| January
|
| 12th
|
Bao Dai appoints Prince Buu Loc
as Prime Minister of Viet Nam. Buu Loc had previously served as Vietnamese High
Commissioner in Paris.
|
| 29th
|
U.S. intelligence reports that in the event of a major Viet Minh attack on Dien
Bien Phu French 105 and 155mm ammunition would last only 4 – 6 days
President Eisenhower announces:
- The delivery of 10 additional B-26 aircraft to Indo China, bringing
the two French B-26 squadrons up to 25 planes each
- The temporary assignment of 200 U.S. Air Force mechanics to MAAG
to assist the French Air Force personnel in the maintenance of the C-47 and B-26
aircraft
|
| February
|
| 18th
|
Foreign Ministers of United States, United Kingdom, France and Soviet Union meet
in Berlin (January 25th – February 18th) and agree to discuss the Indochina problem
at the Geneva Conference on Korea scheduled for April 26th
|
| March
|
| 4th
|
A Viet Minh unit sabotages 11 aircraft at Gia Lam airfield
|
| 12th
|
Viet Minh Regiment 42 attacks civil and military traffic on the highway between
Hanoi and Haiphong in broad daylight
|
| 13th
|
Viet Minh forces under the command of General Vo Nguyen Giap attack the southern (Isabelle) and three northern outposts
(Anne Marie, Gabrielle and Beatrice) of Dien Bien Phu. After an all night attack
they succeed in occupying the north-eastern outpost (Beatrice).
|
| 14th
|
French Command parachutes in an additional battalion in an attempt to retake Beatrice
|
| 15th
|
Dien Bien Phu’s northern outpost, Gabrielle, is overrun by Viet Minh troops. The
French also lose the use of both airstrips, forcing them to rely on airdrops for
all reinforcements.
|
| 16th
|
Following Viet Minh attacks on three airfields General Navarre orders the evacuation
of villages in the immediate vicinity of the airfields at Gia Lam, Cat Bi and Do
Son
|
| 18th
|
After almost continual Viet Minh bombardment Dien Bien Phu’s northern-western outpost,
Anne Marie, is abandoned
|
| April
|
| 4th
|
The French government informs U.S Ambassador to France, Douglas Dillon, that "..immediate
armed intervention of US carrier aircraft at Dien Bien Phu is now necessary to save
the situation."
|
| 6th
|
British Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden tells Winthrop Aldrich, U.S. Ambassador to
the U.K, "French cannot lose the war between now and the coming of the rainy season
however badly they may conduct it."
|
| 11th
|
Secretary of State Foster Dulles meets with Anthony Eden and explains U.S apprehensions
regarding French weakening at Geneva and discusses joint action in South East Asia.
Eden states that he is against implementing any coalition prior to Geneva.
|
| 12th
|
Major General John W. O'Daniel
(aka "Iron Mike") arrives in Saigon to replace General Trapnell as Chief of MAAG-Indochina
|
| 26th
|
The Geneva Conference begins, chaired by the United Kingdom and the U.S.S.R
|
| 27th
|
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill tells the House of Commons that the British
Government was "not prepared to give any undertakings about United Kingdom military
action in Indochina in advance of the results of Geneva."
|
| May
|
| 7th
|
The central redoubt of Dien Bien Phu falls to the Viet Minh at 17:30
|
| 8th
|
The first full session on Indochina begins at the Geneva Conference
|
| 14th
|
Bao Dai summons Ngo Dinh Diem to Paris from an abbey in Bruges
|
| 24th
|
U.S Ambassador to France, Douglas Dillon, reports to the State Department after
meeting Diem that:
"On balance we were favorably impressed (with Diem) but only in the realization
that we are prepared to accept the seemingly ridiculous prospect that this Yogi-like
mystic could assume the charge he is apparently about to undertake only because
the standard set by his predecessors is so low."
|
| June
|
| 3rd
|
General Paul Ely is appointed Commissioner General and Commander in Chief in Indochina.
