Indochina War Timeline: 1950

January
18th Peoples Republic of China grants diplomatic recognition of Ho Chi Minh's Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV)
20th Soviet Union formally recognizes the DRV
21st Nguyen Phan Long becomes Prime Minister of the State of Viet Nam
29th French Assembly ratifies the Elysee Agreement, establishing Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as autonomous states within the French Union
February
2nd France announces the ratification of the Elysee Agreement
3rd United States of America recognizes Bao Dai as the head of the Associated State of Vietnam
7th Great Britain recognizes Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia as Associated States within the French Union
16th Fearing Communists Chinese military assistance to Hanoi, France requests U.S. aid in fighting the Viet Minh
27th 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.
April
27th Nguyen Phan Long resigns as Prime Minister of Viet-Nam. Tran Van Huu, Governor of Cochin-China, succeeds him
May
1st U.S. President Harry S. Truman approves $10 million in military aid to the French in Indochina
8th 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"
24th U.S. formally announces its intent to establish an economic aid mission to the three associated states of Indochina.
June
25th War breaks out in Korea after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Army crosses the 38th parallel and invades South Korea
27th 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."
August
3rd The first members of U.S. MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group) arrive in Saigon
September
17th MAAG-Indochina is established
October
1st Vo Nguyen Giap's Viet Minh forces start an attack on the string of French forts along the Chinese border
10th 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.
17th All French garrisons along the Chinese border are destroyed.
A State of Emergency is announced in Tonkin
November
8th 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
18th Jean Letourneau is given sole responsibility for the direction of French policy in Indochina as Minister for the Associated States
December
6th 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)
17th De Lattre de Tassigny assumes command of Indochina
23rd Representatives of U.S., France, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in Saigon sign an agreement for mutual defense assistance in Indochina

1947-1949    1951-1952

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