The Geneva Accords divide Vietnam in half at the 17th
parallel, with Ho Chi Minh's Communists ceded the North, while Bao Dai's
regime is granted the South. The accords also provide for elections to
be held in all of Vietnam within two years to reunify the country. The
U.S. opposes the unifying elections, fearing a likely victory by Ho Chi
Minh.
U.S. Won't Defend Line
Communists to Get Northern Vietnam, 12 Million
People
Following the French departure from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh
returns after spending eight years hiding in the jungle and formally takes
control of North Vietnam
In the South, Bao Dai installs Ngo Dinh Diem as his prime minister. The U.S. now pins its hopes on anti-Communist Diem for a democratic South Vietnam. It is Diem, however, who predicts "another more deadly war" will erupt over the future of Vietnam. Diem, a Roman Catholic in an overwhelmingly Buddhist country, encourages Vietnamese Catholics living in Communist North Vietnam to flee south. Nearly one million leave. At the same time, some 90,000 Communists in the south go north, although nearly 10,000 Viet Minh fighters are instructed by Hanoi to quietly remain behind.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower advises Diem that the
US will provide assistance directly to South Vietnam, instead of channeling
it through French authorities.
Direct US aid to South Vietnam begins. The first direct
shipment of U.S. military aid to Saigon arrives. The U.S. also offers
to train the fledgling South Vietnam Army.
US advisers begin training South Vietnamese troops.
Diem launches his successful campaign against the Binh
Xuyen and the religious sects. US Ambassador Collins advises Washington
to consider a change of leadership. Bao Dai, from Paris accuses President
Diem of "selling the blood of Vietnamese". Diem is advised by the CIA
to conduct a plebiscite and let the people decide. Diem is warned by the
Lansdale(CIA) "not to rig the elections", "... I don't want to suddenly
read that you have won by 99.99%"
Diem holds the plebiscite and wins by 98%. CIA knows the
plebiscite was rigged. President Diem places family members in key positions.
South Vietnam formally requests US instructors for Armed
Forces.
The United States agrees to furnish military aid to Cambodia,
which becomes an independent state on 25 September.
Prime Minister Diem wages a violent crackdown against
the Binh Xuyen organized crime group based in Saigon which operates casinos,
brothels and opium dens.
Hanoi asks for formal talks to prepare for the international
supervised elections scheduled for October 1955.
Ho Chi Minh visits Moscow and agrees to accept Soviet
aid.
South Vietnam refuses to take part in the all-Vietnam
elections called for by the Geneva Agreements, charging that free elections
are impossible in the Communist North.
Bao Dai is ousted from power, defeated by Prime Minister
Diem in a U.S.-backed plebiscite which was rigged. Diem is advised on
consolidating power by U.S. Air Force Col. Edward G. Lansdale, who is
attached to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) was declared with
Ngo Dinh Diem as President. It was recognized by more than 100 countries.The
Republic of South Vietnam is proclaimed with Diem as its first president.
In America, President Eisenhower pledges his support for the new government
and offers military aid. Diem assigns most high level government positions
to close friends and family members including his younger brother Ngo
Dinh Nhu who will be his chief advisor. Diem's style of leadership, aloof
and autocratic, will create future political problems for him despite
the best efforts of his American advisors to popularize him via American-style
political rallies and tours of the countryside
In North Vietnam, radical land reforms by Communists result in land owners being hauled before "people's tribunals." Thousands are executed or sent to forced labor camps during this period of ideological cleansing by Ho Chi Minh.
In South Vietnam, President Diem rewards
his Catholic supporters by giving them land seized from Buddhist peasants,
arousing their anger and eroding his support among them. Diem also allows
big land owners to retain their holdings, disappointing peasants hoping
for land reform.
Diem launches a brutal crackdown against Viet Minh suspects
in the countryside. Those arrested are denied counsel and hauled before
"security committees" with many suspects tortured or executed under the
guise of 'shot while attempting escape.'
While visiting Peking, Cambodia's Prince Norodom Sihanouk
renounces SEATO protection for his nation.
Prince Souvanna Phouma becomes Prime Minister in Laos.
An American Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG)
takes over the training of South Vietnamese forces. The French Military
High Command disbands and French troops leave South Vietnam.
The last French soldier leaves South Vietnam. The French
High Command for Indochina is then dissolved.
The deadline passes for the unifying elections set by
the Geneva Conference. Diem, backed by the U.S., had refused to participate.
Souvanna Phouma and the Communist Prince Souphanouvong
agree to a coalition government in Laos.
Hanoi implements unpopular land "reforms" in North Vietnam. Hoang Van Chi and others claim the Hanoi regime executed some 50,000 people during the land reforms.
