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1947-50 in the Vietnam War focuses on events influencing the eventual decision for military intervention by the United States in the Vietnam War. In 1947, France still ruled Indochina as a colonial power, conceding little real political power to Vietnamese nationalists. French Indochina was divided into five protectorates: Cambodia, Laos, Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina. The latter three made up Vietnam. In 1946 a civil war had broken out between the French forces in Vietnam and the Viet Minh insurgents, led by Ho Chi Minh who had declared independence and the creation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The objective of the Viet Minh and other Vietnamese nationalists was full independence from France and unification of the three French protectorates. The Viet Minh was dominated by communists. Initially the United States had little interest in Vietnam and was equivocal about supporting France, but in 1950, due to an intensification of the Cold War and a fear that communism would prevail in Vietnam, the U.S. began providing financial and military support to French forces. Paralleling the U.S. aid program, Communist China also began in 1950 to supply arms, equipment, and training to the Viet Minh. Vietnam played an increasingly important role in the worldwide competition between the communist world, headed by the Soviet Union, and the "Free World" led by the United States. The French suffered severe military defeats in late 1950 which resulted in American military aid being increased to prevent victory by the Viet Minh. The article titled First Indochina War describes the war between the Viet Minh and the French in more detail. This article is preceded by 1940-1946 in the Vietnam War and followed by 1951-1953 in the Vietnam War. ==1947== ; 5 January French Overseas Minister Marius Moutet visiting Vietnam said that the Viet Minh "have fallen to the lowest level or barbarity" and that "before there is any negotiation it will be necessary to get a military decision.〔Logevall, Frederik (2012), ''Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America's Vietnam'', New York: Random House, p. 170〕 ; 30 January American diplomat Abbot Low Moffat told a British diplomat that the French were facing a disaster in their war in Vietnam.〔Logevall, p. 178〕 ; 3 February Secretary of State George C. Marshall in a telegram to the American Embassy in Paris criticized France's "dangerously outmoded colonial outlook and method" but also warned that Viet Minh leader Ho Chi Minh had "direct Communist connections."〔Spector, Ronald H. (1983), ''Advice and Support: The Early Years, 1941-1960'', Washington, DC: Superintendent of Documents, p. 84〕 ; 4 February France expanded the powers of the Vietnamese-led government of Cochinchina to include self-government on internal affairs and an election for a legislature. The elections were postponed because of civil disorder〔''The Pentagon Papers'' "Vietnam and the U.S., 1940-50", p.A-39〕 ; 8 February France said that 1,855 of its soldiers in the French Far East Expeditionary Corps had been killed or wounded since the beginning of the civil war in December 1946.〔Logevall, p. 167〕 ; 15 February French forces had pushed the Viet Minh out of most major towns and cities in northern and central Vietnam, including Hanoi and Hue. Ho Chi Minh maintained his self-proclaimed independent government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Thai Nguyen, north of Hanoi.〔Bradley, Mark (1993), "An Improbable Opportunity: America and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam's 1947 Initiative," in ''The Vietnam War: Vietnamese and American Perspectives''; London: M. E. Sharpe, p. 5〕 ; 13 March Émile Bollaert became France's High Commissioner for Indochina. His priority was to re-open negotiations with the Viet Minh.〔Logevall, p. 189〕 ; 24 March The Viet Minh forces near Hanoi were described as having three defense lines. The first was manned by riflemen, the second by soldiers with knives and spears, and the third by men armed with bows and arrows. French military forces in Vietnam totaled 94,000 and 11,000 reinforcements were en route from France. Viet Minh military forces totaled about 60,000 with another 100,000 part-time fighters and militia.〔Spector, pp. 85-86〕 ; 9 April In a diplomatic initiative, Ho had sent diplomat Pham Ngoc Thach to Bangkok, Thailand to seek support from the United States and the American business community. Thach met informally with Lt. Col. William B. Low, the assistant military attache of the U.S. Embassy, and responded in writing to a series of questions posed by the Americans. Thach emphasized the nationalistic nature of the struggle against French colonialism. ; 24 April Viet Minh diplomat Pham Ngoc Thach in Bangkok wrote letters to American companies offering economic concessions if they would invest in Vietnam.