled for October 27. NHK said General Due told the press conference he had taken action as he believed stronger unity was needed in the fight against the Viet Cong. General Due said he had demanded the Government to: —

1— Restore the Government’s authority. 2 Expel Communist elements and sympathisers of the Viet Cong from the Government. 3 Establish the Army’s authority, 4 Establish a national league to fight against the Viet Cong with stronger unity irrespective of different religions and doctrines; A reconstruction of events after yesterday’s military occupation of Saigon indicates that a number of generals previously reached basic agreement on certain demands to be put to the Government. Some generals wanted to back up these demands with

a show of force—a coup—but Air Commodore Ky and others opposed this. However, certain commanders ordered troops into Saigon at dawn yesterday, forcing Air Commodore Ky to elect whether to back them or oppose them. Although the city was entirely in rebel hands, he decided to crush the coup, using force if necessary. Throughout yesterday and last night, more and more generals commanding troops threw their support behind Air Commodore Ky. Early this morning some of the coup forces withdrew, leaving General Due and General Phat in a very weak position. Air Commodore Ky then sent an offer of negotiations to General Due. Late this morning the only

coup forces remaining in Saigon were elements of the Seventh Division, which said they were staying to keep order because of planned student demonstrations this afternoon. General Khanh was expected to return to Saigon tomorrow from the seaside resort of Cap S. Jacques. Relief in U.S. In Washington, United States, officials welcomed with deep relief the collapse of the uprising against Premier Khanh. Powerful and insistent U.S. support for the Premier evidently played a key role in keeping him in office. U.S. officials in Saigon are understood to have made the American position clear to South Vietnam’s contending leaders well before its public announcement in Washington.