State of Vietnam
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The State of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Quốc gia Việt Nam; Chữ Hán: 越南國家; French: État du Viêt-Nam) was an associated country within the French Union from 8 March 1949 to 4 June 1954, then a fully independent country until 1955. It was the predecessor of the Republic of Vietnam (1955-1975) in South Vietnam that was formed after the country was divided. It was established by the 1949 Élysée Accords that took effect on June 14 and were completed on 2 February 1950. It claimed authority over all of Vietnam during the First Indochina War, although large parts of its territory were de facto controlled by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which was ruled by communists in reality. It was an observer to the United Nations and recognized as an independent country by many non-communist states (35 countries in early 1950). It was a part of the anti-communist and capitalist Western Bloc during the Cold War.
It was the successor of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam. Like other 2 Indochinese countries, the state was created in 1949 by France as a partly independent part of the French Union.[3] Before that, French sovereignty over Indochina was recognized by the victorious Allies of WWII. It was internationally recognised for the first time on 3 February 1950, by the US. Former Emperor Bảo Đại became the Chief of State. The State of Vietnam planned to organize parliamentary elections and promulgate a constitution, but not in time due to the progress of the war and the division. After the Geneva Accords on 21 July 1954, the State of Vietnam abandoned its sovereignty over the northern part of the country, which was controlled by the communist Việt Minh and its Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Ngô Đình Diệm was appointed prime minister the same year and—after having ousted Bảo Đại in October 1955—became president of the Republic of Vietnam, that would withdraw from the French Union two months later.
History
[edit]Unification of Vietnam (1947–48)
[edit]Since the August Revolution, the Việt Minh (de facto led by the communists) had seized most of the territories of Vietnam. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam was established by the Việt Minh on September 2, 1945 (the same day Japan signed surrender document with the Allies).
By February 1947, following the pacification of Tonkin (Northern Vietnam), the Tonkinese capital, Hanoi, and the main traffic axis returned to French control. The Việt Minh partisans were forced to retreat into the jungle and prepared to pursue the war using guerrilla warfare.
In order to reduce Việt Minh leader Hồ Chí Minh’s influence over the Vietnamese population and as part of decolonization, the French authorities in Indochina supported the return to power of Bảo Đại (the last emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty), by establishing independent states (partly independent), including the State of Vietnam. Bao Dai was forced to abdicate before[4] on August 25, 1945, after the fall of the short-lived Empire of Vietnam, a puppet state of the Empire of Japan.
After a 1947 preliminary treaty, on 5 June 1948, the Hạ Long Bay Accords (Accords de la baie d’Along) recognized a unified Vietnamese government replacing the protectorates of Tonkin (North Vietnam) and Annam (Central Vietnam) and independently associated to France within the French Union and the Indochinese Federation then including the neighboring Kingdom of Laos and Kingdom of Cambodia. Cochinchina (South Vietnam), however, had a different status, both as a colony and as an autonomous republic, and its reunification with the rest of Vietnam had to be approved by its local assembly, and then by the French National Assembly, after a 1949 treaty. During the transitional period, a Provisional Central Government of Vietnam was proclaimed: Nguyễn Văn Xuân, until then head of the Provisional Government of Southern Vietnam became its president, while Bảo Đại waited for a complete reunification to take office.
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) of the communist Viet Minh had declared the independence of Vietnam since September 2, 1945.[5] However, the French colonial sovereignty over Indochina was recognized by the victorious Allies of WWII that the Việt Minh was also a member and the DRV was not recognized by any country until 1950. Also, the DRV only controlled all of Vietnam only 21 days and considered itself a free country within the French Union on 6 March 1946. The DRV organized the 1946 national assembly election in January, but this was an unfair election.
French Union (1949–54)
[edit]On May 20, 1949, the French National Assembly approved the reunification of Cochinchina with the rest of Vietnam. The decision took effect on June 4 and the State of Vietnam was officially proclaimed on July 2. From 1949 to 1954, after reunification with Cochinchina, the State of Vietnam had (partial) independence from France as an associated state within the French Union.
Bảo Đại fought against communist leader Hồ Chí Minh for legitimacy as the legitimate government of Vietnam through the struggle between the Vietnamese National Army and the Việt Minh during the First Indochina War.
The State of Vietnam found support in the French Fourth Republic and the United States (1950–1954) while Hồ Chí Minh was backed by the People's Republic of China (since 1950), and to a lesser extent by the Soviet Union. Despite French support, roughly 60% of Vietnamese territory was under Việt Minh control in 1952.[6]
Partition (1954–55)
[edit]
After the Geneva Accords of 21 July 1954, as well as becoming fully independent one month before the Accords were made, the State of Vietnam became territorially confined to those lands of Vietnam south of the 17th parallel, and as such became commonly known as Republic of Vietnam. The communist Việt Minh took over the North and they entered Hanoi on 10 October 1954.
