The Geneva Accords of 1954 and Indochina as well as SEATO

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  • Created by: Alasdair
  • Created on: 20-06-17 20:55
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  • The Geneva Accords of 1954 and Indochina as well as SEATO
    • France, China, the USSR and VM agreed:
      • Communists would govern Vt and Bai Dai and his new PM, Ngo Dinh Diem, would govern south.
      • Ho's VM would have to give up territory they occupied south of 17th parallel
      • There would be 10km demilitarised zone above that parallel
      • There would be truce between French and VM
      • Nationwide democratic elections would be held in 1956 and Vt would be reunified
      • Neither N or S Vt were to make any military alliances with foreign powers or to allow foreign military bases in their territories
    • South East Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO)
      • Defensive alliance between:
        • USA
        • Britain
        • France
        • Australia
        • New Zealand
        • Pakistan
        • The Philippines
        • Thailand
      • Origins
        • Response of Eisenhower and Dulles, in light of Comm victory at Geneva Accords, to restore US 'prestige in the Far East
        • SE Asia equivalent of NATO
        • Mostly western states as newly independent countries refused to take part
        • Each member pledged that in event of attack of SE Asia country, they would 'respond in accordance with its constituted processes'
          • Elastic phrase
        • Cambodia, SV and Laos were to be protected - American device to ignore Geneva stipulation Vt must not be entered by foreign alliances or troops
        • GB Naval strategist and diplomat described SEATO as 'a fig leaf for nakedness of American policy'
      • Failure in 1977
        • SEATO despised by non-members and antagonised China
        • SEATO forces never deployed
        • Allies did send forces to assist US in Vt after 1965
          • Austrailia sent 5000 troops
          • Thailand sent 2000 and New Zealand under 500
          • Very small numbers
        • Despite achieving admirable social and economic work in SE Asia, Pakistan left in 1972, French withdrew finacial support in 1975 and SEATO formally dissolved in 1977
    • Significance of Geneva Accords
      • Showed Ho Chi Minh that Chinese and Soviet support was limited
        • In order to gain ceasefire, they deemed best for their own interest, they made him accept a settlement that forced VM to retreated behind 17th Parallel
        • Ho reluctantly agreed because he believed there would  be nationwide elections in 1956 (Eisenhower wrote in his 1963 memoirs that Ho would have won 90% of vote in fair election) and because he needed Chinese and Soviet aid and time to consolidate new regime in NV
        • US significantly low to pick up and/or exploit these divisions with Communist world
        • Although Dulles new there were Sino-Soviet tensions, he did not use them to advantage at Geneva
      • Ceasefire between French and VM
        • Not between VM and any SV government
        • New Premier Diemm if South V rejected Accords because they put half of Vt under Communist control
        • He rightly predicted that 'another more deadly war lay ahead'
        • Eisenhower, unwilling to recognise Comm gov agreed to respect but not sign Geneva accords say US 'has not itself been a party to or bound by decisions taken' and warning America would view 'any renewal of aggression ' with grave concern
        • US chose to interpret 17th parallel as permanent division rather than temporary
        • Geneva settlement and Vt became victims of CW

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