August and September power struggle with Khánh Dương Văn Minh

in august, khánh drafted new constitution, have augmented personal power , hamstrung minh of authority had left ousting him power. however, served weaken khánh large urban demonstrations broke out, led buddhists, calling end state of emergency , new constitution. in response claims harking diệm era of roman catholic domination, khánh made concessions buddhists, sparking opposition khiêm , thiệu, both catholics. tried remove him in favour of minh, , recruited many officers. khiêm , thiệu sought out taylor , sought private endorsement install minh staging coup against khánh, u.s. ambassador did not want more changes in leadership, fearing corrosive effect on government. deterred khiêm s group staging coup.

the division among generals came head @ meeting of mrc on 26–27 august. khánh , khiêm blamed 1 increasing unrest across nation. thiệu , catholic, general nguyễn hữu có, called replacement of khánh minh, latter refused. minh reportedly claimed khánh 1 financial assistance washington, supported him, prompting khiêm angrily say, obviously, khánh puppet of u.s. government, , tired of being told americans how should run our internal affairs . khánh said resign, no agreement on leadership found, , after more arguing between senior officers, on 27 august agreed khánh, minh, , khiêm rule triumvirate 2 months, until new civilian government formed. trio brought paratroopers saigon end rioting. however, triumvirate did little due disunity. khánh dominated decision-making , sidelined khiêm , minh.

on 13 september, generals lâm văn phát , dương văn Đức, both roman catholics demoted khánh after buddhist pressure, launched coup attempt support of catholic elements. after one-day stand-off putsch failed. during coup, minh had remained aloof proceedings, angering khánh , keeping long-running rivalry going. end of october, johnson administration became more supportive of taylor s negative opinion of minh , concluded u.s. interests optimized if khánh prevailed in power struggle. result, americans paid minh go on tour pushed off political scene without embarrassment, while khiêm exiled washington ambassador after being implicated in coup.

a short while earlier in september, before minh sent overseas, junta decided create semblance of civilian rule creating high national council (hnc), appointed advisory body begin transitional constitutional rule. khánh put minh in charge of picking 17 members of group, , filled figures sympathetic him. made resolution recommend model powerful head of state, minh. khánh did not want rival taking power, , americans convinced hnc dilute power inherent in position make unappealing minh. hnc selected phan khắc sửu chief of state, , sửu selected trần văn hương prime minister, although junta remained real power. end of year, minh in vietnam after tour.

khánh prevails

khánh , group of younger officers decided forcibly retire officers more 25 years of service, such minh , other generals deposed in khánh s january coup; nominally because thought them lethargic , ineffective, tacitly, , far more importantly, because potential rivals power. according khánh , young turks, group led minh , had been making plots buddhists regain power.

sửu s signature required pass ruling, referred matter hnc, turned down request. on 19 december, generals dissolved hnc; several of members, other politicians , student leaders arrested, while minh , other older generals arrested , flown pleiku, , later removed military.