Trần Lệ Xuân: Difference between revisions

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On June 8, 1963, Madame Nhu released a statement through the Women's Solidarity Movement accusing the Buddhists of neutralism, effectively accusing them of being communist collaborators.  It then implored "bonzes of good faith" to stop helping the communists, otherwise Vietnamese Buddhism would be seen as a “small anti-nationalist branch of a dubious international association, exploited and controlled by communism and oriented to the sowing of the disorder of neutralism” and calling on Diem to "immediately expel all foreign agitators whether they wear monks' robes or not."  She made another attack on the United States, calling on Diệm to "keep vigilance on all others, particularly those inclined to take Viet Nam for [a] satellite of [a] foreign power or organization."
On June 8, 1963, Madame Nhu released a statement through the Women's Solidarity Movement accusing the Buddhists of neutralism, effectively accusing them of being communist collaborators.  It then implored "bonzes of good faith" to stop helping the communists, otherwise Vietnamese Buddhism would be seen as a “small anti-nationalist branch of a dubious international association, exploited and controlled by communism and oriented to the sowing of the disorder of neutralism” and calling on Diem to "immediately expel all foreign agitators whether they wear monks' robes or not."  She made another attack on the United States, calling on Diệm to "keep vigilance on all others, particularly those inclined to take Viet Nam for [a] satellite of [a] foreign power or organization."


Madame Nhu publicly mocked Thích Quảng Đức, who performed a self-immolation on 11 June 1963, in a crowded Saigon street to protest against the shooting of Buddhists by Diệm's regime. Nhu labelled it a "barbecue" and stated, "Let them burn and we shall clap our hands." She further offered to provide more fuel and matches for the Buddhists.  Historian Howard Jones said that these comments "all but put the finishing touch on the Diệm regime."  Her comments further stoked open infighting with her parents. Her father went on radio to condemn her comments. A Confucian, Chương said that the regime had alienated "the strongest moral forces," implying that they had lost the mandate of heaven.  She responded by calling him a "coward."  Her mother said that "There is an old proverb in my country which means 'one should not make oneself or one's family naked before the world'...  I was sick...  Now, nobody can stop her...  She never listened to our advice."
Madame Nhu publicly mocked Thích Quảng Đức, who performed a self-immolation on 11 June 1963, in a crowded Saigon street to protest against the shooting of Buddhists by Diệm's regime. Nhu labelled it a "barbecue" and stated, "Let them burn and we shall clap our hands." She further offered to provide more fuel and matches for the Buddhists.  Historian Howard Jones said that these comments "all but put the finishing touch on the Diệm regime."  Her comments further stoked open infighting with her parents. Her father went on radio to condemn her comments, on the other part, President Diệm advised you to avoid speaking to the international media based on their offensive comments. A Confucian, Chương said that the regime had alienated "the strongest moral forces," implying that they had lost the mandate of heaven.  She responded by calling him a "coward."  Her mother said that "There is an old proverb in my country which means 'one should not make oneself or one's family naked before the world'...  I was sick...  Now, nobody can stop her...  She never listened to our advice."


After these comments, the U.S. ambassador, Frederick Nolting, told Diệm that if he did not denounce his sister-in-law's comment in public, the Americans would have to stop supporting him, but he refused to do so, and instead assailed the monks.
After these comments, the U.S. ambassador, Frederick Nolting, told Diệm that if he did not denounce his sister-in-law's comment in public, the Americans would have to stop supporting him, but he refused to do so, and instead assailed the monks.
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== Downfall ==
== Downfall ==
See also: Arrest and assassination of Ngo Dinh Diem
On November 2, 1963, Diệm and Nhu, were assassinated in a ''coup d'état'' led by General Dương Văn Minh with the understanding that the United States would not intervene. At the time of the assassinations, Madame Nhu was in Beverly Hills, California, traveling with her 18-year-old daughter, Ngô Đình Lệ Thủy. Two sons and a baby daughter were still trapped in Vietnam at the family retreat in Đà Lạt and she feared that they could meet the same fate as their father. The children were not harmed by the generals and were flown out of the country into exile in Rome, where they were placed in the custody of Thục. Madame Nhu later flew to Rome to join them.
On November 2, 1963, Diệm and Nhu, were assassinated in a ''coup d'état'' led by General Dương Văn Minh with the understanding that the United States would not intervene. At the time of the assassinations, Madame Nhu was in Beverly Hills, California, traveling with her 18-year-old daughter, Ngô Đình Lệ Thủy. Two sons and a baby daughter were still trapped in Vietnam at the family retreat in Đà Lạt and she feared that they could meet the same fate as their father. The children were not harmed by the generals and were flown out of the country into exile in Rome, where they were placed in the custody of Thục. Madame Nhu later flew to Rome to join them.