1

Vietnam War Joint Crisis Committee – South

Model United Nations at UC Davis

2

Letter From the Head Chair

Esteemed delegates,

Welcome to Davis Model United Nations Conference XIV! My name is Oriel Gomez,

and I have the pleasure of being your Head Chair for this Vietnam War- South Joint Crisis

Committee. I am a third year Political Science: Public Service major, although my interests for

mathematics have also steered me to pursue a minor in Statistics. I have participated in Model

United Nations (MUN) since my freshman year of college and it has been a nothing less than a

wonderful experience. MUN has allowed me to Aside from my involvement in MUN, I do enjoy

catching up on the numerous amounts of T.V. shows and movies I have accumulated on my

Netflix queue and playing tennis.

In this committee, you will expect lively, fast-paced, and advanced debate. While I hope

you all have the utmost fun simulating history during the Vietnam War, I also expect you to

come to committee prepared with a deep understanding of the historical context of this time and

the ramifications the Vietnam War had on the region and the rest of the world. However, do not

feel the need to reenact history. Rather, feel free to rewrite history to suit your ideas.

See you in Davis!

Best Regards,

Oriel Gomez

Head Chair, Vietnam War Joint Crisis Committee – North, DMUNC XIV

dmunc.southvietnam@davismun.org

3

Letter From the Crisis Director

Hello Delegates,

Welcome to the Vietnam War- South Joint Crisis Committee. My name is Josue Israel Ramirez

Ortega, and I have the distinct honor and privilege of serving as your Crisis Director. I am studying

History, Economics, and German. This is final year and final Committee that I shall ever act as crisis

director for, so I promise you that I shall make every effort to make this the best committee you will ever

participate in. I appreciate that you have taken the time to be part of Model United Nations and hope that

you continue on becoming the very best delegates that you can be. That being said, this Committee will

delve into causes, responses, and effects of the Vietnam War.

The Vietnam War is seen as one of the most important wars towards the end of the 20th century,

both for the United States and for Vietnam. At its heart it was a proxy war between the United States and

the USSR, and to a small extent China. During the Cold War, this war set the stage as to whether Vietnam

would end up as a capitalist country and a close ally of the United States or a communist country and a

close ally of the USSR. I hope that through this committee you are able to better understand the effects

and brutality of the Vietnam War. In this Crisis Committee you will have to outthink and outmaneuver

both the NVA and some of your supposed allies in Committee, take power, and take the fight to the

North. I wish you the very best and that you enjoy yourselves.

All the best,

Josue Israel Ramirez Ortega

Crisis Director, Vietnam War Joint Crisis Committee-South, DMUNC XIV

4

About the Committee

The Vietnam War, fought from 1954 to 1973, is the protracted conflict that pitted the

communist government of North Vietnam and its allies against South Vietnam and its most

principal ally, the United States. It is a time of great conflict and change here in Vietnam.

Vietnam has been partitioned into two different states, the North and South. The South and it’s

allies like the United States envision a Vietnam that is free from communism—they do not want

to see the establishment of a communist government. The United States does not want to see

Domino Theory come to fruition. In the meantime, the world is in the middle of a Cold War

between its principal actors the United States and the Soviet Union.

For purposes of this crisis, the committee of the Government of South Vietnam will

convene in July 1954, the Geneva accords have just been signed by the respective parties and

this committee is tasked with creating a new future for the state of Vietnam. Given the nature of

this committee and the current situation in Vietnam, the presence of delegates will range from

government officials such as ministers from different government sectors to military generals in

order to give their respective opinions on how to tackle the current situation present in Vietnam.

The structure of this committee will be a perpetuated moderated caucus with a standard speaking

time of 90 seconds in order to keep up with the fast-paced nature of this committee Lastly, fight

the communist North! Together we can ensure that Vietnam does not fall to communism. The

future of Vietnam, the true Vietnam, is in your hands!

5

Historical Background

The Arrival of the French

French missionaries, traders, and diplomats descended upon Vietnam around the early

19th century. In 1857 Napoleon III established La Commission de la Cochinchine, a committee to

establish French policy in Vietnam (McLeod 42). The commission saw a prominent interest in

Vietnam because the French would be able establish commercial bases in Asia. At first, Vietnam

was not the target of colonial desires by other European powers; this greatly incentivized the

French to establish their operations in Asia. The motives for French conquest and consolidation

of Vietnam were merely economical. The Industrial Revolutions, which resulted in great

economic success for Western nations, prompted the French to search for goods, raw materials

and markets in order to keep the factories running and essentially strengthen the French economy

(Lawrence 23). Emperor Napoleon III hoped that colonies in Asia would provide an entrance

into southern China and it would provide an area for economic exploitations. Another reason for

conquest was merely for the political benefits that a European government would gain from their

imperialistic endeavors; this reason was extremely important since Napoleon III planned on

creating an overseas empire that “as a manifestation of his imperial legitimacy and his ability to

advance … French interests in competition with other European powers” (McLeod 43)

