1964-Continued

September 15.-Cambodia indefinitely postpones presentation of credentials by U.S. Ambassador-designate Kidder.

September 16.-Laotian talks in Paris end because of deadlock. September 18.-U.S. Defense Department reports U.S. destroyers in Tonkin Gulf fire on and presumably hit four or five hostile targets. September 19.-Vietnam Government makes sweeping changes in military command following abortive coup of September 13. September 26.-Vietnam High National Council formally inaugurated and is charged with preparing a new constitution.

October 2.-Sihanouk, at Communist China's 15th anniversary celebration, says China will grant Cambodia military and economic assistance.

October 20.-Revolutionary Council presents new Vietnam constitution.

October 21.-United States charges Cambodian troops crossed South Vietnam border and seized a U.S. officer.

October 24.-USAF C-123 loaded with ammunition shot down by Cambodia.

October 25.-United States charges Cambodians fired on U.S. helicopter in South Vietnam searching for missing U.S. officer. October 26.-Vietnam Revolutionary Council elects Phan Khac Suu chief of state.

October 27.-Cambodia claims it shot down U.S. C-123. United States admits plane over Cambodian territory due to "mapreading error."

November 1.-Tran Van Huong named Premier of Vietnam.

November 2.-Russia delivers new arms shipment to Cambodia to replace American equipment.

December 4.-South Vietnam military leaders announce support of Premier Tran Van Huong's government.

December 8-17.-Ambassador Bonsal meets with Cambodian Delegate Son Sann in New Delhi in an attempt to clear away misunderstandings.

December 20.-Military stage purge; dissolve civilian High National Council (provisional legislature). United States opposes power takeover of military and dissolution of civilian parliament.

December 21.-General Khanh supports power of military versus U.S. appeals; declares Vietnam forces would not fight "to carry out the policy of any foreign country."

December 24-Terrorist bombing in Saigon kills 2 Americans and wounds 52 Americans and 13 Vietnamese.

1965

January 8.-South Korea sends 2,000 military advisers to South Viet

nam.

January 13.-Defense Department confirms that two U.S. planes were shot down over Laos.

January 27.-Premier Huong ousted. General Khanh asked to solve the political crisis.

January 28.—General Khanh nominates Nguyen Xuan Oanh as acting

Premier.

February 6.-Russian Premier Kosygin arrives in Hanoi.

February 7.-President Shastri of India proposes a meeting between Russian and American leaders to solve problems of southeast Asia. February 7.-Communist guerrillas stage attack on U.S. outpost. U.S. planes strike targets in North Vietnam. U.S. dependents evacuated from South Vietnam. February 8.-South Vietnamese Air Force planes accompany U.S. air mission into North Vietnam. President Johnson indicates that further developments depend on Communist response. Indian Foreign Ministry requests a new Geneva conference.

February 8.-Premier Kosygin announces Soviet willingness to aid North Vietnam if she is invaded.

February 10.-Vietcong blow up U.S. military billet at coastal city of Quinhon, killing 23 soldiers.

February 11.-Secretary General U Thant calls for international negotiations on Vietnam inside or outside of the U.N.

February 15.-Chinese Communists threaten to enter the war if American troops enter North Vietnam.

February 16.-South Vietnamese Armed Forces Council announces that Phan Huy Quat has been named new premier.

February 18.-South Vietnamest Army and Marine units stage bloodless coup in Saigon and oust General Khanh.

February 19.-Khanh regains temporary control of the Government. February 20.-Armed forces council demands resignation of General Khanh.

February 21.-Khanh bows to council demands for resignation.

February 24.-Premier Phan Huy Quat announces South Vietnam's determination to end the war with honor.

February 25.-North Vietnamese officials state negotiations would be considered if American troops were withdrawn.

February 7-State Department issues white paper detailing charges of aggression on the part of North Vietnam.

February 27.-Prince Sihanouk calls for a new Geneva conference on Indochina.

February 28.-United States and South Vietnamese officials declare that President Johnson has decided to open continuous limited air strikes against North Vietnam in order to bring about a negotiated settlement.

March 1.-President Quat rules out peace until the North Vietnamese stop their infiltration into South Vietnam.

March 6.-Two U.S. Marine battalions sent to South Vietnam for limited duty.

March 8.-Secretary General U Thant proposes that the United States, the U.S.S.R., Great Britain, France, Communist China, and North and South Vietnam participate in a preliminary conference. March 9.-United States rejects U Thant's offer until North Vietnam stops its aggression against South Vietnam.

March 22.-United States discloses that it has provided the South Vietnamese Army with certain types of nonlethal gases.

March 23.-Russian Communist Party Secretary Brezhnev hints of Russian participation in the war.

1965-Continued

March 25.-In a public statement President Johnson held out to North Vietnam the prospect of economic aid if peace is secured.

March 29.-Bomb explodes outside U.S. Embassy in Saigon, causing heavy damage and casualties.

April 1.—Seventeen nonalined nations meeting in Belgrade appeal for immediate negotiations.

April 2.-United States announces intention of sending several thousand more troops to South Vietnam.

April 7.-President Johnson, in a speech at Johns Hopkins University stresses our willingness to negotiate, and suggests a $1 billion aid program for southeast Asia.

April 8.-U.S.S.R. proposes international conference to guarantee Cambodian neutrality.

April 8.-Peiping announces that U.S. peace offer is a trick.

April 11.-North Vietnam officials denounce President Johnson's offer to negotiate.

April 12.-Gordon Walker is unsuccessful in British attempts to meet with officials in Hanoi and Peiping over southeast Asia.

