</s>176-10036-10138 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK ASSASSINTATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY : NARA RECORD NUMBER : 176-10035-10139 RECORD SERIES : National Security Files AGENCY FILE NUMBER: ORIGINATOR : CIA FROM : CIA TO : CIA TITLE : Dirmsa DATE : 10/9/1963 PAGES : 3 SUBJECTS : DOCUMENT TYPE : CLASSIFICATIONS : RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : National Securty Files, Box 200: Vietnam, 10/6/1963-10/14/63, CIA Reports. Box 2

Summary  
On 8 October 1963, Nguyen Duy Bach, Chief of the Political Bureau and Presidential Security Service (SEPES) in South Vietnam, reported that Government of Vietnam (GVN) authorities planned to allow a student demonstration near the American Embassy Chancery. Under this cover, approximately 100 armed agents would attack the embassy, assassinate Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and other high-ranking embassy officials, then set the chancery on fire. Bach noted that while such demonstrations were typically prohibited, the GVN intended to permit this specific event due to its planned infiltration of agents, believing they could control the situation. Earlier on 6 October 1963, students informed Bach they were organizing a demonstration near the embassy within "the next few days," likely during office hours. The students also claimed that GVN agents would target Lodge, Ngo Dinh Nhu (Minister of Civic Action), Nguyen Trong Hieu (commander), Melvin L. Manull (embassy political affairs officer), Frederick W. Flott and John M. Dunn (special assistants), and Thich Tri Quang (Buddhist leader residing in the chancery). A field comment noted skepticism about parts of the report, citing a "fairly reliable source" that reported 130 Saigon students were arrested on 7 October by special police.  

Key People  
- Nguyen Duy Bach: Chief of the Political Bureau and Presidential Security Service (SEPES) in South Vietnam.  
- Henry Cabot Lodge: U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam.  
- Ngo Dinh Nhu: Minister of Civic Action.  
- Nguyen Trong Hieu: Commander.  
- Melvin L. Manull: Embassy political affairs officer.  
- Frederick W. Flott: Special assistant.  
- John M. Dunn: Special assistant.  
- Thich Tri Quang: Buddhist leader residing in the chanc,ery.  

Key Locations  
- Saigon, South Vietnam (specifically the American Embassy Chancery).  

Key Events  
- Planned student demonstration near the U.S. Embassy Chancery in Saigon, October 1963.  
- Alleged GVN plot to infiltrate agents into the demonstration to assassinate Ambassador Lodge and other officials, followed by burning the chancery.  
- Arrest of 130 students in Saigon on 7 October 1963 (reported by a "fairly reliable source").  

Key Organizations  
- Government of Vietnam (GVN).  
- Presidential Security Service (SEPES).  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

JFK Declassified Files

176-10036-10138.pdf

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