Under the Nguyen dynasty, the final dynasty in Vietnam, the rulers perceived the

influence of missionaries as a huge threat. Missionaries ultimately succeeded in converting seven

percent of the population (Lawrence 22). The people that missionaries converted to Catholicism

were usually those that resided in villages. In these villages missionaries not only introduced

their customs, but they also established schools as well. The Nguyen rulers felt disdain towards

6

the missionaries because of the belief that they promoted anti-Confucianist beliefs; there were

assumptions that the villages fostered thoughts of rebellion as well and assisting other militant

groups in the country [“Nguyen Dynasty”]. Under the Nguyen leadership, many missionaries

were being persecuted, hindering the imperial ambitions of French emperor Napoleon III. The

fact that missionaries were being persecuted was not sufficient enough to prompt French

intervention in Vietnam. In order to engage in an expedition into Vietnam, imperial aspirations

and commercial opportunities were also necessary (McLeod 43). In the end, all that was needed

for French intervention into Vietnam was the opposition to the persecuted missionaries by the

Hue court.

When the news that a Spanish missionary was captured and soon after publicly executed

south of Hanoi came out, a Franco-Spanish expedition was soon underway. The news of the

captured missionary prompted the French attack on the port of Da Nang on September 1858

under the direction of Admiral Rigault de Genouilly (“Nguyen Dynasty”). The French forces,

mostly colonial troops, included thirteen French warships, carrying 2500 troops; the Spanish

forces from the Philippines included one warship and 450 colonial troops (McLeod 43). The port

of Da Nang was chosen partly due to its accessibility by sea and due to its proximity to the

imperial city of Hue. The Hue, led by King Tu Duc, was unable to fight against the French.

However, Admiral Genouilly attempted to pursue beyond Hue, but was unable to move forward

due to how shallow the rivers were—it did not permit the ships to continue their planned assault

(McLeod 43). The expedition, however, made little progress due to widespread cholera and

typhus at Da Nang, thus the French were forced to abandon the expedition. However, Rigault de

Genouilly and French forces instead decided to set sail south and shift their attacks to the city of

7

Saigon, an important trade center and where a majority of rice was grown, which the Hue

depended on.

By 1861, France occupied the city of Saigon effortlessly (“Vietnam History”). The

French soon pushed inward and then captured the provinces of Bien Hoa and Dinh Truong. The

French also captured the province of Gia Dinh, this proved to be successful because the French

were systematically targeting Vietnamese fishing ports and commercial transports. Genouilly’s

strategy to move southward and execute their attacks was successful because the French

significantly reduced the flow of rice. The French attack on the Vietnamese did not lead to

immediate colonial gains, but rather a treaty affirming the rights of Vietnamese Catholics. In

June 1862, with the possibility of food shortages, starvation, and a possible French invasion, the

Nguyen rulers sought to negotiate a peace settlement, which became the Treaty of Saigon

(“Conquest”). The provisions of the Treaty of Saigon stipulated that Tu Duc would cede control

of Saigon and Vietnam’s three southernmost provinces, Bien Hoa, Gia Dinh, and Dinh Truong to

France; these territories would soon form the French colony of Cochinchina. France would also

be given authority over Poulo Condore, an island off the southern coast, as well as be given full

access to the ports of Da Nang and Hue. In addition, French vessels were given unrestrained

access to the Mekong River, which provided access to Cochinchina and Cambodia. Under the

treaty, Catholics priests and missionaries would also have full access to Vietnam, and be

protected further persecutions or restrictions.

By 1862, the colony of Cochinchina was established which included the areas

surrounding Saigon and the Mekong Delta (“Conquest”). This was France’s first colony in

Vietnam, but it proved to be one of their greatest assets because Saigon was an epicenter of rice

8

and rubber plantations, resources which the French exploited through trade and exports and

would reap the economic benefits and profits of. When the French administratively divided the

country, it was divided into three parts. The North was Tonkin, the South was Cochinchina, and

Annam was Central Vietnam. Cochinchina would be the only colony in Vietnam and it was

governed by a Lieutenant Governor in Saigon. Annam and Tonkin would be known as

protectorates as opposed to a colony like Cochinchina.

