HIS344H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Atlantic Charter, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, George Ball (Diplomat)
Document Summary
Defending corrupt and incompetent regime in the south. France could hold onto their empire if they sided with the us on every issue pertaining to us-soviet relations. China and ussr advised them to take the division. South would have to have general election and make choice. Kennedy did not want to go into vietnam. Gulf of tonkin resolution - 7 august 1964. "once on the tiger"s back, we cannot be sure of picking the place to dismount" At first north did fight openly but were defeated by us. New zealand and australia did send some troops. China could offer as much as north vietnam needed. Antiaircraft guns - meaningless in a modern war. Needed more - qualitative weapons which came from ussr. Soviet aid, kosygin in hanoi, sams & migs. Didn"t want to allow china to take lead role. Johnson so discouraged that he chose to resign from role. Everyone thought that he wanted to leave the war.