General Raoul Salan is named as his military deputy.
|
| 4th
|
French Prime Minister Joseph Laniel and Viet Nam Prime Minister Buu Loc initial
treaties of independence
|
| 14th
|
Buu Loc resigns as Prime Minister of Viet Nam
|
| 16th
|
Emperor Bao Dai announces the appointment of Ngo Dinh Diem as Prime Minister
|
| 25th
|
Ngo Dinh Diem arrives in Saigon
|
| 28th
|
Group Mobile 100 is almost decimated following several ambushes during 5-days of
fierce fighting on Road-19 between Pleiku and Ankhe
|
| July
|
| 7th
|
Ngo Dinh Diem takes office as Prime Minister
|
| 17th
|
The 1st Korea Battalion is destroyed in a Viet Minh ambush in the Chu-Dreh pass
on Road 14 between Pleiku and Ban Me Thout
|
| 20th
|
Agreements on the cessation of hostilities in Cambodia and Laos signed in Geneva
The major points of the 47 articles in the a cease-fire agreement signed by the
Commanders-in-Chief of the French Union Forces and People's Army of Vietnam provide
for the following:
- A military demarcation line at the 17th Parallel, on either side
of which the forces of the two parties shall be regrouped after their withdrawal
- A demilitarised zone to be established on either side of the demarcation
line (not more than 5km wide), to act as a buffer zone against any incidents which
might result in the resumption of hostilities
- Each party is given 300 days to regroup its forces to their side
of the demarcation line
- The introduction of any troops reinforcements, additional military
personnel or reinforcements of other war material into Vietnam is prohibited. War
materiel destroyed, damaged, worn our or used up after the cessation of hostilities
may be replaced on a piece for piece basis of the same type / characteristics. Suck
replacements are not permitted for French Union troops stationed north of the demarcation
line during the withdrawal period.
- The establishment of new military bases is prohibited throughout
Vietnam territory. No military base under the control of a foreign state may be
established in the regrouping zone of either party
- The liberation and repatriation of all prisoners of war and civilian
internees detained by each of the two parties
- Responsibility for the execution of the agreement on the cessation
of hostilities shall rest with the parties
- A Joint Commission, composed of an equal number of representative
of the commanders of the two parties, shall be set up in order to facilitate the
execution of provisions concerning joint actions by the two parties
- An International Commission shall be set up for the control and
supervision over the application of the agreement. It shall be presided over by
the representative of India and shall be composed of representatives of Canada,
India and Poland
- Pending general elections, which will bring about the unification
of Vietnam, the conduct of civil administration in each regrouping zone in the hands
of the part regrouped there
Ngo Dinh Diem's Government of Vietnam (GVN) did not sign the agreement
|
| 21st
|
An unsigned Final Declaration of the Geneva Conference is issued that states:
In order to insure that sufficient progress in the restoration of peace has been
made, and that all the necessary conditions obtain for free expression of the national
will, general elections shall be held in July 1956, under the supervision of the
International Committee.
|
| 27th
|
Guy La Chambre (Minister for the Associated States) tells U.S. Ambassador to France,
Douglas Dillon, that he does not think that Diem is suitable to continue as Prime
Minister
|
| August
|
| 26th
|
Donald Heath, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, informs the State Department that conspirators,
including Army Chief of Staff General Nguyen Van Hinh, may be close to staging a
coup d’état
|
| 31st
|
Donald Heath warns General Hinh of "..the serious effect on American and other free
world opinion of any movement to oust Diem by force or force his resignation at
this juncture."
|
| September
|
| 8th
|
In Manila representatives of Australia, France, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines,
Thailand, U.K. and U.S. sign the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty (SEATO).
