South Vietnam: Thieu Unlikely to Win Emergency Powers
This item is an intelligence report from the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the Department of State.
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OCR Page 1 of 7SEGRER/MO FOREIGM DISSEM/LIMDIS
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Senate, holding the balance of power between the government bloc and
the usually anti-government Buddhist bloc. In recent years the
Catholics have grown disenchanted with the Thieu regime, shifting
gradually toward moderate opposition and frequent tactical alliance with
the Buddhists. Thieu's reaction to this development has vacillated
between wrath at "betrayal" and confidence that eventually the
Catholics would return unbidden to the fold. Thieu's ardent courting
of Catholic support is in his view a major concession, and he is doubtless
chagrined that Catholic leader (and Senate Chaimian) Nguyen van Huyen
has, apparently, declined to commit his bloc to support the emergency
powers bill.
Thieu Sounds The Tocsin. While seeking Catholic support for the
emergency powers legislation, Thieu decided to act unilaterally in
other areas to holster the nation's sagging morale. llis moves were
vigorous and apparently effective, but they nonetheless undercut the
regime's efforts to win authority to rule by decree. Thieu sacked
several generals, including two of the four regional commanders (a
unanimous Senate resolution endorsed the military shakeup). He
reiterated orders that looters and arsonists be shot on sight. A
few days later, surprised and deeply grati fied by the US decision to
interdict North Vietnam, Thieu seized the opportunity to give a much-
needed accounting of the military situation to the South Vietnamese
SECRETAIO FOREIGN DISSEW/LIMDIS