The Saigon “Plot”

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31809, 14 October 1968, Page 16

The Saigon “Plot”

President Thieu continues to demonstrate that he is the real power in Saigon; that although he heads an elected government there is little collective responsibility. Last week the Ministry of Information said that Army units had foiled a plot, involving civilians and some Army commanders, to take over the Government President Thieu instantly issued a denial. There had been'no attempted coup, he said, and no arrests—“so far”. The President’s denial notwithstanding, it would not have been surprising if there had been a plot involving Army officers; the President has been busy in recent months curbing their powers. There have been many sackings. The President has replaced with his own nominees three of the commanders of the four Army corps that cover South Vietnam. These men had great authority, since they appointed the chiefs of provinces and were thus able to set up virtually their own systems of government New chiefs are now named by the Ministry of the Interior, subject to the President’s approval. The Vice-President, Marshal Ky, who for two years ran the country as a despot, appears to be rarely consulted. Thieu recently dismissed his chief aide, General Ngoc Loan, who headed the police and secret service organisations. Another of Ky’s associates, General Khanh, was deprived of the command of the Third Corps—important politically’ because it includes the Saigon area. Others dismissed Included Colonel Cua, who was Mayor of Saigon, and three generals who formerly held Cabinet rank. The men now toppled from power would have had reason to challenge the President’s authority on the ground that he was acting more as a dictator than as head of an elected government He does not hesitate, for instance, to veto legislative proposals framed without his consent The plot—if there was one—may have been intended to prepare the way for a political approach to the Viet Cong. Many Army officers now contend that the war can be ended only by reaching some accommodation with Hanoi which would involve a sharing of political power in the South. President Thieu repudiates any such solution. His rival in the election, Mr Trung Dinh Dzu, was sent to prison for five years for advocating talks between the Government and the National Liberation Front Despite Thieu’s public utterances, close observers of the war, and of its bitter muddle of fighting and politics, think that Thieu is waiting for an opportunity to talk secretly with the Viet Cong. They think he must recognise that political stalemate can be ended only by acceptance of a coalition. If this is indeed in his mind, Thieu would not want the initiative to pass out of his hands.