Trần Văn Đỗ

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Doctor
Trần Văn Đỗ
Ngô Đình Diệm
Preceded byNguyễn Quốc Định
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1903-11-15)15 November 1903
Trần Lệ Xuân (niece)
  • Ngô Đình Nhu (nephew-in-law)
  • Trần Văn Khiêm (nephew)
  • Alma materUniversity of Paris (M.D.)

    Trần Văn Đỗ (15 November 1903 – 20 December 1990) was a South Vietnamese intellectual and politician who served in both the governments of the

    Trần Lệ Xuân, commonly known as Madame Nhu. He was an outspoken critic of the Diệm's government, and in 1960, he was one of the main drafters of the Caravelle Manifesto, a public document, supported by many political factions of the South Vietnamese government demanding reform within Diệm's government.[1]

    Early life

    He was born on 15 November 1903 in Phủ Lý, Tonkin, French Indochina. He studied in France, obtained a medical doctor degree from the University of Paris.

    Political career

    He decided not to sign the Geneva Agreement because he did not accept the division of Vietnam[2] and on behalf of the Vietnamese National Delegation issued a separate statement:

    "...the Vietnamese government requests the Conference to officially acknowledge that Vietnam solemnly opposes the signing of the Agreement and its provisions that do not respect the deep aspirations of the Vietnamese people. Request the Conference to acknowledge that the Government grants itself the right to complete freedom of action to protect the sacred rights of the Vietnamese people in the process of realizing Unification, Independence, and Freedom for the country."[3]

    He was then appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, but after only one year, withdrew in 1955. During the First Republic, he opposed President

    Ngô Đình Diệm's policies. He was one of 18 members of the Caravelle group to sign the petition, also known as the Caravelle Declaration to Ngô Đình Diệm, demanding government reform in April 1960.[4]

    In 1965, he served as Deputy Prime Minister in the cabinet of Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát and Minister of Foreign Affairs. After the premiership of Phan Huy Quát ended, he stepped down as Deputy Prime Minister, but continue on to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs (1965–1968) under the premiership of Prime Ministers Nguyễn Cao Kỳ and Nguyễn Văn Lộc.

    Life in exile

    After the

    political refugee
    where lived quietly for the remainder of his life. He died on 20 December 1990, in Paris.

    Honour

    Foreign honour

    References

    Political offices
    Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Vietnam
    1954–1955
    Succeeded by
    Position abolished
    Preceded by
    Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam

    1965
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Vietnam
    1965–1968
    Succeeded by