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OOUTCOMES OF THE GENEVA CONFERENCE
 
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 fornational 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. The communists likewise opposed the free election.
 
TIMELINE (KEY DATES)
7 May 54
Dien Bien Phu falls. At 5:30 p.m., 10,000 French soldiers surrender at Dien Bien Phu. By now, an estimated 8000 Viet Minh and 1500 French have died.
 
7 May 54-
late-July 1954
French survivors are marched for up to 60 days to prison camps 500 hundred miles away. Nearly half die during the march or in captivity.
 
8 May 54
The Geneva Conference on Indochina begins, attended by the U.S., Britain, China, the Soviet Union, France, Vietnam (Viet Minh and representatives of Bao Dai), Cambodia and Laos, all meeting to negotiate a solution for Southeast Asia.
 
8 May 54
Troop Use Unsuitable Now: Dulles
 
8 May 54
Two Yanks Dead in Indochina Supply Run As C-119 Explodes
 
8 May 54
Silent Radio Signals End' French Refuse to Surrender
 
8 May 54
Ike Raises 'Symbolic' Resistance
 
8 May 54
Senate Blocks Taft-Hartley Act Revision
 
8 May 54
Anti-Communist Plan Developed
 
8 May 54
Hull Gets Close Look at Malaya's Red Battle
 
May 54
France begins complete withdrawal from Vietnam, ending a bitter eight year struggle against the Viet Minh in which 400,000 soldiers and civilians from all sides had perished.
 
May-June 54
Viet Minh continue assaults on French positions, with four Red Divisions Nearing Hanoi by 1 June 1954.
 
1 Jun 54
U.S. May Train Vietnamese
 
1 Jun 54
Ike Hits Red Hunts 'For Glory'
 
1 Jun 54
Vukovich Wins 2nd Straight '500'
 
1 Jun 54
Thousands' Said Needed As Cadre
 
1 Jun 54
President Leads Rites
 
1 Jun 54
Anderson, Taylor Exit
 
1 Jun 54
4 Red Divisions Nearing Hanoi
 
1 Jun 54
Turkish Minister Arrives in U.S.

 

1 Jun 54
Queen Flies to London to Resume Royal Duties
 
1 Jun 54
18 Die in Plane Crash on Brazil Mountain
 
7 Jul 54
Ngo Dinh Diem newly chosen Premier of South Vietnam, completes the organization of his cabinet.
 
21 Jul 54
At Geneva Conference, French and Ho Chi Minh's Communists sign Indochina Truce Accords which, among other measures, partition Vietnam into North Vietnam and South Vietnam at the 17th Parallel. The accords call for national elections to be held throughout Vietnam within two years to reunify the country. An International Control Commission is set up to supervise compliance with the Agreements.
 
Aug 54 to May 55
The first of waves of North Vietnamese move to South Vietnam under the Geneva Accord. By May 1955, about one million refugees had fled south as opposed to some 90,000 Communists in the south going north. At the same time, nearly 10,000 Viet Minh fighters are instructed by Hanoi to quietly remain behind.
 
8 Sep 54
An agreement is signed at Manila establishing a South East Asia Treaty Organization(SEATO), aimed at checking Communist expansion.
 
5 Oct 54
The last French troops leave Hanoi.
 
11 Oct 54
Following the French departure from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh returns after spending eight years hiding in the jungle. The Viet Minh formally assume control over North Vietnam.
 
26 Oct 55
The Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) was declared. Bao Dai installs Ngo Dinh Diem as President. The Republic of Vietnam is recognized by more than 100 countries.
 
 
The national reunification election agreed to at Geneva was never held. Neither party favored a free election.
 
 
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