Peasant unrest in North Vietnam resulting from oppressive land reforms is put down by Communists with more than 6,000 killed or deported.
The Soviet Union proposes permanent division of Vietnam
into North and South, with the two nations admitted separately to the
United Nations. The U.S. rejects the proposal, unwilling to recognize
Communist North Vietnam.
The International Control Commission declares that neither
North Vietnam nor South Vietnam has carried out the Geneva Agreements.
Diem pays a state visit to Washington where President Eisenhower labels him the "miracle man" of Asia and reaffirms U.S. commitment. Diem's government, however, with its main focus on security, spends little on schools, medical care or other badly needed social services in the countryside. Communist guerrillas and propagandists in the countryside capitalize on this by making simple promises of land reform and a better standard of living to gain popular support among peasants.
Communist Pathet Lao attempt to seize power in Laos.
The last French training missions leave South Vietnam.
Diem is successful in South Vietnamese general election.
Viet Minh guerrillas begin a widespread campaign of terror
in South Vietnam including bombings and assassinations. By year's end,
over 400 South Vietnamese officials are killed.
Communist guerrillas attack a plantation north of Saigon.
President Diem receives a letter from North Vietnam Prime
Minister Pham Van Dong proposing a discussion on troop reductions and
trade relations as a renewed step towards reunification.
President Diem rejects any discussion until North Vietnam
has established "democratic liberties" similar to those in the South.
President Sukarno of Indonesia survives a CIA backed rebellion.
A coordinated command structure is formed by Communists
in the Mekong Delta where 37 armed companies are being organized.
The armed revolution begins as Ho Chi Minh declares a
People's War to unite all of Vietnam under his leadership. His Politburo
now orders a changeover to an all-out military struggle. Thus begins the
Second Indochina War.
A branch of the Lao Dong (Worker's Party of Vietnam),
of which Ho Chi Minh became Secretary-General in 1956, is formed in the
South, and Communist underground activity increases.
The US Commander in Chief, Pacific, begins sending the
military advisers requested by the South Vietnamese government.
North Vietnamese establish the Central Office of South
Vietnam (COSVN) to oversee the coming war in the South. Construction of
the Ho Chi Minh trail begins. The trail will eventually
comprise a 1500 mile-long network of jungle and mountain passes extending
from North Vietnam's coast along Vietnam's western border through Laos,
parts of Cambodia, funneling a constant stream of soldiers and supplies
into the highlands of South Vietnam. In 1959, it takes six months to make
the journey; by 1968 it will take only six weeks due to road improvements
by North Vietnamese laborers, many of whom are women. In the 1970s a parallel
fuel pipeline will be added.
President Diem SVN passes oppressive laws on his countrymen.
Communist Pathet Lao forces attempt to gain control over
northern Laos, receiving some Vietnamese Communist assistance.
4,000 Viet Minh guerrillas, originally born in the South,
are sent from North Vietnam to infiltrate South Vietnam.
Two U.S. military advisors, Maj. Dale Buis and Sgt. Chester
Ovnand, are killed by Viet Minh guerrillas at Bien Hoa, South Vietnam.
They are the first American deaths in the Second Indochina War which Americans
will come to know simply as The Vietnam War.
2 Americans Killed
By Saigon Terrorists
General Phoumir Nosavan seizes control in Laos.
In China the Great Leap Forward program was an evident
failure with food shortages and peasant resistance: under the program,
cooperatives merged into government controlled Communes which stressed
human labor over technology.
North Vietnam imposes universal military conscription
(i.e., draft) with an indefinite tour of duty.
Eighteen distinguished nationalists
in South Vietnam send a petition to President Diem advocating that he
reform his rigid, family-run, and increasingly corrupt, government. Diem
ignores their advice and instead closes several opposition newspapers
and arrests journalists and intellectuals.
MAAG strength is increased from 327 to 6,850 personnel.
Captain Kong Le occupies Vientiane and urges restoration
of a neutral Laos under Prince Souvanna Phouma.
Malayan Emergency ends.
A failed coup against President Diem by disgruntled South
Vietnamese Army officers brings a harsh crackdown against all perceived
'enemies of the state.' Over 50,000 are arrested by police controlled
by Diem's brother Nhu with many innocent civilians tortured then executed.
This results in further erosion of popular support for Diem. Thousands
who fear arrest flee to North Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh will later send many
back to infiltrate South Vietnam as part of his People's Liberation Armed
Forces. Called Viet Cong by Diem, meaning Communist Vietnamese, Ho's guerrillas
blend into the countryside, indistinguishable from South Vietnamese, while
working to undermine Diem's government.
The forces of Phoumi Nosavan capture Vientiane.
The National Liberation Front (NLF) is established by
Hanoi as its Communist political organization for Viet Cong guerrillas
in South Vietnam.