Office of the Historian

252. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency Station in Saigon to the Director of the National Security Agency (Blake)1

Saigon, November 1, 1963.

2. Critic. Fm: Conein at JGS HQS2 from Gens Big Minh and Don and eye witness observation:

Following are prisoners at JGS:

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Col Tung, Police Commissioner Tu, Air Force Commander Hien, Airborne Commander Col Vien, Marine Commander Khang, Civil Guard Commander Lam. Navy Commander Quyhn, killed morning 1 Nov in premature action by Navy.

Gens attempting contact Palace by telephone but unable to do so. Their proposition as follows: If the President will resign immediately, they will guarantee his safety and the safe departure of the President and Ngo Dinh Nhu. If the President refuses these terms, the Palace will be attacked within the hour by Air Force and Armor.

  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 26 S VIET. Secret Flash. The source text is the copy sent for information Flash to the Department of State. Also sent for information Flash to USIB agencies. Received at the Department of State at 2:34 a.m.↩
  2. According to the Acting Chief of Station in Saigon, the decision to send Conein to the JGS headquarters was made by the Saigon Station and not by Washington. (Department of State, Office of the Historian, Vietnam Interviews, October 11, 1984)↩