〔Bradley, p. 6〕 ; 8 May Viet Minh Foreign Minister Hoang Minh Giam appealed to the U.S. for diplomatic recognition of an independent Vietnam and American economic, political, and cultural assistance.〔Bradley, p. 7〕 ; 9 May Secretary of State Marshall refused to allow Vice Consul James L. O'Sullivan to meet with Thach in Bangkok. Marshall cited the opposition of France to contacts with the Viet Minh as the reason. Thus, the U.S. had rejected Ho Chi Minh's initiative to gain the support on the United States for an independent Vietnam.〔Bradley, p. 10〕 ; 12 May Paul Mus, who had lived for many years in Vietnam, met with Ho Chi Minh at the Viet Minh headquarters in Thai Nguyen north of Hanoi. Mus proposed a cease fire and a unilateral disarmament by the Viet Minh. Ho said he would be a coward to accept such terms. This was Ho's last meeting with a representative of the French government.〔Logevall, p. 192〕 ; 5 June American Vice Consul O'Sullivan in Hanoi reported to Washington that the destruction in northern Vietnam was "appalling." He mostly blamed the Viet Minh for a scorched earth policy, but also French bombing and shelling.〔Spector, pp. 86-87〕 ; 14 July Secretary of State George Marshall asked diplomats in Southeast Asia and Europe their opinion of the Viet Minh and its government, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The responses from Southeast Asia said that patriotism and nationalism were the basis of the Viet Minh's popularity and that the Viet Minh's ties with the Soviet Union were extremely limited. However, from France American diplomats said that Ho Chi Minh "maintains close connections in Communist circles" and that his government, if it became independent, "would immediately be run in accordance with dictates from Moscow."〔Bradley, pp. 13-14〕 Vice Consul James O'Sullivan in Hanoi responded by saying, "it is curious that the French discovered no communist menace in the Ho Chi Minh government until...it became apparent that the Vietnamese...would not bow to French wishes....〔Bradley, p. 15〕 It is further apparent that Ho’s support (which French to present have consistently underestimated) derives from () fact () he represents () symbol of fight for independence. He is supported because he is acting like () nationalist, not because he was or is Communist.〔FRUS, 1947, The Far East, Vol. VI, Document 132, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1947v06/d132, accessed 21 Nov 2015〕 ; 24 September American consuls in Hanoi and Saigon reported to Washington that the French were planning a major military operation against the Viet Minh. They recommended that the U.S. discourage the French from attempting to reimpose the colonial status quo.〔Spector, 87〕 ; 7 October to 8 November French General Jean Etienne Valluy led Operation Lea in an attempt to destroy the Viet Minh and capture or kill its leaders. 15,000 French troops descended upon Viet Minh strongholds north of Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh and military leader Vo Nguyen Giap barely escaped but the French attack bogged down and Operation Lea was a failure.〔Logevall, pp. 202-203〕 ; 20 November to 22 December In Operation Ceinture The French renewed their attack on Viet Minh strongholds north of Hanoi with a 12,000 man army. They succeeded in briefly capturing much of Viet Minh territory and claimed to have killed 9,500 Viet Minh, probably including many non-combatants, but did not have the manpower to remain to occupy the area. They withdrew their forces, save a few fortified points.〔Fall, Bernard B. (1967), ''Hell in a Very Small Place: the siege of Dien Bien Phu'' New York: Lippincott, pp. 28-31〕 ; 7 December The Ha Long Bay agreement was reached between the French High Commissioner and former emperor Bao Dai. The French promised independence to northern Vietnam, but within the French Union and with France retaining control over foreign relations and defense and without unifying Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina, the three French protectorates making up Vietnam. The agreement excluded the Viet Minh from the government. Bao Dai returned to France and remained there for several months after the agreement was signed while the French attempted to persuade him to return to Vietnam.〔Spector, pp 90-91〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「1947-50 in the Vietnam War」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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