Geneva Conference

Question 1

What was the year of the Geneva Conference?

Answer 1

1954

Question 2

When was the date of the start and end of the Geneva Conference?

Answer 2

26 April 1954 - 21 July 1954

Question 3

What was the date of the start of the Vietnam discussions at Geneva?

Answer 3

8 May 1954

Question 4

Give 4 reasons why the UK rejected the US’ ‘united action’?

Answer 4

1) Doubts over the US domino theory
2) Vietnam and Dien Bien Phu lost
3) Fear of China counter to US involvement and then a nuclear attack on UK from the USSR
4) Give Geneva a chance

Question 5

Give 4 consequences to the UK’s decision to decline the US’ ‘united action’

Answer 5

1) Australia and New Zealand and other countries follow UK lead.
2) Severe Anglo-American tensions
3) US reluctantly put aside military option
4) Geneva must now work otherwise US will come calling again.

Question 6

Name the Ambassador of the key countries at Geneva and what their aims were

Answer 6

1) Eden - no WW3, successful Geneva with a compromise for everyone.
2) Molotov - no WW3, successful Geneva, doesn’t want to be put on the spot.
3) Bidault - cannot make mind up ( get out? Keep on fighting?)
4) Zhou en lai - wants security for China, a good Viet Minh deal, no US intervention
5) Dulles, no settlement at Geneva, no negotiations with communists

Question 7

List 4 disputes that occurred at Geneva

Answer 7

1) Partition (if any)
2) Elections (if any)
3) Remaining French stake in Indochina
4) should Laos and Cambodia be involved in any settlement?

Question 8

When does Dulles leave the conference?

Answer 8

4 May 1954

Question 9

When does Dien Bien Phu fall?

Answer 9

7 May 1954

Question 10

What is breakthrough 1 and when does it happen (Week) ?

Answer 10

Eden-Zhou understanding

1) PRC and USSR ready to concede the involvement of Laos and Cambodia in the settlement.
2) PRC and USSR ready to accept a partition.

Date: 11 June - 18 June

Question 11

What is breakthrough 2 and when does it happen?

Answer 11

Pierre Mendez-France forms government
1) Anti-war advocate promises to get peace in a month

Date: 19 June 1954

Question 12

State at least six of the Geneva agreements

Answer 12

1) immediate cease-fire
2) partition at 17th parallel
3) Vietminh regroup in North and Bao Dai in the South
4) 1956 nationwide elections to unite country
5) Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to be neutral in Cold War
6) Declaration not a Treaty

Question 13

When do the US tell the UK that Atom bombs are now considered ‘normal weapons’ and which President is it?

Answer 13

December 1953

President Eisenhower

Question 14

When does Eden announce that the conference is close to collapse?

Answer 14

10 June 1954

Question 15

What were British concerns over Chinese retaliation of US involvement based on?

Answer 15

The Korean model

Question 16

What held the British government back regarding supporting the United Action, domestically?

Answer 16

The British public were disinterested in involving themselves in a conflict in Southeast Asia, they wanted diplomacy.

Question 17

What did some French argue would be an advantage to pulling out of Indochina?

Answer 17

Manpower and resources devoted to maintaining North Africa territories

Question 18

What was behind the US’ uncooperative attitude at Geneva?

Answer 18

Desperately wanted a non-communist Indochina and so it was necessary for the French to continue the fight, with US assistance, to contain communism.
US did not want to negotiate as that’d be a confession of Viet Minh strength and make a communist takeover more likely.

Question 19

What was the difference between British and American attitudes towards the Geneva declaration?

Answer 19

Britain - International Law.

US - Agreements do not constrain US.

Question 20

What did all of the big powers at Geneva have in common?

Answer 20

They were all far less committed than the Viet Minh to the idea of unification.