French colonial policy intensified during the Pacification Period which lasted from 1859

to 1897 (“Vietnam History”). Lasting almost three decades, the policy of pacification was a

French attempt to gain control of Vietnamese rebel groups and the Chinese, who decided they

would also attempt to annex Vietnam. The slow advance of military forces was followed by

civilian administration. The new colonial government moved the capitol to Hanoi and the goal of

“modernizing” Vietnam was implemented by Governor-General Paul Doumer. Vietnam was

modernized through the improvements in infrastructure such as building a network of roads,

railroads, and highway. Aside from the improvements to infrastructure, Doumer implemented

heavy taxes, and introduced a centralized government. These improvements were made as a way

for the French to maximize profits, it was not intended to benefit the Vietnamese. Doumer also

contended that Hanoi had the authority over the protectorates of Annam, Tonkin, and the colony

of Cochinchina. By 1893, French eventually gained control over all of Vietnam, in addition to

Laos and Cambodia (“Vietnam History”). These regions soon made up the region called French

Indochina.

Resistance to French Colonialism

9

In the 1920s, several revolutionary groups organized in the struggle against French

colonialism (Long 11). On February 3, 1930 at a meeting in Kowloon in China, communist

parties in Vietnam joined forces to become the Vietnamese Communist Party (Long 11). The

meeting, lead by Nguyen Ai Quoc, later to be known as President Ho Chi Minh, not only

adopted a political program, and strategies, but also developed numerous strategies for the

development of mass organizations. These organizations included the Communist Youth League,

the Women’s Association for Liberation, the Red Relief Society, the Self Defense Militia and the

Anti-Imperialist League . The political program of the party focused on resisting colonialist

ideals. Subsequently, the party changed its name to the Indochinese Communist Party

(ICP). .The ICP exerted its leadership particularly to workers and peasants during 1930-31 and

then made the transition to rural areas to more urban areas (Long 12) .The success of the ICP

depended on Vietnamese exiles, but its successes in the country depended on the relationships

made with those who resisted colonialism.From 1930 to 1931, the ICP organized massive

peasant demonstrations and workers strikes; in the southern part of country demonstrations broke

out in fourteen provinces which lasted over a year in spite of French efforts to repress them.

(Long 12). The provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh were sites in which French administrative

power was targeted and seized by demonstrations of workers and peasants. The French

eventually regained control of the provinces through the deployment of divisions of soldiers and

airplanes in addition to the use of pacification methods such as crop destruction and starvation.

WWII and the Rise of the Viet Minh

On May 10, 1940 Hitler attacked France and later fell to the Germans (Long 13). The

Japanese advanced into Indochina through arming the followers of the Hoa Hao religion, a form

10

of Buddhism founded by Huynh Phu So and that spread all over the Mekong River Delta. On

September 22, 1940 Japanese attacked the city of Lang Son as well as deployed 6,000 troops in

Do Son (Long 13). After engagements near the Vietnam-China border, the French, under

Governor General Jean Decoux, surrendered Indochina to the Japanese. A puppet government

was soon established in Vichy. With the defeat of France and the creation of the Vichy

government, Japan is a new force that would take control of Vietnam for a number of years. The

French, however, signed an agreement with the Japanese that would recognize French

sovereignty over Vietnam. However, a shift of leadership after thirty-nine months occurred and

control of Vietnam would soon resume under French control. The Japanese would soon depart

from Vietnam.

During the years of Japanese control, Ho Chi Minh would return to Vietnam and take

leadership of the revolutionary force. In 1941, the eighth plenary session of the Party Central

Committee convened in Pac Bao in the Cao Bang province (Long 13). The premise of their

meeting was to formulate a solution to liberate Vietnam from Franco-Japanese control. At the

same time in this meeting, Ho Chi Minh proposed the name change to their organization’s title to

the the Vietnam Independence League, or to shorten it, the Viet Minh as they would be

historically recognized. The Viet Minh spent years gathering and recruiting people from all

social classes as well as political and religious groups to join them in the fight for independence.

The Viet Minh located their operations in Annam and Tonkin. While organizing themselves,

they also focused their energies on creating infrastructure and expanding their guerilla bases in

the region. However, during the war, the French and the Japanese would stop at nothing to

hinder their movement. For example, in a policy of rice collection, Resident of Chauvet of

11

Tonkin expressed the policy as a way to of cutting off food and supplies in hopes that it would

cause hunger and starvation among the population and crush their revolutionary spirits. As a

result of this policy, the famine that ensued killed about two million people

As the end of the war approached, the Viet Minh went on the offensive. On August 13,

1945 the Viet Minh’s Insurrection Committee issued an order to send their armed forces to

launch an insurrection across all enemy borders (Long 14). Guerilla forces targeted

administrative centers of of almost every village, district and province and established their

revolutionary power over most of them almost immediately. The Viet Minh then targeted the

cities of Hanoi, Hue and Saigon and were victorious in capturing those cities without any

bloodshed. From August 14 to 25, the Viet Minh captured and liberated fifty-nine provinces

across the country—this was the first time that the administration in the country was in the hands

of the people, this historic event is known as the August Revolution (Long 14).

