THE SITUATION IN SOUTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00826A000400010055-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2004
• Sequence Number: 55
• Publication Date: March 13, 1966
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Rele 2004/0
OCI No. 1118/66
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
13 March 1966
INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
The Situation in South Vietnam
M. EST
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There continues to be conflicting informa- 25X1
us ody in Saigon or has
returned to Da
n as reported esty aft.
The most recentNinformationn fromytheeUSaEmbassynisn
that Thi is still in Saigon today. y
2. Meanwhile, a general strike called for in
the Da Nang area today by groups protesting Thi's
ouster appeared as of noon local time to be about A waspsomewhatfdifficult totassesstbecaubeio response
t
of lly
slack commercial activity on Sunday, as
cent f
75 opof the shops are reported closed, the t per-
Da Nang is closed, no cyclodrivers are working, and
about 85-90 percent of the civilian workers employed
in US military construction did not report for duty.
No police are in evidence on the streets. There are
some reports that the organizers of the strike may
attempt to extend it through Monday.
3. So far, the strike has not spread to other
towns in I Corps. Quang Ngai city, where a similar
work stoppage was reportedly called for today, ap-
pears calm; Hue and Hoi An are quiet, with business
operating normally. Saigon continues free of unrest,
although troop movements scheduled for late today
and early tomorrow around the city in connection
with the planned execution of a Chinese profiteer
may provoke some rumors of trouble.
1i 11 1
Thi remains in ~O
pro ec 1ve c t
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4. Premier
Ky is reported to feel that
the
strike in Da Nang
is not a cause for serious
con-
cern, although he
has indicated that he may
visit
I Corps tomorrow
to "show his face." Police
Director
Lieu and Military Security Service Chief Colonel
Loan, now in I Corps, have reported to Ky that Gen-
eral Chuan, the new I Corps commander, has accepted
full responsibility for dealing with agitation in
the area. Most of the troublemakers are still felt
to be local political factions, and at least three
ranking Buddhist leaders, including Tri Quang, have
now reportedly assured Ky that the Buddhists will
not cause trouble.
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1 . P79T00826A000400010055-1