 The staging of the election was subsidised by foreign funding . The United States government and a combination of American Roman Catholic charities contributed US $ 2 million each . Ba Cụt , a leader of an anti @-@ government Hòa Hảo religious sect , distributed a pamphlet condemning Diệm as an American puppet , citing the funding as proof and further asserting that Diệm was going to " Catholicize " the country . The Vietnamese Socialist Party , which was affiliated to the Hòa Hảo , claimed Diệm had " bribed the world of laborers and young students to petition in support of Diem 's rise to chief @-@ of @-@ state and to petition in favor of deposing Bao Dai " , using the American election funding . Another Hòa Hảo rebel leader , General Trần Văn Soái , assailed Diệm 's undemocratic regime and declared the referendum illegal . He invited " friendly countries and the people of Vietnam to distrust this political maneuver " . Diệm had earlier told a cabinet minister that there was only one political party – Nhu 's outfit , and went about eradicating opposition by force . Opponents claimed Diệm 's declarations about the value of democracy were hollow . 