First Indochina War (December 1946- August 1954)

Conflict arose following the defeat of Japan in 1945 in World War II and the power

struggle that followed their withdrawal. Since the Japanese withdrew from Vietnam, the French

took advantage of this situation in order to regain control of the country. However, the Viet

Minh, a guerilla-type revolutionary group, formed in response to the tyrannical rule and political

and social implementations at the hands of the French and the Japanese. The Viet Minh seized

the opportunity to declare Vietnamese independence on September 2, 1945 (Long 14). Ho Chi

Minh, the recently elected leader of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Vietnam (DRV),

currently known as North Vietnam, was their leader. Upon the declaration of Vietnam by Ho Chi

Minh, the new leaders were worried about intervention by Allied Nation such as the United

12

States and Great Britain because they believed it would lead to a French re-conquest of Vietnam.

They believed this to be true because Vietnam was the first country to be free of colonialism and

established as a socialist anti-imperialist nation after WWII—therefore, it was only logical that

these events would come to fruition.

Armed by American weapons and supported by British troops, the French focused its

energies on preserving the fortune that is within Indochina. By late 1946, 50,000 French troops

were in Vietnam and the French eventually regained control of Saigon. In November, French

naval vessels targeted the northern port city of Haiphong, which resulted in large civilian

casualties. In response, 30,000 Viet Minh under General Vo Nguyen Giap, the General of the

Vietnam People’s Army, attacked French positions in Haiphong and Hanoi, but these attacks

were repelled by French forces (“First Indochina”). It took a week to clear out all of the forces

from Haiphong. As a result, the Viet Minh were forced to engage in guerilla warfare. By mid-

December, the two sides were openly at war.

In late January of 1947, the French seized control of most of the capitals in northern and

central Vietnam (“First Indochina War”). Meanwhile in April, the Viet Minh lost any chance of

forming an alliance with the religious groups by executing Huynh Phu So, the leader fo the Hoa

Hao religion (“First Indochina War”). As a result the Hoa Hao and the Cao Dai formed an

alliance with the French instead. Since the Viet Minh were concerned with building up their

armed forces, they did not utilize their front force units and instead focused on building up their

guerilla forces. By late 1947, the French inflicted serious damage to the Viet Minh and took

control of the Viet Bac region. By 1948, the Viet Minh increased the troops by more than 25,000

13

and through their guerilla efforts they were able to regain control of some of the Viet Bac region

(“First Indochina War”).

In 1949, the Bao Dai met with French President Vicnent Auriol and after the exchanging

of letters they would finally come to an agreement, the Elysée accords (Hammer 234). The

Elysée accords would enable Vietnam to be an autonomous state within the French Union; this

made it clear that Vietnam woud be able to become and independent state and therefore it would

not jeopardize France’s presence in Indochina. After the Elysée accords of 1949, France

established the State of Vietnam, otherwise known as South Vietnam, as an associated statehood

in response to the growing influence of the Viet Minh (“ARVN”). The state was under the

leadership of Bao Dai due to his previous cooperation with the French. The United States

recognized the State of Vietnam in February 1950, but this action was counterbalanced a few

days later with the recognition of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) by the People’s

Republic of China. After the signing of the Elysee accords in March 1949, Vietnam’s armed

forces, the National Army of Vietnam (NAV), were now sufficiently armed to fight alongside

French armed forces against the Viet Minh (“ARVN”). The NAV was under the direction of

French-trained personnel or under the army’s chief of staff, General Nguyen Van Hinh.

Vietnamese forces soon assembled up to sixty battalions in 1952, however they did not play a

significant role in the First Indochina War (“First Indochina War”).

In French occupied areas, forces were met by Viet Minh guerrilla warfare. Self defense

forces were forming in the countryside, and in time these Viet Minh resistance camps soon

appeared everywhere. French economic and strategic hubs were constantly being attacked. The

war spread soon spread to cities such as Hanoi, Saigon, Hue, and Haiphong, cities the French

14

assumed to be secure. The situation in Indochina escalated and the French were in need of aid

and military assistance. In 1950, U.S. president Harry Truman established the Military

Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) in Saigon to provide support (“AVRN”). However, the role

of the MAAG was not a significant one. They would be providing logistical support to the

French. They would not take part in the military training, that role was still reserved for the

French Expeditionary Corps. The only role that the United States played in the early years of the

French Indochina war was to ensure that supplies arrive at their destination.

