July 1955 → Diem announced → Vietnam wide elections agreed at Geneva Conference, 1954 → would not be held
October → he held referendum → on proposal to remove Head of state Bao Dai → last emperor of Vietnam + install himself as president.
- results showed → 98% of voters approved proposal → but referendum was rigged.
- in some areas → voters approving of Diem outnumbered registered voters
Diems actions → had support + involvement of US.
- south Vietnam → depended heavily on US financial + military support.
- this was how deeply involving US was in political affairs of South Vietnam.
US supported Diem → because he was strongly anti communist + was prepared to imprison + exile communists