April 14.—The United States urges Hanoi to consider the plea of 17 nonalined nations for peace talks.

April 23.-Secretary Rusk requests Cambodian parley.

May 3.-Cambodia breaks diplomatic relations with the United States. May 4.-President Johnson requests $700 million supplemental appropropriation for Department of Defense for Vietnam effort. May 5.-House of Representatives approves President's request for additional $700 million in defense funds by vote of 408 to 7.

May 5.-SEATO condemns Communist aggression in Vietnam war. May 6.-Senate passes $700 million supplemental appropriation bill by vote of 88 to 3.

May 6.-Two U.S. Marine battalions sent to Vietnam; first combat units to be deployed to South Vietnam.

May 12.-Red Chinese Chief of Staff calls for preparation for atomic war. President Johnson declares that Peiping prevents Hanoi from agreeing to talks.

May 13.-United States halts bombing missions on North Vietnam. May 19.-United States resumes air attacks on North Vietnamese targets.

May 25.-Soviets announce construction of antiaircraft missile sites are underway around the capital of North Vietnam.

June 1.—President asks Congress to authorize $89 million for expanded program of economic and social development in southeast Asia.

June 7.-U.S. military authorities disclose that number of American military personnel in South Vietnam has passed 50,000 mark. (Army, 21,500; Marine Corps, 16,500; Air Force, 9,500; and Navy, 3,500).

June 7.-By vote of 42 to 26 Senate adopts amendment adding $89 million to foreign aid bill in accordance with President's request of June 1.

(See E, p. 233, for chronology, June 8-16, 1965.)

B. OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS ON UNITED STATESVIETNAM RELATIONS1

(On March 8, 1949, France signed an agreement with the state of Vietnam under Bao Dai, agreeing to recognize the independence of Vietnam. Similar agreements were later signed with Cambodia and Laos.)

1. UNITED STATES RECOGNITION OF VIET-NAM, LAOS, AND CAMBODIA: Statement by the Department of State, February 7, 1950 2

The Government of the United States has accorded diplomatic recognition to the Governments of the State of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Laos, and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The President, therefore, has instructed the American consul general at Saigon to inform the heads of Government of the State of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Laos, and the Kingdom of Cambodia that we extend diplomatic recognition to their Governments and look forward to an exchange of diplomatic representatives between the United States and these countries.

Our diplomatic recognition of these Governments is based on the formal establishment of the State of Viet Nam, the Kingdom of Laos, and the Kingdom of Cambodia as independent states within the French Union; this recognition is consistent with our fundamental policy of giving support to the peaceful and democratic evolution of dependent peoples toward self-government and independence.

In June of last year, this Government expressed its gratification at the signing of the France-Viet Namese agreements of March 8, which provided the basis for the evolution of Viet Namese independence within the French Union. These agreements, together with similar accords between France and the Kingdoms of Laos and Cambodia, have now been ratified by the French National Assembly and signed by the President of the French Republic. This ratification has established the independence of Viet Nam, Laos, and Cambodia as associated states within the French Union.

It is anticipated that the full implementation of these basic agreements and of supplementary accords which have been negotiated and are awaiting ratification will promote political stability and the growth of effective democratic institutions in Indochina. This Government is considering what steps it may take at this time to further these objectives and to assure, in collaboration with other like-minded nations, that this development shall not be hindered by internal dissension fostered from abroad.

1The matter printed in italics is a staff note on the documents and not part of the official text.

2 Department of State Bulletin, Feb. 20, 1950, pp. 291–292.

21

The status of the American consulate general in Saigon will be raised to that of a legation, and the Minister who will be accredited to all three states will be appointed by the President.

(Hostilities between the French and Viet Minh Forces began late in 1946 and gradually worsened until the Geneva Agreements of 1954. This statement marks the beginning of U.S. military and economic assistance to the Associated States and France to restore stability in the area. Formal agreements were signed later.)

2. EXTENSION OF MILITARY AND ECONOMIC AID: Statement by the Secretary of State, May 8, 1950 1

1

The [French] Foreign Minister and I have just had an exchange of views on the situation in Indochina and are in general agreement both as to the urgency of the situation in that area and as to the necessity for remedial action. We have noted the fact that the problem of meeting the threat to the security of Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos which now enjoy independence within the French Union is primarily the responsibility of France and the Governments and peoples of Indochina. The United States recognizes that the solution of the Indochina problem depends both upon the restoration of security and upon the development of genuine nationalism and that United States assistance can and should contribute to these major objectives. The United States Government, convinced that neither national independence nor democratic evolution exist in any area dominated by Soviet imperialism, considers the situation to be such as to warrant its according economic aid and military equipment to the Associated States of Indochina and to France in order to assist them in restoring stability and permitting these states to pursue their peaceful and democratic development.

3. ECONOMIC AID PROGRAM: Note From the American Chargé d'Affaires at Saigon to the Chiefs of State of Viet-Nam, Laos, and Cambodia, May 24, 1950 2

I have the honor to inform you that the Government of the United States has decided to initiate a program of economic aid to the States of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. My Government has reached this decision in order to assist Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam to restore stability and pursue their peaceful and democratic development.

With these purposes in mind, the United States Government is establishing, with headquarters in Saigon and associated with the United States Legation, a special economic mission to Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. This mission will have the responsibility of working with the Governments of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam and

1 Issued at Paris, where the Secretary of State was attending a Western Foreign Ministers meeting; Department of State Bulletin, May 22, 1950, p. 821.

2 Department of State Bulletin, June 12, 1950, pp. 977-978. David Bruce, the American Ambassador at Paris, simultaneously delivered an identical note to the President of the French Union.