The Geneva accord was signed on 21 July 1954. The decisions made there determined the fate of IndoChina to this day. What was agreed upon had the potential to rectify the harm done by colonization. Unfortunately, none of what was decided upon in Geneva was upheld.
In May of 1954 representatives from France, Great Britain, The United States, China, The Soviet Union, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam were several weeks into a session in Geneva discussing issues of Berlin and Korea. At the same time of the conference, the Viet Minh fought the French to a standstill at Dien Bien Phu, leading to the surrender of French command on 7 May 1954. The focus of the conference quickly became the fate of IndoChina. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam presented many demands to the group. They wanted "international recognition of the full sovereignty and national independence of all three IndoChinese states; the withdrawal of all foreign military forces; and elections to be held under local supervision"(Duiker 89).
geneva
The Bournville Carillon - clock - Capre Diem
The Bournville Carillon - clock - Capre DiemThe major powers had their own interest and agenda, and a united Vietnam was not something that they supported entirely. The United States was the biggest opposition to the Viet Minh demands. They wanted the French to keep fighting. But the French did not have the means or domestic support to continue the war. Even Vietnams allies were discouraging of the DRV demands. The Soviet Union and China, afraid of intervention by America, encouraged Vietnam to negotiate and compromise. Even though the Viet Minh had power in Vietnam, they lacked global power, so they agreed to give in. After two months of negotiations, it was decided that Vietnam would be temporarily divided into two zones, the North and the South. Representing the Viet Minh and the Bao Dai government. The country would be unified into...