South Viet Nam: Some Old, Some New

Forming a government is a traditionally unenviable task in politically fragmented South Viet Nam, as new Premier Tran Van Huong discovered last week. It took tough bargaining with President Nguyen Van Thieu, Vice President Nguyen Cao Ky, the nation's collegium of generals and politicians of various persuasions. After seven days, Huong put together a Cabinet more or less acceptable to everyone. When he finally presented his choices, they failed to measure up to the hopes of those Vietnamese and Americans who had wanted the popular Huong to shape a government of national unity.

Two of South Viet Nam's major political factions were missing: both branches of the ultranationalist, right-wing Dai Viet Party, which garnered more than 7% of the vote in last September's presidential elections. Geographical (Southerners v. Northerners) and religious (Buddhists v. Catholics) representation was better balanced than in the Cabinet of his predecessor, Nguyen Van Loc. But Huong, like Loc, assembled a group of technicians rather than politicians, who could have broadened the base of popular support for the government. In fact, he retained six of the old ministers in the 18-man lineup.

Huong did, however, bring in new men for the main posts. Senator Tran Chanh Tranh, a diplomat and political independent who is not close to either Thieu or Ky, became Foreign Minister. Four-star General Tran Thien Khiem, an ally of President Thieu and presently Ambassador to Taiwan, was named Interior Minister. Dr. Phan Quang Dan, a vice-presidential candidate who ran against the Thieu-Ky military ticket in the September elections, got the ministry dealing with defectors. Huong kept for himself the Rural Development Ministry, responsible for pacification. "The life and death of this country depend on this government," the Premier declared at the Cabinet installation. "We will do all we can to safeguard it."