Professors Question American Influence In Viet Nam Coup
By Marshall Caskey
Two members of the East Asian Area Studies staff last night said the United States government was not, in their opinion, opposed to the coup which last week toppled the government of South Viet Nam.
The two men, Grant Goodman, visiting associate professor of East Asian Area Studies and Klaus Pringsheim, instructor of political science and East Asian Area Studies, said that there was some question, however, as to the degree in which the United States was involved in the coup.
"I DON'T KNOW," Prof. Goodman said, "whether or not we were instrumental in the overthrow—we weren't against it."
Pringsheim said from the point of view of the U.S. government and its aims in South Viet Nam, this was a happy event and our government was "not in tears."
"While it is easy to be cynical about the affair and say 'of course we deny it, but we were involved,' it is not as simple or crude as that. There are a number of indications which show that what happened came as a surprise and was anxiously observed in Washington." Pringsheim said.
BOTH MEN SAID that a question exists regarding the democracy, if any, which will exist in the new government.
"Please note," Prof. Pringsheim said, "that the governmental change that has taken place in South Viet Nam was a coup, not a revolution. Coups, which are marked by a kind of musical chairs among a ruling elite, are typical of the elitist authoritarian regimes of post-colonial Southeast Asia."
Pringsheim said that we have no guarantee that the new government of South Viet Nam will be truly democratic.
"It remains a question," Pringsheim said, "of how much power will be placed in the hands of civilian government and how much power will remain in the hands of the military junta which sparked the coup. However, the release of prisoners by the new group in power must be welcomed and is hopefully taken by me as an indication that the new government will prove to be a better one rather than a repetition of the past unfortunate regime."
Both agreed that the new regime is probably anti-Communist.
"UNITED STATES POLICY of continued support of the Diem regime despite criticism, Prof. Goodman said, "has been vindicated to the extent that the deposed Ngo brothers, Diem and Nhu, have been replaced by, let us hope, equally anti-Communist members of the ruling elite who will attempt to maintain order and authority in South Viet Nam so that the long and difficult war against the Viet Cong can be prosecuted with renewed vigor."
Pringsheim said if U.S. influence in the events concerning the coup had to be emphasized, it would be well to emphasize the fact that the leaders of the fallen regime were warned of the danger of their situation.
"More than a month ago, Kennedy said that he would like to see changes in the South Vietnamese government and changes in its attitude toward Buddhists. The government (of South Viet Nam) was given time to see the 'handwriting on the wall.' It has just been announced that Mrs. Huu's children are to be sent to Rome for reunion with their mother. If American influence is to be emphasized, this must be emphasized. Don't blame it all on the U.S. Give South Viet Nam credit for settling their trouble in their own way no matter what U.S. influences may have been in the matter. It is absurd to think that the U.S. government is responsible for the deaths of Diem and his brother."
Both men said that they doubt that Mrs. Nuh's father would make his scheduled appearance at KU. They agreed that he is very much in the running for a position in the new regime and that he might well return to his country and be unable to visit KU.
Leaders of Viet Nam Coup Plan For New Government
SAIGON, South Viet Nam—(UPI)—South Viet Nam's victorious military leaders today worked on plans for a new government and took precautions to keep mobs from desecrating the bodies of deposed President Ngo Dinh Diem and his adviser Ngo Dinh Nhu.
Communist propaganda broadcasts called the military coup that overthrew Diem "a face" and charged that the new leadership in South Viet Nam, like Diem's, was controlled by "U.S. imperialism."
Thousands of Vietnamese streamed into the streets yesterday to celebrate Diem's downfall. Troops kept the crowds in check after some attacks on property of deposed officials.
"IT WAS LIKE Paris after the liberation," one observer said. Smiling civilians passed out cigarettes, tea, and food to the rebel soldiers standing guard. They draped flowers on armored cars still guarding the battered palace.
Communist Chinese broadcasts heard in Tokyo tried to present the crowds as demonstrators against U.S. imperialism. They said many soldiers deserted the puppet army after the coup and joined the Communists.
Communist North Viet Nam maintained that the coup will not solve anything for South Viet Nam but "will, on the contrary, sharpen the contradictions."
61st Year, No. 37
Daily hansan
LAWRENCE. KANSAS
WASHINGTON—(UPI)—Secretary of State Dean Rusk called in the acting head of the Soviet embassy today to express U.S. concern over Russian blockade of an American convoy on the Berlin autobahn.
Algerian, Moroccan Truce Resumed After 6-Hour Battle
The undeclared border war over a disputed stretch of barren Sahara Desert land containing iron ore and other minerals appeared to be going into its fifth week despite the cease-fire that was to have become effective Saturday morning.
Monday, Nov. 4, 1963
RABAT, Morocco—(UPI)—Algerian and Moroccan artillery forces ignored a cease-fire agreement and shelled each other throughout the night near the desert border town of Figuig, official Moroccan sources said today.
The Algerian communique said two members of a mixed truce commission, one from Morocco and one from Algeria, met today in Figuig which is an oasis town 37 miles northeast of Colombe Chahr.
