void has been created around you, and by the very fact of your high position, no one permits you to perceive the critical point at which truth shall burst forth in irresistible waves of hatred on the part of a people subjected for a long time to terrible suffering and a people who shall rise to break the bonds which hold it down. It shall sweep away the ignominy and all the injustices which surround and oppress it. As we do not wish, in all sincerity, that our Fatherland should have to live through these perilous days, we—without taking into consideration the consequences which our attitude may bring upon us—are ringing today the alarm bell in view of the imminent danger which threatens the government. Until now, we have kept silent and preferred to let the Executive act as it wished. But now time is of the essence; we feel that it is our duty—and in the case of a nation in turmoil even the most humble people have their share of responsibility—to speak the truth, to awaken public opinion, to alert the people, and to unify the opposition so as to point the way. We beseech the government to urgently modify its policies so as to remedy the situation, to defend the republican regime, and to safeguard the existence of the nation. We hold firm hope that the Vietnamese people shall know a brilliant future in which it will enjoy peace and prosperity in freedom and progress. Yours respectfully, Trần Văn Văn, Diploma of Higher Commercial Studies, former Minister of Economy and Planning Phan Khắc Sửu, Agricultural Engineer, former Minister of Agriculture, former Minister of Labor Trần Văn Hương, Professor of Secondary Education, former Prefect of Saigon-Cholon Nguyễn Lưu Viên, M.D., former professor at the Medical School, former High Commissioner of Refugees Huỳnh Kim Hữu, M.D., former Minister of Public Health Phan Huy Quát, M.D., former Minister of National Education, former Minister of Defense Trần Văn Lý, former Governor of Central Vietnam Nguyễn Tiến Hỷ, M.D. Trần Văn Đỗ, M.D., former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman of Vietnamese Delegation to the 1954 Geneva Conference Lê Ngọc Chấn, Attorney at Law, former Secretary of State for National Defense Lê Quang Luật, Attorney at Law, former Government Delegate for North Vietnam, former Minister of Information and Propaganda Lương Trọng Tường, Public Works Engineer, former Secretary of State for National Economy Nguyễn