The fall of 1950 marked a great victory for the Vietnamese, this created doubts about the

fighting in Vietnam (Long 17). Eventually, Martial law was soon declared in Hanoi. In addition,

the French received orders that called for their evacuation out of the country. Political parties in

Paris called for the evacuation of Vietnam so that the French could reinforce their presence in

their colonies in North Africa, others political parties however called for further reinforcements

as well as more American intervention. In December, Jean de Lattre de Tassigny was sent to

Indochina as high commissioner and commander in chief to try to change the course of events of

the war (Long 17). Lattre’s strategy included obtaining more American military aid, specifically

aircraft, increasing French reinforcements, reorganizing the national army, strengthening the

defense in the Red River Delta region, and intensifying pacification throughout the country

(Long 17). After many successful efforts by Lattre, he was then met with military defeats one

after the other and was eventually replaced with General Salan in 1952 (Long 18). Salan

immediately declared total war against the Vietnamese by ordering operations that followed

massive airstrikes. Counterattacks by Viet Minh guerrilla forces and regional armies caused

heavy losses for the French and led to the liberation of many regions of the country. As the war

15

escalated in 1953, General Salan was replaced by Henry Navarre, an army officer to command

French forces in Indochina (Long 18). He then instituted the Navarre Plan, which aimed to

completely annihilate Vietnamese forces and completely pacify the country within eighteen

months.

The increased importance of Indochina prompted the United States to increase their

shipment of aid and military supplies to the French in the hopes that the added pressure on the

French would ensure their victory. In The pressure on the French to end the war moved them to

be open to negotiations with the Viet Minh; the United States however were not open to the idea

of negotiations. Thus, the Navarre plan was adopted and American intervention in the war

heavily increased. The aid from the United States accounted for about 80 percent of

expenditures, while airlifts for supplies were sent by France, Japan, and the Philippines (Long

18). Among that, the United States also sent military advisors, two aircraft carriers of the

Seventh Fleet were sent to the Gulf of Tonkin, and two-hundred and fifty American pilots were

sent to take part of the fighting (Long 19).

In February 1954, Viet Minh forces surrounded Bien Dien Phu and on March 15, they

launched their attacks on the French. The French relocated their forces towards Bien Dien Phu

since many defending the Red River Delta. The Viet Minh, cut off air access which the French

depended on to get supplies and eventually descended on their position. Through the use of

trenches and and tunnels dug through the countryside, the Viet Minh were able to move and

relocate their artillery without the possibility of being discovered. At the same time, President

Eisenhower wrote to Churchill that France must grant unequivocal independence to Vietnam “so

16

that America’s entry into Indochina would not have the taint of colonialism” (Long 19). After

fifty-five days of combat, on May 7, 1954 General de Castries, the field commander at Bien Dien

Phu surrendered (Long 19). In the end, French forces had been severely weakened throughout

the country by the Viet Minh. The casualties of the war cost the lives of approximately 25,000

Vietnamese and the lives of more than 1,5000 French troops (“Formative”). In turn, the First

Indochina war over.

The Conference at Geneva

In 1954, amid growing tensions in Vietnam and the situation in Korea, the international

community convened in Geneva in the hopes of coming to a solution to these situations. The key

negotiators in attendance included France, the People’s Republic of China, the United States, the

United Kingdom and the Soviet Union. Other attendants of the conference included the

Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV), the associated State of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

Western nations had different perspectives on the issues just as their communist counterparts did.

The French hoped to still retain some sort of influence, at least in the South.

While the United States and France made plans of their own, they were met with

disappointment because their other Western allies were not on the same page as them. The

United Kingdom, along with the Soviet Union embraced their roles at the conference by

becoming co-chairs. As the talks progressed, China and the Soviet Union were open to France’s

suggestion of dividing the Vietnam temporarily, with the DRV governing the Northern side and

Bao Dai’s government governing the Southern side. Both countries were open to the idea

17

because they realized that a confrontational approach may lead the United States to intervene

directly in Vietnam—that may escalate into a much bigger conflict.

The United States used their influence as leverage to plead for their own ideas. However,

the United States’ problem at the moment was how to install a puppet regime in the South. This

was solved through violating the Geneva Accords and in having Ngo Dinh Diem as the leader of

South Vietnam. Installing Diem as the leader of South Vietnam would give the United States an

opportunity to intervene in Vietnam. The United States was interested in appointing Diem

because he was Catholic and for his anti-communist ideology. The United States wholeheartedly

opposed the ideas of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) because policy makers were

wary about possible communist expansions in Asia.

Results of the Conference

The negotiations at the conference at Geneva resulted in the signing of the Geneva

Accords signed by the delegates of the conference on July 21, 1954 (“Geneva”). The agreement

stipulated several changes such as granting Vietnam the authority to become an independent

state, in addition Cambodia and Laos would also be granted their independence. The country was

to be partitioned along the 17th parallel, in addition, both sides are given three hundred days to

withdraw their troops in order to ensure that there are not any troops on within three miles of

either side (“Geneva”). An important component of the agreement was that free elections would

be held in 1956 under international supervision under the International Control Commission in

order to determine possible unification of the country. There would also be a two-year

transitional period in which military personnel would return to their respective places, and during

this period the North and South agree to not join any military alliances with other nations.

