March 2.-Cambodia's King Sihanouk abdicates in favor of his father Prince Norodom Suramarit after criticism by the International Supervisory Commission of his proposed electoral reforms. March 7.-United States and South Vietnam sign agreement which supplements existing economic cooperation agreement of September 1951. March 29.-Armed revolt is precipitated in Saigon by the Binh Xuyen political-bandit group, spreading ultimately into large-scale dissidence in the southern provinces with the participation of elements of the Cao Dai and Hoa Hao religious sects.

April 17.-South Vietnamese Government appeals to the U.N. against the North Vietnamese Communists, who, in violation of the Geneva agreements, prevent northerners from migrating to South Vietnam.

April 23.-Chou En-lai and the North Vietnamese Foreign Minister gives assurances of "noninterference" to ex-King Sihanouk of Cambodia. May 10.-Premier Diem forms a new Cabinet composed largely of his own followers.

May 16.-United States signs agreement with Cambodia for direct military aid to replace the aid formerly given through the French Government.

July. Communists initiate first overt propaganda move in South Vietnam by distributing literature signed by North Vietnam's "National United Front."

July 1.-France formally relinquishes command authority over the Vietnamese Navy.

July 7.-French formally transfer Nha Prang Airbase to Vietnamese control.

July 20.-Talks were scheduled to begin (according to Geneva agreement) for the preparation of all-Vietnam elections to be held on July 20, 1956, to reunite the country. The Government of South Vietnam rejects the North Vietnamese Government's invitation to discuss the elections, on the grounds that in North Vietnam the people would not be able to express their will freely and that falsified votes in North Vietnam could overrule the votes in South Vietnam.

August 16.-Last French High Commissioner in Vietnam departs. September 25.-Cambodia leaves the French Union. Cambodia declared an "independent and sovereign state" by the Cambodian National Assembly.

October.-Binh Xuyen is defeated as an organized armed insurgent force.

October 23.-A national referendum deposes Bao Dai, former Emperor and since March 7, 1949, head of State of Vietnam. Ninetyeight percent of the votes express preference for Premier Diem. October 26.-A Republic is proclaimed by Ngo Dinh Diem who becomes the first President of South Vietnam.

October 31.-President Diem issues his first order to the Vietnamese
Armed Forces as their supreme commander.
December 12.--U.S. consulate in Hanoi is closed.

1956

January-South Vietnamese Army units occupy Tay Ninh, principal Cao Dai political center, leading to breakup of the organized Cao Dai armed insurgency. Agreement with Cao Dai leaders on February 28 legalizes Cao Dai religious practices and forbids its political activities as a religious sect.

February 12.-Tran Van Soai, leader of an important Hoa Hao faction, surrenders. Ba Cut, another principal Hoa Hao leader, is captured on April 13, leading to breakup of organized Hoa Hao armed insurgency.

February 18.-Sihanouk on a visit to Peiping declares that Cambodia renounces SEATO protection.

March 4.-General elections for South Vietnam's first National Constituent Assembly, which is to have 123 members, results in the victory of the National Revolutionary Movement and other political parties supporting President Diem.

March 31.-Souvanna Phouma becomes Prime Minister of Laos. April 6.-Vietnam Government announces it will continue to cooperate with the ICC and reiterates its position of supporting Vietnamwide elections at such time as conditions in Communist North Vietnam permit genuinely free voting.

May 9.-Communist China signs a 2-year economic and technical aid agreement with Cambodia.

May 17.-Soviet Union announces the establishment of diplomatic relations with Cambodia.

July 4.-Constituent Assembly in Vietnam approves unanimously a draft constitution providing for a strong executive with safeguards for individual citizens. The President, whose term of office is to be 5 years, has veto power over all legislation of the unicameral parliament and may rule by decree when the National Assembly (elected for 4 years) is not in session.

July 6.-U.S. Vice President Richard Nixon visits Vietnam, hands to President Diem of South Vietnam a letter in which President Eisenhower declares he is looking forward to many years of partnership between the two countries. As guest speaker before the Constituent Assembly, Nixon declares that "the militant march of communism has been halted."

July 30.-Vietnamese liaison mission to the ICC is established preparatory to the transfer of functions from the French liaison mission.

August 5.-Accord reached between Premier Prince Souvanna Phouma and Pathet Lao leader Prince Souphanouvong for establishment of a coalition government.

September 19.-French Air Force officially transfers the Touraine Airbase to Vietnamese control.

October 26.-South Vietnam's first constitution is promulgated and the National Constitutent Assembly is officially transferred into a National Assembly.

1957

January 3.-International Control Commission reports that between December 1955 and August 1956 neither North Vietnam nor South Vietnam have been fulfilling their obligations under the 1954 armistice agreement.

May 5-19.-President Diem visits the United States. He addresses on May 9 a joint session of Congress. In a joint communique (issued May 11), President Eisenhower and President Diem declare that both countries will work toward a "peaceful unification" of Vietnam. The United States will continue helping South Vietnam to stand firm against communism.

June.-French naval and air force training mission withdrawn.
July 29.-United States establishes consulate in Hue.

October 22.-Bombing of U.S. MAAG and USIS installations in Saigon; U.S. personnel injured.

November 19.-Two Pathet Lao leaders receive Cabinet portfolios to form government of national union.

1958

January 4.—Large Communist guerrilla band attacks plantation north of Saigon, reflecting steady increase in Communist armed activity in South Vietnam since mid-1957.

May 17.-North Vietnamese liaison mission to the ICC withdrawn from Saigon.

June 25.-Cambodian royal proclamation, alleging that South Vietnamese troops have "invaded" and occupied several Cambodian border villages; accuses South Vietnam of 19 cases of violation of Cambodian territory since January 1957. Allegation is repudiated by the Foreign Minister of South Vietnam. July 18.-Cambodia recognizes Communist China.

