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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group

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To: LindyBill who wrote (108483)7/28/2003 9:13:31 PM
From: Dayuhan  Read Replies (2) of 281500
 

Steve, I remember reading, years ago, that Truman transported the French back into Indochina because State wanted something from then in Europe. Can't find the details now. Does that strike a bell?

Not quite that simple. The British were given temporary administrative rights over the southern half of Vietnam (in the north Nationalist Chinese troops were in charge). The British were very worried about their ability to reassert control in their own colonies in the area, and they didn't want any examples of successful rebellion floating around. The British provided the transport, and arms for the French prisoners they freed.

Roosevelt had been firmly opposed to French reoccupation, and he knew the Brits and the French needed us more than we needed them; it is not unlikely that he would have put his foot down and refused to allow it. Truman was new, though, and he got steamrolled by Churchill and DeGaulle. They just went ahead and did it, and we acquiesced.

Fascinating period in history, the close of WW2. At no time before or since have so many people in so many places experienced massive dislocation and change so simultaneously.
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