Under the terms of the Manila pact, each party agrees, in the event of aggression
against anther party, to act or meet the common danger. The parties to the treaty
also agree to guarantee the territories of Cambodia, Laos and South Vietnam against
aggression.
|
| 9th
|
Diem informs Ambassador Heath that his agents have uncovered a plot by General Hinh
and officers of the National Army to overthrow the government
|
| 10th
|
Diem relieves General Hinh of his position as Chief of Staff of the Vietnamese National
Army and orders him to leave by September 12th for a 6-month "study" mission to
France. General Vy replaces Hinh.
|
| 11th
|
Diem relieves General Vy of his duties and places him on inactive service after
he refuses to replace General Hinh as Army Chief of Staff. Diem appoints Chan as
the new Chief of Staff.
|
| 23rd
|
Bao Dai sends a telegram inviting Diem to resign the office of Prime Minister. Diem
refuses, announcing that he is reorganizing his government with participation of
the religious sects (Hoa Hao and Cao Dai).
|
| 24th
|
Minister of Defense General Xuan announces his resignation and repudiates Diem,
saying the time has come for his dismissal.
Diem announces a new broader based cabinet.
|
| October
|
| 10th
|
The Viet Minh enter Hanoi as French forces withdraw from the city
|
| 13th
|
Diem signs a Presidential Decree providing for the creation of the Vietnamese Marine
Corps (VNMC)
|
| 24th
|
U.S. President Eisenhower addresses a letter to Diem in which he promises economic
aid and assistance to Viet Nam
|
| November
|
| 8th
|
General J. Lawton Collins arrives in Saigon to coordinate and direct U.S. activities
in Vietnam
|
| 10th
|
Bao Dai summons General Hinh to France
|
| 19th
|
General Hinh finally departs Saigon for France
|
| December
|
| 13th
|
General Lawton Collins (USA) and General Paul Ely (France) sign the following Minute
of understanding:
- A reduction in the strength of the Vietnam armed forces to 90,000
men, through selective discharge of the least effective personnel1
- France will grant full autonomy to the armed forces of the State
of Viet Nam by 1st July 1955
- Full responsibility for assisting the Government of Viet Nam (GVN)
in the organization and training of its armed forces will be assumed by the chief
of the United Sates Military Assistance Advisory group (MAAG) on 1st January 1955,
under the overall authority of the Commander-in-Chief in Indochina (General Ely)
- U.S. and French personnel will be assigned as advisors and trainers
of the Vietnamese armed forces. As the efficiency of the Vietnamese armed forces
increase, the number of U.S. and French advisors will be reduced.
Ely and Collins agreed that the size of such forces is the maximum that can be effectively
maintained and trained within the limits imposed by US funds likely to be made available.
They recognized that the forces of the size envisaged would be clearly insufficient
in themselves to guarantee Viet Nam against external aggression. However, they acknowledged
the necessity of accepting the military risk inherent in the proposed levels of
forces. They further recognized that under these conditions ultimate reliance must
be placed on the Manila pact as a deterrent to a resumption of Viet Minh aggression
|
| 15th
|
Diem promotes Deputy Defense Minister Minh to full ministerial rank, rather than
appointing the American choice of Dr. Phan Huy Quat
(Quat had a history of hostility to the religious sects and his appointment would
have prompted several resignations from the government. U.S. officials also suspected
that Diem was reluctant to hand over the army to a strong man and potential successor)
|
| 16th
|
U.S. Departments of State and Defense approve the Collins-Ely Minute
Following the failure of Diem to include Dr. Phan Huy Quat in his cabinet as Defense
Minister, General Collins recommends to the State Department that:
- That the US continue to support Diem for a short while, but without
committing to specific aid programs
- If Diem's government fails to make progress, and if the return
of Bao Dai is acceptable to the U.S. government, to support his return
- If the return of Bao Dai is unacceptable and the Diem government
continues to demonstrate an inability to unite free Vietnam, then the U.S. should
withdraw from Vietnam
|
| 18th
|
Tripartite (U.K., U.S. France) discussions on Indochina take place in Paris. French
Prime Minister Pierre Mendes recommends that Collins and Ely study alternatives
to Diem, including Bao Dai. U.S. Secretary of State Dulles makes it clear that any
investigation of an alternate solution must be conducted very carefully so as not
to undermine the present Diem government.
|
| 31st
|
French inform the U.S. that they do not wish to present a signed Franco-American
agreement (Collins-Ely Minute) to the Vietnamese Government that they would have
to carry out. French propose a redraft in the form a Franco-American recommendation
for consideration by the GVN.
|