The Brezhnev Era, 1972–1985: the USA and SE Asia - Paris Peace Talks

Question 1

Outline main events of Paris peace talks

Answer 1

• Prior to 1972
- Kissinger wanted to use ‘China Card’ to bring North Vietnam to negotiating table

• By 1972
- US and North Vietnamese realise their aims couldn’t be achieved through military means

• April 1972
- Kissinger secretly visits Moscow for support during negotiations

• July 1972
- Paris peace talks begin and South Vietnam is excluded

• September 1972
- Progress made after US suggests support for Thieu isn’t fixed

• October 1972
- Paris Peace Agreement made

• November 1972
- Presidential elections

• December 1972
- Bombing of North Vietnam

• January 1973

• Paris Peace Agreement finalised
• Nixon announces Paris Peace Agreement

Question 2

Prior to continuation of Paris peace talks

Answer 2

• Kissinger’s aims

• Prior to 1972 meetings, Kissinger looked for ways to bring North Vietnamese to negotiating table
• Kissinger used ‘China Card’, which took advantage of Sino-Soviet split

• China’s stance

• China not willing to use influence over North Vietnam to help US, as North Vietnam was solely in its sphere of influence and not USSR’s
• North Vietnam told China to negotiate with US in Paris

• USSR’s stance

• In April 1972, USSR showed similar enthusiasm as China to support US
• USSR saw value in North Vietnamese victory and wouldn’t encourage North to compromise

Question 3

What did Kissinger intend to use to bring the North Vietnamese to the negotiating table?

Answer 3

• ‘China Card’

Question 4

When did Kissinger secretly visit Moscow to try get the USSR’s support prior to Paris peace talks?

Answer 4

• April 1972

Question 5

Why did the US and North Vietnamese want peace talks? What stance did South Vietnam take?

Answer 5

• By 1972, clear to US and North Vietnam that their aims couldn’t be achieved through military means
• In South Vietnam, President Nguyen Van Thieu was determined to keep US military in country and to only accept peace proposals guaranteeing a long-term non-communist South Vietnam

Question 6

By what year did the US and North Vietnamese realise their aims couldn’t be achieved through military means?

Answer 6

• By 1972

Question 7

Who was the president of South Vietnam?

Answer 7

• President Nguyen Van Thieu

Question 8

Paris peace talks

Answer 8

• Talks began in July 1972
• South Vietnam excluded from talks
• Progress made by September 1972 when US suggested support for Thieu wasn’t fixed
• North willing to consider coalition government with NLF representatives

Question 9

Paris Peace Agreement

Answer 9

• Dates

• In October 1972, agreement was reached
• In January 1973, Nixon announced the Paris Peace Agreement to public

• Agreement

• In January 1973, ceasefire would begin
• Each side’s forces would keep areas they controlled at time of ceasefire
• Within 60 days, US would withdraw its forces and POWs would be exchanged
• A commission would be set up to consider introduction of free elections in post-war South Vietnam
• Free elections would consider the possibility of the eventual reunification of Vietnam

Question 10

When was the Paris Peace Agreement made? When would the ceasefire begin? When was it announced to the US public?

Answer 10

• Paris Peace Agreement made in October 1972
• Ceasefire would begin in January 1973
• Nixon announced agreement to public in January 1973

Question 11

Under the Paris Peace Agreement, within how many days were the US supposed to withdraw and exchange POWs?

Answer 11

• Within 60 days the USA would withdraw its forces and POWs would be exchanged

Question 12

How did South Vietnam react to Paris Peace Agreement?

Answer 12

• South Vietnam appalled at agreement and their exclusion from discussions

Question 13

What action did Nixon take following the Paris Peace Agreement?

Answer 13

• Thieu and elections

• Nixon insisted ‘peace with honour’ but waited after November 1972 presidential elections to take action
• After landslide victory, Nixon renewed military efforts to reassure Thieu and to warn North Vietnamese it wouldn’t abandon Thieu

• Bombing

• In December 1972, Nixon ordered bombing of Hanoi and all other important northern cities
• Heaviest bombing of entire Vietnam War
• Led to international condemnation and Nixon’s approval rating fell to 32% in US

Question 14

Which presidential elections did Nixon wait for before taking military action?

Answer 14

• November 1972 elections

Question 15

When did Nixon bomb all important northern cities? What was the significance of these bombings?

Answer 15

• December 1972
• Heaviest bombing of entire Vietnam War
• Led to international condemnation
• Nixon’s approval rating fell to 32% in US