NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
TOP SECRET
would agree to enter such provisional government. Minh said that he would agree to enter a provisional government if political groups represented by Quat and others accepted, but he felt this solution had been overtaken, by events。Quat said that if an immediate answer from him was required, it would have to be negative。He added that, in his opinion, Diem cannot now organize an interim government.
6. Van said that he felt Diem might accept the proposal but that proposed members of new team, thinking Diem incapable of change, would not agree to participate. He said that Diem does not have support in the country, and while his group would risk almost anything for a good solution, they would not take the chance of participating in interim Diem cabinet.
7. I said that if Vietnamese leaders were unable to find solution and Diem was removed under circumstances which pointed to Sect victory, it would be very difficult to obtain popular support in U.S. for continuation of U.S. aid. I therefore urged participants to consider matter further and to find some other solution if that which we discussed seemed impracticable to them.
8. More follows.
SMD/32