18

South Vietnam was disappointed and refused to accept the outcomes of the Geneva

Accords because the partitioning of the country into temporary Northern and Southern states

would only be pending the renewal of further conflict in the country. The South Vietnamese

could not believe that they were overlooked when this decision was made. Unfortunately, they

could do no less than only protest the decisions made by the other delegates. Therefore, their

protest was efficient because when the French bypassed Bao Dai’s government, it only made the

stipulations of the accords possible; however, that meant that they were not legally bounded to

these decision—in the SVN’s eyes, it was merely just a suggestion. Therefore, it was a

possibility for the South to not honor the decisions of the agreement. Hence, why the South was

not a signatory to the Accords.

Vested Interests of the United States

The United States was unhappy with the results of the Geneva accords; therefore they did

not sign the agreement. However, they pledged to still abide by it. The United States saw that the

results of the Geneva conference created a danger to their vested interests in the Far East.

President Eisenhower was displeased with the results of the Geneva Accords. Eisenhower

asserted that the loss of North Vietnam to communism would eventually inspire the creation of

multiple communist regimes in adjoining countries within the Far East. This was known as the

Domino Theory—if a country falls to communism it is only a matter of time until the others fall

to communism. He asserted that if the communists captured Indochina, it would only be a matter

of time until they seize Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. For ideological reasons, Eisenhower

called for the containment of communism. By 1954, in hopes of preventing the spread of

communism into other states, Eisenhower called for the creation of an organization to coordinate

19

collective action against communist aggression, this committee was known as the South-East

Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) (Lawrence 64). The members of the SEATO included

countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and

the only three Asian nations that joined—Thailand, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

South Vietnam

The Geneva Accords were, in theory, to only provide a temporary transitional state for

the North and South; but both sides essentially developed their own individual identities.

Following the signing of the Geneva Accords in July, the politics of South Vietnam became

extremely fractured. While partitioning the country was an extremely divisive issue in the South,

many supporters of Bao Dai, the current leader of South Vietnam, believed that the partition and

withdrawal of troops was necessary, whereas supporters of Ngo Dinh Diem believed that a

strong military presence should remain an essential component of the state’s strategy to unify

Vietnam under Southern control. In 1954, Ngo Dinh Diem became the prime minister of South

Vietnam under Bao Dai. In 1955, Diem won a referendum election in which he would take

charge of the country and thus Bao Dai was abdicated from his position. However, Diem’s rise to

leadership faced numerous challenges from his political opponents. Political tensions rose in the

South as a result of the referendum in. However, Ngo Dinh Diem would be supported by the

United States to create a non-communist state in Vietnam. After the Geneva accords were

signed, the United States would send advisors to assist Diem in creating a government that would

be able to resist the communists in the North. Alongside the United States, the South was not a

member who signed the Geneva Accords, thus the possibility of violating the stipulations of the

treaty was very likely to happen.

20

As Diem assumed responsibility over South Vietnam, he had to fix the numerous

problems the South was currently facing. South Vietnam was bankrupt and without any effective

government in place. By late 1955, the South was left without any resources; the French departed

Vietnam with their military resources, thus the army was dismantled (“South Vietnam”). Also,

there was no police force present and no bureaucracy as well. Diem was faced with the challenge

of creating a new government in the South. Diem relied on the assistance of his family and

support from the United States. Ngo Dinh Diem would be supported by the United States to

create a non-communist state in Vietnam. After the signing of the Geneva Accords, the United

States sent advisors to assist Diem in creating a government that would be able to resist the

communists in the North. Diem also appointed his family members to governmental positions.

His brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, oversaw the creation of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam

(ARVN) in 1955 (“AVRN”). Nhu not only managed the ARVN, but he also created and oversaw

his own private armies and his anti-communist death squads. Ngo Dinh Nhu attempted to

legitimize Diem’s regime through the formation of the Can Lao, a southern Vietnamese party

that would hopefully rival that of Ho Chi Minh’s Lao Dong. Unfortunately, the Can Lao failed to

evolve into a popular movement. Membership of the Can Lao was only open to the supporters of

Diem’s regime exclusively to those from the middle and upper classes—this party proved to only

be a political tool to support Diem.

Questions to Consider

1. What measures should be taken to unify Vietnam under Southern control?

2. How can we prevent and contain the spread of Communist forces into other nations?

21

3. Would the Geneva Accords be enough to sustain both sides of Vietnam from falling into

chaos? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the agreement that can make instability so

eminent?

4. How can we prevent the growth of communist sympathizers within South Vietnam?

22

Character Descriptions Ngo Dinh Nu:

Ngo Dinh Nhu was not only the brother of President Ngo Dinh Diem, but he was also the chief

political advisor. Towards the end of the French Indochina war, Nhu worked alongside the CIA

in order to lobby for Diem to take control of Vietnam. Nhu received his education in France

where he trained as an archivist. Returning to Vietnam during WWII, he worked in the National

Library in Hanoi and then Da Lat. When Ngo Dinh Diem was appointed president of the Council

of Ministers in the State of Vietnam in July 1954, Nhu joined him by assisting him in

constructing the Vietnamese state. Nhu was responsible for introducing personalism as a guide

for Vietnam’s social and political development. Personalism essentially became the state

ideology of the State of Vietnam. Nhu believed that personalism could be used as a means to

mobilize the population and to modernize South Vietnam. Nhu also held authority over the Army

of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) as well as the secret forces and private death squads.