The massive semi-voluntary migration of anti-communist north Vietnamese, many of them were Roman Catholic people, proceeded during Operation Passage to Freedom supported by Americans from 1954 to 1955.
Politics
[edit]Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (1948–49)
[edit]On May 27, 1948, Nguyễn Văn Xuân, then President of the Republic of Cochinchina, became President of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam (Thủ tướng lâm thời) following the merging of the government of Cochin China and Vietnam in what is sometimes referred as "Pre-Vietnam".
State of Vietnam (1949–55)
[edit]On June 14, 1949, Bảo Đại was appointed Chief of State (Quốc trưởng) of the State of Vietnam; he was concurrently Prime Minister for a short while (Kiêm nhiệm Thủ tướng).
On October 26, 1955, the Republic of Vietnam was established and Ngô Đình Diệm became the first President of the Republic.
Leaders (1948–55)
[edit]| Name | Took office | Left office | Title | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nguyễn Văn Xuân | May 27, 1948 | July 14, 1949 | President of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam | |
| 1 | Bảo Đại | July 14, 1949 | January 21, 1950 | Prime Minister; remained Chief of State throughout the State of Vietnam |
| 2 | Nguyễn Phan Long | January 21, 1950 | April 27, 1950 | Prime Minister |
| 3 | Trần Văn Hữu | May 6, 1950 | June 3, 1952 | Prime Minister |
| 4 | Nguyễn Văn Tâm | June 23, 1952 | December 7, 1953 | Prime Minister |
| 5 | Bửu Lộc | January 11, 1954 | June 16, 1954 | Prime Minister |
| 6 | Ngô Đình Diệm | June 16, 1954 | October 26, 1955 | Prime Minister |
1955 referendum, Republic of Vietnam
[edit]In South Vietnam, a referendum was scheduled for 23 October 1955 to determine the future direction of the south, in which the people would choose Diệm or Bảo Đại as the leader of South Vietnam.[7] During the election, Diệm's brother Ngô Đình Nhu and the Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party (commonly known as "Cần Lao Party") supplied Diệm's electoral base in organizing and supervising the elections, especially the propaganda campaign for destroying Bảo Đại's reputation. Supporters of Bảo Đại were not allowed to campaign, and were physically attacked by Nhu's workers.[8] Official results showed 98.2 per cent of voters favoured Diệm, an implausibly high result that was condemned as fraudulent. The total number of votes far exceeded the number of registered voters by over 380,000, further evidence that the referendum was heavily rigged.[8][9] For example, only 450,000 voters were registered in Saigon, but 605,025 were said to have voted for Diệm. On 26 October, Diệm proclaimed the Republic of Vietnam—widely known as South Vietnam—whose reformed army, with American assistance, pursued the conflict with North Vietnam; the Viet Cong replaced the Viet Minh, in the Vietnam War.[9]
Military
[edit]Vietnamese National Army (1949–55)
[edit]Following the signing of the 1949 Élysée Accords in Paris, Bảo Đại was able to create a National Army for defense purposes.
It fought under the State of Vietnam's banner and leadership and was commanded by General Nguyễn Văn Hinh.
Economy
[edit]Currency
[edit]
The currency used within the French Union was the French Indochinese piastre. Notes were issued and managed by the "Issue Institute of the States of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam" (Institut d’Emission des Etats du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viêt-Nam). In 1953, a separate currency was created for Vietnam.
