Page:Pentagon-Papers-Part IV. C. 1.djvu/24

Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011

 

TOP SECRET – Sensitive

 

DATE	EVENT OR DOCUMENT	DESCRIPTION
27 Aug 1964	MRC Disbands	After ten days of political turmoil and demonstrations, Khanh withdraws the constitution, the MRC names Khanh, Minh and Khiem to rule provisionally and disbands itself.
4 Sep 1964	Khanh Resumes Premiership	Khanh returns from Dalat and ends the crisis by resuming the Premiership.
6 Sep 1964	Embassy Saigon Msg 768	Taylor cables an assessment that "…at best the emerging governmental structure might be capable of maintaining a holding operation against the Viet Cong."
7 Sep 1964	Washington Conference	Taylor meets with the President and the NSC Principals and decisions are made to resume DE SOTO operations, resume 34-A operations, and prepare for further tit-for-tat reprisals.
10 Sep 1964	NSAM 314	The 7 September decisions are promulgated.
13 Sep 1964	Abortive Phat Coup	General Phat launches a coup but it is defeated by forces loyal to Khanh. This establishes the power of younger officers such as Ky and Thi.
18 Sep 1964	DE SOTO Patrol Attacked	The first resumed DE SOTO patrol comes under apparent attack. To avoid future incidents, the President suspends the patrols.
26 Sep 1964	Vietnam High National Council	The MRC names a High National Council of distinguished citizens to prepare a constitution.
20 Oct 1964	New Constitution Revealed	The MRC presents the new constitution drafted by the High National Council. A prompt return to civilian government is promised.
1 Nov 1964	Huong Names Premier	Tran Van Huong, a civilian, is named Premier after the appointment of Phan Khac Suu as Chief of State, thus returning the government to civilian control.