Bao Dai

Dai was the last emperor of Vietnam from 1926 to 1945. Following Japanese intervention in

Vietnam, Dai was installed as the head of state but was then abdicated as the Viet Minh

succeeded in forcing out the Japanese. However, in March 1949, Bao Dai signed the Elysee

accords that established the State of Vietnam with him as the head of state. Following the signing

of the accords, many government officials and strong nationalists such as Ngo Dinh Diem

refused government positions as well as attempted to undermine his leadership. Following Bien

Dien Phu, Dai convinced Diem to become the Prime Minister. Following Diem’s appointment as

23

Prime Minister, Dai was removed from his position as head of state by Ngo Dinh Diem in a

referendum election.

Nguyen Van Thieu

Thieu first joined the Viet Minh from 1945 to 1946, however he soon left because he disagreed

because they communist sympathizers. Thieu then joined the National Army in 1948. Fighting

alongside the French against the Viet Minh from, he quickly rose through the ranks in the South

Vietnamese Army. In 1954, Thieu was put as the head of the Vietnamese Military Academy.

Duong Van Minh

The French trained Duong Van Minh early in his military career. In 1955, He rose to prominence

as Ngo Dinh Diem's top military officer in the Republic of Vietnam. An outspoken man Minh

later came to power with the backing of various other Generals and brought about the 1963

Military Uprising. Diem was assassinated and Minh was put into power however this new

government was largely ineffective and were quickly removed by another Military coup in

1971.

Nguyen Khanh

Khanh as well as various other Vietnamese Generals received military education from the French

and from the United States regarded as an intelligent and patient field commander. Khanh was a

loyal General under the United States backed President Diem however after the coup he was not

given a seat in the new council of Generals. On Jan, 30, 1964 Khanh took control of the

24

government with a peaceful coup. However Khanh’s reign lasted only one year and 1965 he was

removed from power.

Nguyen Cao Ky

Early in his military career Cao Ky was a member in the French forces that opposed the

liberation of Vietnam. Later on he joined the South Vietnamese Air Force. Cao Ky was known as

a rabid anti-communist and because of this favored very highly by the United States. Soon after

the overthrow of President Diem, Cao Ky was named the Commander of the Airforce and was

quickly able to come to command a force of 10,000 airmen. In 1965 Cao Ky led a coup and

unseated then leader Phan Huy Quat however soon after an agreement was reached in which

Major General Nguyen Van Thieu would run for President and Cao Ky as Vice President

however soon after Cao Ky was forced to return to the Air Force because of his criticism of

Thieu.

Vu Van Mau

Born and Raised in Hanoi, Mau earned a Doctorate of Law degree from the University of Paris.

He moved to Saigon after the partition of 1954 he later became Secretary of State for Foreign

Affairs under South Vietnam's President, Ngo Dinh Diem. Mau was a Buddhist politician and

advocated for non-violence and was part of a South Vietnamese Pacifist party, for the most part

he advocated for peace and co-operation with the Vietnamese Communist.

Nguyen Chanh Thi

25

With a reputation as an aggressive field commander and an intelligent politician, Chanh Thi was

involved in multiple coups in Vietnam during his time as a General. he was a highly popular

General as he was one of the few Buddhist Generals. Chanh Thi Oversaw the I Corps in the

northern regions of South Vietnam but was seen by the United States as soft on Communism and

when Cao Ky fired him the move was supported. However days after his removal 90 percent of

Da Nang closed down in protest and it seemed that a civil war could erupt a week later Chanh

Thi was allowed to return to Vietnam. Largely described as being disloyal, jumping over to

whatever side was most likely to win. Chanh Thi was known to align himself with whomever

seemed most likely to gain victory.

Ngo Dinh Can

Brother of Diem and was a central leader early in his rule, he was given control of central

Vietnam from Phan Thiết to the 17th parallel, which Can ruled with brutal authority. Can kept

control of the people with a combination of private armies and the use of secret police, he

quickly gained a reputation as one of the most oppressive leaders of the Southern Regime. For

the most part Can was seen as an effective counter to the Communist Viet Cong, however

communist opposition was seen as weak in the central region. During his rule Can vigorously

promoted Catholicism and led to the banning of the Buddhist Flag in 1963.

