Đinh Xuân Quảng

Đinh Xuân Quảng (May 10, 1909 – February 17, 1971) was a Vietnamese judge and a politician who helped institute a new constitution for South Vietnam.

He was born in Thọ Linh, Quảng Bình Province, Central Vietnam to Đinh Xuân Trạc and Nguyễn thị Khôn.

After an initial education in the traditional Vietnamese system, Đinh Xuân Quảng attended the French Lycée Albert Sarraut in Hanoi.

In 1926, he was “expelled” from the Lycée Albert Sarraut for joining in a protest organized during Phan Chu Trinh's funeral demanding the end of French occupation which degenerated into a riot.

From 1945 to 1946, Đinh Xuân Quảng was appointed “Biện Lý – Attorney General” of the Hanoi Tribunal in charge of the whole Northern region of Vietnam (Tonkin).

In China he joined many nationalists including Trần Văn Tuyên, Nguyễn Tường Tam, Phan Huy Đán, Nghiêm Xuân Thiện, and others.

A Nationalist Union Front (MTQGLH – Mat Tran Quoc Gia Lien Hiep) was launched in 1947 to support the return of former Emperor Bảo Đại to lead the negotiations with France.

Đinh Xuân Quảng was a member of the negotiating team for the Élysée Treaty that was signed between Bao Đai and French President Vincent Auriol on March 8, 1949, recognizing Vietnam as an independent state with capability for its own administration, finance, and foreign affairs.

As Secretary to the PM's Office, he coordinated the government's activities during this transitional period and at the same time being involved in the negotiations for the reintegration of Cochinchina into Vietnam.

He resigned from his cabinet position on January 4, 1949, to protest against the French slowness to revert the colonial administration back to the Vietnamese central government.

During the 1st Trần Văn Hữu cabinet (May 6, 1950 – Feb 21, 1951) Đinh Xuân Quảng became the first Minister of Public Service of the State of Vietnam.

His participation in various cabinets allowed him to enact the reinforcement of the State of Vietnam administration through various Acts and Decrees: Civil Service Act – Quy chế công chức (July 14, 1950), Union regulation – Quy chế Nghiệp Đoàn (January 16, 1952), Municipality Organization Regulations – Hội Đồng Đô Thành (December 27, 52), etc.

Đinh Xuân Quảng was able to continue this work up until the third Trần Văn Hữu cabinet (March 7, 1952 – June 26, 1952) where he held the position of Minister to the PM's office.

This cabinet resigned in protest to the Geneva Conference partition of the country and handed the power to the newly nominated PM Ngô Đình Diệm.

During 1955–1956, Đinh Xuân Quảng declined overture from the Ngô Đình Diệm administration whom he had experience dealing with in Hong Kong, and did not cooperate with the government due to its dictatorial behavior.

On November 11, 1960, after the failed military coup he gave refuge to his friend Phan Huy Đán which resulted in the imprisonment of his family for almost 4 years (his son Đinh Xuân Quân was released after 6 months of detention).

Đinh Xuân Quảng and his wife – the only woman imprisoned during this period went to the Special Military Tribunal on July 11, 1963, and were rehabilitated after the fall of the Ngô Đình Diệm in 1963.