ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the achievements, the difficulties, and the sudden death of the High National Council (HNC). After the Vũng Tàu Charter was rescinded, the MRC created a new governing body called the Provisional Committee for the Leadership of the Nation and the Armed Forces, with General Dương Văn Minh as Chairman. The Committee established the 17-member HNC with the mandate to draft a new constitution. In spite of the extremely politically chaotic environment of the time, the HNC was successful to complete the Provisional Charter, which was promulgated on October 20, 1964. Mr. Phan Khắc Sửu, Chairman of the HNC was elected Chief of State, who, in turn, appointed Mr. Trần Văn Hương, former Mayor of Saigon, as Prime Minister. General Khánh submitted the resignation of his Cabinet, which was replaced by the Trần Văn Hương Government. In the meantime, the Young Turks were angry after their request to retire the old generals was rejected by the HNC and made the totally illegal decision to dissolve the HNC on December 20, 1964. US Ambassador Maxwell Taylor was angry with that rebellious action by the Young Turks. In a meeting with them the next day, he was using harsh words with them, resulting in their unanimous resolution of protest against him. To please the Young Turks, General Khánh publicly accused Ambassador Taylor of interfering into Vietnam’s internal affairs and threated to expulse him. Prime Minister Hương was successful in resolving this diplomatic crisis between the United States and the Republic of Vietnam.
