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January
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18th
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Peoples Republic of China grants diplomatic recognition of
Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)
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20th
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Soviet Union formally recognizes the DRV
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21st
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Nguyen Phan Long becomes Prime Minister of the State of Viet Nam
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29th
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French Assembly ratifies the Elysee Agreement, establishing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
as autonomous states within the French Union
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February
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2nd
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France announces the ratification of the Elysee Agreement
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3rd
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United States of America recognizes Bao
Dai as the head of the Associated State of Vietnam
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7th
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Great Britain recognizes Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as Associated States within
the French Union
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16th
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Fearing Communists Chinese military assistance to Hanoi, France requests U.S. aid
in fighting the Viet Minh
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27th
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The National Security Council reports:
The presence of Chinese Communist troops along the border of Indochina makes it
possible for arms, material and troops to move freely from Communist China to the
northern Tonkin area now controlled by Ho Chi Minh. There is already evidence of
movement of arms.
It is important to United States security interests that all practicable measures
be taken to prevent further communist expansion in Southeast Asia. Indochina is
a key area of Southeast Asia and is under immediate threat.
The neighboring countries of Thailand and Burma could be expected to fall under
Communist domination if Indochina were controlled by a Communist-dominated government.
The balance of Southeast Asia would then be in grave hazard.
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April
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27th
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Nguyen Phan Long resigns as Prime Minister of Viet-Nam. Tran Van Huu, Governor of
Cochin-China, succeeds him
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May
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1st
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U.S. President Harry S. Truman approves $10 million in military aid to the French
in Indochina
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8th
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U.S Secretary of State Dean Acheson announces aid for "the Associated States of
Indochina and to France in order to assist them in restoring stability and permitting
these states to pursue their peaceful and democratic development"
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24th
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U.S. formally announces its intent to establish an economic aid mission to the three
associated states of Indochina.
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June
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25th
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War breaks out in Korea after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Army crosses
the 38th parallel and invades South Korea
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27th
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President Truman announces that he has "directed acceleration in the furnishing
of military assistance to the forces of France and the Associated States in Indochina
and the dispatch of a military mission to provide working relations with those forces."
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August
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3rd
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The first members of U.S. MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group) arrive in Saigon
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September
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17th
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MAAG-Indochina is established
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October
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1st
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Vo Nguyen Giap's Viet Minh forces
start an attack on the string of French forts along the Chinese border
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10th
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Brigadier General Francis G. Brink assumes his role as the first head of MAAG Indochina.
MAAG was to provide material assistance to the French forces and indirect provision
of military aid to the forces of the Associated States.
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17th
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All French garrisons along the Chinese border are destroyed.
A State of Emergency is announced in Tonkin
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November
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8th
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General de la Tour du Moulin succeeds General Alessandri as Commander-in-Chief in
Tonkin and begins to introduce new tactics against the Viet Minh
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18th
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Jean Letourneau is given sole responsibility for the direction of French policy
in Indochina as Minister for the Associated States
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December
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6th
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General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny replaces Leon Pignon as French High Commissioner
and General Carpentier as Commander-in-Chief of the French Union Forces (FUF)
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17th
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De Lattre de Tassigny assumes command of Indochina
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23rd
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Representatives of U.S., France, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in Saigon sign an agreement
for mutual defense assistance in Indochina
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