Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
CONFIDENTIAL
before the French stopped the training. Diem concentrated on tribal law, becoming the outstanding expert on the subject through an exhaustive study of all books and manuscripts in tile Imperial library. His real bent was towards engineering, evidenced today in his love for mechanical gadgets and plans for public works.
At 25, he was appointed as a Province Chief, and served from 1926 to 1932 as such, governing Phan Rang and Phan Thiet in central Vietnam. At the time, these provinces had large French plantations which were practically feudal worlds into themselves. Diem, making use of tribal laws, opened lands for Vietnamese settlers. When workers started leaving plantations for land of their own, Diem became a hero among his people -- and earned some French hatred which still has remnants today.
During these same early years, Diem came up against the Communists and started fighting them. The French brought in Chinese coolies from Singapore to build plantation railroads; the Chinese brought in Communist pamphlets and distributed them to Vietnamese plantation labor. Diem argued forcibly against this dangerous practice, but wasn't heeded by the plantation owners. He then started working directly with the Vietnamese against Communist influence. (In other words, he has been actively up against all forms of Communist operations for 30 years now.)
In 1933, he had become such an outstanding leader among the Vietnamese that he was made Prime Minister. After 6 months in office, the French proposed government "reforms." It actually meant the final form of Vietnamese abdication of all political rights. Diem defied the French openly on this issue, finally resigned and returned all French honors (including their helpful remuneration). He became a real hero to the Vietnamese.
The family went through some hard times then. Diem's father was forced out of his position in 1940 for actions against the Communists, and for returning tribal lands to the Vietnamese. They lived for a time on the family farm, with Diem helping with plowing and chores. However, the family spent every spare moment working for Vietnamese freedom. Brother Nhu handled the funds. They fought a long, secret war against both the French and the Communists.
CONFIDENTIAL
