The Origins of the Vietnam War by A. Short -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents Editor’s Foreword Preface and Acknowledgements Dedication Map Prologue Chapter 1. Ho Chi Minh and the French: National Communism? 1920–1946

The nature of French colonial rule The influence of Japan and China on Vietnamese nationalism Ho Chi Minh Abortive revolution Patriotism and the peasantry China and the United States: sponsors of Vietnamese independence The Japanese coup The August revolution Conflict in the south Freedom and the French Union Agreement or disagreement? Flashpoints

Chapter 2. Acheson and the entangling alliance: 1946–1952

The inclination to intervene: hope of a negotiated settlement The French connection Division in the State Department? A communist offensive in South-East Asia? The Chinese connection No alternative: the Bao Dai solution Aid to Indo-China The Melby-Erskine Mission The Chinese shadow One war? De Lattre’s comet

Chapter 3. Dulles at the brink: 1952–1954

Replacing the French Identifying the target Visions of victory Congressional interests War plans Dien Bien Phu and the question of intervention Bluff? China: the sufficient cause? The British obstacle The case for intervention No acceptable settlement

Chapter 4. The Ashes of Geneva: 1954

Intervention still an option The United States v. China Mendés France arrives A salvage operation Seven conditions for a settlement Ngo Dinh Diem An imposed agreement Curiosities of the Final Declaration Elections and responsibilities

Chapter 5. Diem and the National Liberation Front: 1954–1960

The status of South Vietnam Sponsored opportunity Sympathy for Diem Doubts and commitment The Collins mission ‘A synthetic strong man’ Diem on the rocks A reprieve Advisers and critics South Vietnam as an American dependency ‘Adverse trends’ Emergence of the NLF Decision in Hanoi

Chapter 6. Kennedy’s Frontier: Wars of National Liberation: 1961–1963

Laos Khrushchev’s challenge? Kennedy’s commitment Johnson goes to Vietnam Pragmatic resolve and limited partnership Rusk and McNamara agree Kennedy’s doubts Counter-insurgency Strategic hamlets Irreducible optimism The problem of Diem The coup

Chapter 7. Johnson’s Choice: 1963–1965

The Khanh coup Debate and decision in Hanoi ‘The most critical situation’ War plans Tonkin Gulf How to help the South ‘Off to the races’ Was the US at war? The point of no return Consensus

Conclusion Sources and Further Reading Index