Only once since he took office in the dark days after Dienbienphu had Premier Ngo Dinh Diem stirred from the demoralized capital of Saigon. Last week, through dust and monsoon rain, he toured the war-battered villages of his home country in Central Viet Nam, and the result was an unexpected triumph. In light khaki suit, he jeeped 70 miles through villages and was cheered by 300,000 rice growers, coolies and fishermen.
Premier Diem, stiff and cautious at the tour's beginning, was soon beaming like a student who had unexpectedly won a popularity contest. He shook hands with...
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