Bulletin
Rusk summoned Russian minister Georgi M. Kornienski to his office following a conference at the White House by President Kennedy with Rusk and former U.S. ambassador to Moscow Llewellyn Thompson. Thompson is now one of the top administration advisers on Soviet affairs.
The KU student directory will go on sale tomorrow at the information booth on Jayhawk Boulevard and the Kansas Union Bookstore.
ALGIERS, Algeria—(UPI)—Algerian army headquarters said today artillery shelling with Morcoce in the Beni-Ounif border sector stopped this morning after six-hours duel.
Rusk, Red Official Clash on Blockade
The White House refused to say whether the meeting with Rusk and Thompson concerned the new blockade, but it appeared to be almost certain that it did.
A communique based on reports from the Algerian command post at Colomb Bechar said Moroccan artillery forces opened fire on Algerian-held Beni-Ounif at 2 a.m. and "the (Algerian) national army was obliged to fire back at 4 a.m."
Kornienski spent only about eight minutes with Rusk and emerged from the meeting in a rather grim mood. Asked by newsmen what Rusk and he had to say to each other, Kornienski replied crisply, "I have positively nothing to say."
(In Rabat, Moroccan sources said the artillery duel around Beni-Ounif and nearby Figuig stopped at 9:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. EST) and had not resumed at noon.)
Directory Completed; 7,000 Copies to be Sold
Kornienski was summoned as the acting head of the Soviet embassy here in the absence of Moscow ambassador Anatoly F. Dobrynin who was reported in New York today.
U. S. officials maintained a cautious attitude about the new autobahn provocation pending further clarification of the Soviet intentions.
The book, which lists all students presently enrolled, and all divisions, departments and faculty members of the University, will sell for 50 cents a copy. It will be the only source, other than KU operators, of telephone numbers in the UN-4 exchange, Harper said. said.
Jerry Harper, Wichita senior and directory business manager, said "only 7,000 directories will be published. They'll be sold on a first come, first served basis."
The Moroccan news agency said in a dispatch from Figuig that Moroccan army units and civilian volunteers had "repulsed all attacks successfully, forcing the attackers to pull back to their positions."
There was no indication of casualties or damage to Figuig, a Moroccan oasis town 37 miles northeast of the Algerian command post of Colomb Bechar. Figuig's normal population of 15,000 has been reduced to 8,000 by evacuations.
ALGERIAN MILITARY spokesmen in Colomb Bechar refused to confirm the Moroccan reports of continued fighting at Figuig.
Other reports said fighting had broken out yesterday near the Moroccan town of Oujda, about 200 miles north of Figuig near the Mediterranean coast.
Morocco and Algeria blamed each other for violating the truce by firing the first shots in the Figuig area.
The cease-fire was signed by President Ahmed Ben Bella of Algeria and King Hassan II of Morocco last week in Bamako, Mali, and went into effect Saturday morning.
Controlled Traffic Said to be Accepted
Limited access by car to Jayhawk Boulevard is an accepted fact to almost all KU students, the chairman of the Traffic and Safety Committee of the All Student Council said yesterday.
"Neither the traffic and security office nor this committee has heard complaints against the control booth system recently," Jay Strayer Shawnee Mission senior and committee chairman, said.
Strayer will report to the ASC Tuesday on traffic problems of the University.
Another committee member, Tom Ruzicka, Leawood sophomore, said the only problem of any size which has arisen in connection with the booths has been an over-access to Watkins Hospital.
"OFFICERS SAY that often 'sick' students allowed on the campus to reach the hospital never show up there," he said. "The policy now is to let students through who have an obvious injury or who might suffer harm by walking. But to want to take a car to Watkins to pick up a prescription is not a valid excuse."
The Traffic and Safety Committee has spent much of its time checking into traffic problems at the residence hall complex on Engel Road. Dee Gerstenberger, Park Forest, Ill..
sophomore and committee member, said the lack of adequate parking spaces at Ellsworth Hall will not be solved until the opening of the fifth residence hall in 1965.
Gerstenberger said the traffic and security office is now allowing Ellsworth residents to park on the dirt off the paved lot.
"THE CONTRACT to complete construction of parking facilities is tied in with the building of the fifth dorm," he said.
The added parking facilities will be built on the west side of Iowa Street.
Also planned is the opening of a second access off Engei Road. Gerstenberger said the present temporary outlet to Iowa Street in front of Ellsworth will probably be made permanent in the future. He said University officials see no need for an additional outlet now, but recognize the necessity for one in the future.
Weather
It will be partly cloudy and mild this afternoon through Tuesday. The high today will be in the 60's, the low tonight in the 40's. Tomorrow's high will be in the 60's.
AFTER THE KISS—Homecoming Queen Karen Lou Vice, St. John senior, smiles warmly as Governor John Anderson presents her with flowers. Miss Vice was officially crowned queen during half-time ceremonies at the homecoming game Saturday.