Ngo Dinh Thuc

Another Member of the Ngo Family in Vietnam, Thuc was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Hue,

Vietnam. Seen as a spiritual leader of the Catholics, Thuc held some sway in the government

26

ruled by his brother Deim, however his contempt for Buddhist created great unrest during the

Ngo control of the government of South Vietnam.

Nguyen Viet Thanh

Lieutenant General of the ARVN South Vietnamese Army, Thanh was considered a very capable

and respectable leader of men. During his time as commander of the 707th Light Infantry

battalion of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and then as leader of the IV Corps at Can Tho.

He was a very devout Buddhist and one the least corruptible men and commanders in the

Vietnamese Army.

Phan Huy Quat

Early in his life Quat studied medicine before entering politics, he attended school in Lycee

Pellerin and so he was a qualified doctor. Later on in life he was Appointed Minister of

Education by Bao Dai and then on the 22, January of 1950 he was appointed Minister of Defense

after which he was removed and later remade minister of defense in 1953 for a short time in

1960 he also served as Prime Minister of Vietnam. Soon after he was removed from power by

Diem, but after the removal of Diem he was appointed Foreign Minister by Major General

Nguyễn Khánh. Throughout his time as a Minister Quat greatly believed that the government

should be democratic and work for the people, he often criticized Diem and then later Major

General Nguyễn Khánh for their own self-serving attitudes in Government.

27

Phan Khac Suu

Early on in his Career Suu was often seen as a political reformer that believed in getting rid of

France and of bettering the lives of the people. He was one of the founding members of the

Vietnam National Independence party in Saigon and later on served as Minister of Agriculture.

Under Diem, Suu served as the Minister and Chief of Agriculture and Land reform, however Suu

quickly realized the lack of actual Democracy and betterment of the people and saw Diem as a

Dictator. He along with other fellow Ministers and political leaders signed the Manifesto

Caravalle which declared grievances that needed to be addressed for the people and criticized the

Government of Diem. Soon after he was tried for being a traitor and for a time Exiled but later

returned.

Nguyen Xuan Oanh

Oanh was an intelligent Economist that began his studies in Lycee Albert and then later received

his Doctorate in Economics from Harvard later teaching Economics in Hatrford before working

for the international Monetary Fund and then returning to Vietnam. During his return in 1963, he

was an Economic Advisor and then later on through Nguyen Khan, Director of the National

Bank and later served as Deputy Prime Minister for the U.S Backed government in Southern

Vietnam.

Tran Van Huong

28

A Vietnamese Politician that served various times as Prime Minister and as President of South

Vietnam, he was highly critical of Diem and of the people that created a bloody coup to oust

him. During Diems rule Huong was jailed for signing the Caravalle Manifesto criticizing the

Government and Diems Dictator like rule. Under Suu, Huong was appointed Prime Minister,

during his tenure he attempted to increase efforts against the communist by passing measures

that increased the size of the military and that accepted weapons and aid from the United States.

Nguyen Van Tam

Tam served as the Prime Minister of the State of Vietnam from 1952 to 1953. Obtaining French

nationality in 1927, he was awarded several awards from the French government such as the

commander of the Legion of Honor. He received the Nickname the “Tiger of Cai Lay” for his

efforts in Nam Ky uprising in 1940 fighting against communist resistance groups in the Cai Lay

region of the Mekong Delta. After the creation of the State of Vietnam, Tam served as the

minister of the interior under Tran Van Huu and after November 1951, he served as governor of

Tonkin. In 1952 he succeeded Huu as prime minister.

29

Works Cited

“Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). Vietnam War. Vietnam War, n.d. Web. 30

December 2015.

“The Conquest and Colonisation of Vietnam”. Alpha History. Alpha History, n.d. Web. 30

December 2015.

“Duong Van Minh”. Vietnam War. Vietnam War, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

“First Indochina War”. Global Security. Global Security, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

“The First Indochina War”. Alpha History. Alpha History, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

“The Formative Years: 1950-1962”. US Center of Military History. United States Army, n.d.

Web. 30 December 2015.

“The Geneva Accords of 1954”. Alpha History. Alpha History, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

Hammer, Ellen Joy. The Struggle for Indochina, 1940-1955. Stanford: Stanford University Press,

1955. Print.

Lawrence, Mark Atwood. The Vietnam War: A Concise International History. New York:

Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.

Long, Ngo Vinh. “Vietnam: The Real Enemy.” Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars 21.2-4

(1989) : 6-34. Print.

McLeod, Mark W.. The Vietnamese Response to French Intervention, 1862-1874. New York:

Praeger Publishing, 1991. Print.

“Nguyen Cao Ky”. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 30

December 2015.

“The Nguyen Dynasty and Expanding French Influence”. Country Studies. U.S. Library of

30

Congress, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

“South Vietnam”. Alpha History. Alpha History, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.

“Vietnam – History”. Windows on Asia. Michigan State University, Department of Asian

Studies, n.d. Web. 30 December 2015.