Administrative divisions
[edit]Autonomous regions
[edit]Following the creation of the State of Vietnam and the establishment of its government, the Chief of State Bảo Đại signed the two ordinances related to the administration and local governance of the State of Vietnam, namely Ordinance No. 1 ("Organisation and Operation of civil authorities in Vietnam") and Ordinance No. 2 ("Statutes of Government office").[10] These ordinances divided the State of Vietnam into three large autonomous regions, namely Bắc Việt (former Tonkin), Trung Việt (former Annam), and Nam Việt (former Cochinchina), the local government of each autonomous region was headed by a Thủ hiến (Governour).[10]
On 4 August 1954 the government of the State of Vietnam enacted Ordinance No. 21 which abolished the autonomous status of the three regions and abolished the post of regional governour, replacing them with central government representatives in all parts of its territory.[10] The three regions were renamed to Bắc phần, Trung phần, and Nam phần.[10]
Domain of the Crown
[edit]The Domain of the Crown (Vietnamese: Hoàng triều Cương thổ / 皇朝疆土; French: Domaine de la Couronne) was originally the Nguyễn dynasty's geopolitical concept for its protectorates and principalities where the Kinh ethnic group didn't make up the majority, later it became a type of administrative unit of the State of Vietnam.[11] It was officially established on 15 April 1950 and dissolved on 11 March 1955.[11] In the areas of the Domain of the Crown Chief of State Bảo Đại was still officially (and legally) titled as the "Emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty".[12]
The Domain of the Crown contained the following five provinces established from the former Montagnard country of South Indochina:[12][13]
In Bắc phần it contained the following provinces:[12][13]
- Hòa Bình (Mường Autonomous Territory)
- Phong Thổ (Thái Autonomous Territory)
- Lai Châu (Thái Autonomous Territory)
- Sơn La (Thái Autonomous Territory)
- Lào Kay (Mèo Autonomous Territory)
- Hà Giang (Mèo Autonomous Territory)
- Bắc Kạn (Thổ Autonomous Territory)
- Cao Bằng (Thổ Autonomous Territory)
- Lạng Sơn (Thổ Autonomous Territory)
- Hải Ninh (Nùng Autonomous Territory)
- Móng Cái (Nùng Autonomous Territory)
See also
[edit]- First Indochina War
- French Indochina
- French Indochinese piastre
- History of Vietnam
- Vietnamese National Army
- War in Vietnam
References
[edit]- ^ Hoàng Cơ Thụy. Việt sử khảo luận. Paris, 2002. Trang 2299.
- ^ Letter with photograph, signature, and Grand Seal of the State from his majesty the Chief of State Bảo Đại to Madame Jeanne Leveque in New York City (1952).
- ^ Hammer, Ellen J. "The Bao Dai Experiment". Pacific Affairs, vol. 23, no. 1, Pacific Affairs, University of British Columbia, 1950, p. 55, doi:10.2307/2753754.
- ^ "Lễ thoái vị của Hoàng đế Bảo Đại qua lời kể của nhà thơ Huy Cận". VnExpress. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
- ^ "Vietnam independence proclaimed – Sep 02, 1945". HISTORY.com. Retrieved 2016-09-08.
- ^ Pierre Montagnon, L'Indochine française, Tallandier, 2016, p. 325
- ^ Moyar, p. 54.
- ^ a b Karnow, pp. 223–24
- ^ a b Jacobs, p. 95.
- ^ a b c d Royal Woodblocks of Nguyễn Dynasty - World documentary heritage (2021). "Significant collections § Fonds of the Phủ Thủ hiến Trung Việt or Office of the Governor of Trung Viet". mocban.vn. The National Archives Center No. 4 (State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam). Retrieved 30 March 2021.
- ^ a b Anh Thái Phượng. Trăm núi ngàn sông: Tập I. Gretna, LA: Đường Việt Hải ngoại, 2003. Page: 99. (in Vietnamese).
- ^ a b c Lê Đình Chi. Người Thượng Miền Nam Việt Nam. Gardena, California: Văn Mới, 2006. Pages: 401-449. (in Vietnamese).
- ^ a b UÔNG THÁI BIỂU (9 October 2020). "Hoàng đế mãn triều và "Hoàng triều Cương thổ"" (in Vietnamese). Nhân Dân (Communist Party of Vietnam). Retrieved 13 April 2021.
Bibliography
[edit]- Jacobs, Seth (2006). Cold War Mandarin: Ngo Dinh Diem and the Origins of America's War in Vietnam, 1950–1963. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 0-7425-4447-8.
- Karnow, Stanley (1997). Vietnam: A History. New York: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-670-84218-4.
- Moyar, Mark (2006). Triumph Forsaken: The Vietnam War, 1954–1965. New York: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-86911-0.
Specialized sources
[edit]- Nguyễn Khắc Ngữ (1991a). Các Đảng-phái Quốc-gia Lưu-vong 1946–1950: Hội-nghị Hương-Cảng 9-9-1947. Montréal, Canada: Nhóm Nghiên-cứu Sử Địa.
- Nguyễn Khắc Ngữ (1991b). Bảo-Đại, các Đảng-phái Quốc-gia và sự Thành-lập Chính-quyền Quốc-gia. Montréal, Canada: Nhóm Nghiên-cứu Sử Địa.
- Reilly, Brett (2018). The Origins of the Vietnamese Civil War and the State of Vietnam (PhD). University of Wisconsin–Madison.
- Ninh, Xuân Thao (2019). L'État du Viêt-Nam dans ses rapports avec la France (1949–1955): une autre voie pour l'indépendance du Viêt-Nam (PhD). Université Bordeaux Montaigne.
External links
[edit]
Media related to State of Vietnam at Wikimedia Commons
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