September 10.-France and South Vietnam sign agreement under which France provides aid for the Vietnam Government's agrarian reform program-1,490 million francs.

November 19.-Cambodia signs trade and payments agreement with North Vietnam.

1959

May 13.-Japan signs a World War II reparations and loan agreement with South Vietnam.

June.-Pathet Lao resumes attack in northern provinces of Laos.
July 8.-Communist guerrillas attack Vietnamese military base at

Bien Hoa, killing and wounding several U.S. MAAG personnel. July 10.-In Belgian Communist publication Red Flag, Ho Chi Minh, head of the North Vietnamese Communist regime, states "we are building socialism in Vietnam, but we are building it in only one part of the country, while in the other part we still have to direct and bring to a close the middle-class democratic and antiimperialist revolution."

July 31.-Lao Government announces renewed Pathet-Lao attacks on Government forces.

1959-Continued

August 30.-Second national elections give the National Revolutionary Movement and other pro-Government political parties overwhelming majority in the National Assembly in South Vietnam.

October 30-Spokesman of the Vietnamese Army discloses that a campaign against Communist guerrillas in the country's southernmost region, the Camau Peninsula, resulted in heavy guerrilla losses. November 14.-French Minister of Finance and Vietnamese Vice President initial (in Saigon) agreements for the settlement of financial claims between the two countries and for a French loan of 7 billion (old) francs (about $14 million) and a credit of 11 billion (old) francs (about $22 million) for the purchase by South Vietnam of capital equipment.

December 31.-General Nosavan takes over control of Lao Govern

ment.

1960

April 17.-North Vietnam protests to the chairmen of the 1954 Geneva Conference (Britain and the U.S.S.R.) against a "formidable" increase of personnel in the American Military Assistance and Advisory Group in South Vietnam; and accuses the United States of turning South Vietnam into "a U.S. military base for the preparation of a new war."

April 30.-An opposition group of 18, calling themselves the Committee for Progress and Liberty, send letter to President Diem demanding drastic economic, administrative, and military reforms. May 3.-Cambodian armed forces repulsed South Vietnamese troops who had crossed into Cambodia.

May 5.-United States announces that at the request of the Government of South Vietnam, the U.S. Military Assistance and Advisory Group will be increased by the end of the year from 327 to 685 members.

June-October.-Communist guerrilla activities in South Vietnam

increase.

June 1-2.-U.S. top-level policy conference on southeast Asia (in Hawaii).

June 13.-Prince Sihanouk becomes Chief of State of Cambodia. July 2.-Prince Sihanouk declares that if the United States does not "radically revise" its military aid policy, he will ask the Soviet bloc for aircraft and arms.

July 20.-Vietnamese National Assembly delegation leaves Saigon for 6-week visit to the United States.

August 9.-Kong Le takes over Vientiane in coup.

August 15.-Prince Souvanna Phouma becomes Premier of Laos again. September 29.-Sihanouk urges the East and West power blocs to turn Cambodia and Laos into a guaranteed neutralized buffer zone as means of bringing peace to southeast Asia.

October 26.-President Eisenhower assures President Ngo Dinh Diem, in a letter of good wishes on South Vietnam's fifth anniversary, that "for so long as our strength can be useful, the United States will continue to assist Vietnam in the difficult yet hopeful struggle ahead."

November 10-South Vietnam Government sends letter to the ICC charging that Communist attacks in the Kontum-Pleiku area in October (1) involved regular army forces from Communist North Vietnam through Laos, (2) constituted open aggression which was well prepared, commanded by high-ranking officers, and conducted by regular forces trained in North Vietnam, and (3) employed weapons made in North Vietnam and other Communist countries.

November 11.-Military coup attempt against President Diem's regime. Paratroop battalions led by Col. Nguyen Van Thi and Lt. Col. Vuong Van Dong beseige the presidential palace. An order of the day issued by Colonel Thi declares that struggle against the Communists will be intensified, that President Diem is guilty of autocratic rule and nepotism and has "shown himself incapable of saving the country from communism and protecting national unity."

November 12.-Loyalist troops enter the capital and subdue the rebels. According to press reports from Saigon, an estimated 200 soldiers and civilians were killed during the fighting.

November 13.-U.S. State Department expresses satisfaction at the failure of the coup against President Diem and also hopes that "his powers will be established on a wider basis with rapid implementation of radical reforms and energetic action against corruption-suspected elements."

November 16.-Ngo Dinh Nhu, President Diem's brother and political adviser, announces that President Diem plans to appoint a new Government and introduce a far-reaching reform program based on reports of the Ford Foundation and of a French study group. December 16.-Phoumi Nosavan retakes Vientiane.

1961

January 4.-Prince Boun Oum installed as Premier of Laos. January 29.-Radio Hanoi praises establishment of the "National Front for Liberation of South Vietnam (NFLSV)," allegedly founded in December 1960. On January 30, Radio Hanoi, quoting the press organ of the Lao Dong Party in North Vietnam, states that the "sacred historical task" of the NFLSV is "to overthrow the U.S.-Diem clique" and "to liberate the south." February 6.-President Diem announces (at the first press conference held by him in 5 years) his administrative reform program. February 7.-President Diem announces he will be a candidate for reelection in the presidential elections to be held on April 9. March 6.-Pathet-Lao forces begin advance toward Luang Prabang

and Vientiane.

March 10.-The Communist-led newly formed National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam announces that a guerrilla offensive against the Government will be started to prevent the holding of the April 9 elections. The "National Front" also declares that it will fight with every means the "dictatorial regime set up by the Americans," that it stands for the "peaceful reunification of the country."