SOUTH VIET NAM SUICIDE SERIES IT WAS THE MOST MACABRE WEEK IN 
SOUTH VIET NAM'S THREE-MONTH-OLD RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL CRISIS . IN SAIGON, 
AN 18-YEAR-OLD GIRL TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CUT OFF HER LEFT HAND 
" AS A HUMBLE OFFERING TO BUDDHA WHILE OUR RELIGION IS 
IN DANGER . / OUTSIDE THE COASTAL CITY OF HUE, A 
17-YEAR-OLD NOVICE BUDDHIST MONK WRAPPED HIMSELF IN A KEROSENE-SOAKED, SIX-COLOR BUDDHIST 
FLAG, THEN STRUCK A MATCH . IN THE VILLAGE OF NINHHOA, 
200 MILES NORTH OF SAIGON, A YOUNG BUDDHIST NUN SAT DOWN 
IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL PLAYGROUND AND SET HERSELF ON FIRE . 
LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, BACK IN HUE, A 71-YEAR-OLD MONK 
ANNOUNCED OVER THE TUDAM PAGODA LOUDSPEAKER THAT HE WAS GOING TO 
KILL HIMSELF, THEN BURNED HIMSELF TO DEATH IN THE PAGODA'S COURTYARD 
. THE QUARREL SPREADS . THE THREE RITUALISTIC SUICIDES BROUGHT TO 
FIVE THE NUMBER OF BUDDHISTS WHO HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES INTO HUMAN 
TORCHES IN FURTHER PROTEST AGAINST THE REGIME OF SOUTH VIET NAM'S 
ROMAN CATHOLIC PRESIDENT NGO DINH DIEM . THE GOVERNMENT REACTED BY 
PLACING THE BUDDHIST STRONGHOLDS OF HUE AND NHATRANG UNDER VIRTUAL MARTIAL 
LAW . ALTHOUGH WORRIED THAT THE BURNINGS MIGHT GET OUT OF 
HAND, BUDDHIST LEADERS DEFENDED THE SUICIDES AS " NOBLE SACRIFICES, " 
WERE ROUNDING UP SECULAR AND MILITARY SUPPORT . LEAFLETS CONTAINING WESTERN 
PRESS ACCOUNTS OF THE CONTROVERSY WERE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO ARMY UNITS 
ALL OVER THE COUNTRY . SOLDIERS AND PEASANTS BEGAN WEARING SAFFRON 
PATCHES THE SAME COLOR AS A MONK'S ROBES TO INDICATE THEIR 
SUPPORT OF THE BUDDHISTS . IN ONE DIVISION MESS, CATHOLIC AND 
BUDDHIST OFFICERS BEGAN EATING APART, AND AT A MILITARY TRAINING SCHOOL, 
BUDDHIST CADETS DEMANDED A CHAPEL SIMILAR TO THE CATHOLIC CHAPEL . 
BUDDHIST LEADERS SAID THEY WOULD NOT AGREE TO ANY CONCILIATION UNTIL 
THE GOVERNMENT MADE SEVERAL CONCESSIONS, AND ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE 13 
BUDDHISTS' BEING SHOT DOWN AT A RELIGIOUS DEMONSTRATION IN HUE LAST 
MAY . BUT DIEM IS STILL HOPEFUL THAT THEY WILL AGREE 
TO SOME DISCUSSION AND MEDIATION . IMPLIED REBUKE . THE PRESIDENT'S 
APPARENT READINESS TO MEET WITH THE BUDDHISTS IS BITTERLY OPPOSED BY 
HIS SISTER-IN-LAW, MME . NGO DINH NHU, WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY URGED 
THAT THE BUDDHIST OPPOSITION BE CRUSHED . " IF THE PRESIDENT 
KEEPS BOWING TO THE BUDDHISTS, " SHE SAID, " THEY WILL 
KEEP RIGHT ON TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS WEAKNESS TO MAKE NEW, 
IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS . THEY ARE UTTERLY HYPOCRITICAL . " WITH WHAT 
SOUNDED LIKE A REBUKE TO MME . NHU, DIEM COUNTERED : 
" IT IS ONLY BECAUSE SOME HAVE CONTRIBUTED, EITHER CONSCIOUSLY OR 
UNCONSCIOUSLY, TO RAISING DOUBTS ABOUT THIS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT THE SOLUTION 
TO THE BUDDHIST AFFAIR HAS BEEN RETARDED . THE POLICY OF 
UTMOST CONCILIATION IS IRREVERSIBLE . / IN WASHINGTON, WHERE HENRY CABOT 
LODGE WAS GETTING HIS FINAL BRIEFINGS BEFORE LEAVING TO TAKE OVER 
AS NEW U.S . AMBASSADOR IN SAIGON, SECRETARY OF STATE DEAN 
RUSK DECLARED HIMSELF " DEEPLY DISTRESSED " OVER THE CRISIS AND 
THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT IT WAS HAVING ON THE WAR AGAINST THE 
COMMUNIST VIET CONG . SAID RUSK : " WE HOPE THE 
GOVERNMENT OUT THERE WILL TAKE A STRONG LEAD TO BRING ABOUT 
A GREATER DEGREE OF PEACE AND SERENITY . / 