Did Ho Chi Minh's Letter to Truman Influence U.S. Foreign Policy?

[member 5645]

Ho Chin Minh Letter to Truman...

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT:

Our VIETNAM people, as early as 1941, stood by the Allies' side and fought against the Japanese and their associates, the French colonialists.

From 1941 to 1945 we fought bitterly, sustained by the patriotism, of our fellow-countrymen and by the promises made by the Allies at YALTA, SAN FRANCISCO and POTSDAM.

When the Japanese were defeated in August 1945, the whole Vietnam territory was united under a Provisional Republican Government, which immediately set out to work. In five months, peace and order were restored, a democratic republic was established on legal bases, and adequate help was given to the Allies in the carrying out of their disarmament mission.

But the French Colonialists, who betrayed in wartime both the Allies and the Vietnamese, have come back, and are waging on us a murderous and pitiless war in order reestablish their domination. Their invasion has extended to South Vietnam and is menacing us in North Vietnam. It would take volumes to give even an abbreviated report of the crisis and assassinations they are committing everyday in this fighting area.

This aggression is contrary to all principles of international law and the pledge made by the Allies during World War II. It is a challenge to the noble attitude shown before, during, and after the war by the United States Government and People. It violently contrasts with the firm stand you have taken in your twelve point declaration, and with the idealistic loftiness and generosity expressed by your delegates to the United Nations Assembly, MM. BYRNES, STETTINIUS, AND J.F. DULLES.

The French aggression on a peace-loving people is a direct menace to world security. It implies the complicity, or at least the connivance of the Great Democracies. The United Nations ought to keep their words. They ought to interfere to stop this unjust war, and to show that they mean to carry out in peacetime the principles for which they fought in wartime.

Our Vietnamese people, after so many years of spoliation and devastation, is just beginning its building-up work. It needs security and freedom, first to achieve internal prosperity and welfare, and later to bring its small contribution to world-reconstruction.

These security and freedom can only be guaranteed by our independence from any colonial power, and our free cooperation with all other powers. It is with this firm conviction that we request of the United Sates as guardians and champions of World Justice to take a decisive step in support of our independence.

What we ask has been graciously granted to the Philippines. Like the Philippines our goal is full independence and full cooperation with the UNITED SATES. We will do our best to make this independence and cooperation profitable to the whole world.

I am, Dear Mr. PRESIDENT,

Respectfully Yours,

(Signed) Ho Chi Minh

What a damn shame that we never responded. Imagine how this would have changed Korea and the Cold war!

 

[Mattius_]

I read a similar letter about the leader of the northern alliance Ahmad Shah Masood, who was assasinated by the taliban. This letter was sent to the United States in October of 1998. Please Read:

"From Ahmad Shah Massoud Defence Minister, Islamic State of Afghanistan

Through the United States SenateCommittee on Foreign Relations

Hearing on Events in Afghanistan

In the name of God

Mr. Chairman, honorable representatives of the people of the United States of America,

I send this message to you today on behalf of the freedom and peace-loving people of Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen freedom fighters who resisted and defeated Soviet communism, the men and women who are still resisting oppression and foreign hegemony and, in the name of more than one and a half million Afghan martyrs who sacrificed their lives to uphold some of the same values and ideals shared by most Americans and Afghans alike. This is a crucial and unique moment in the history of Afghanistan and the world, a time when Afghanistan has crossed yet another threshold and is entering a new stage of struggle and resistance for its survival as a free nation and independent state.

I have spent the past 20 years, most of my youth and adult life, alongside my compatriots, at the service of the Afghan nation, fighting an uphill battle to preserve our freedom, independence, right to self-determination and dignity. Afghans fought for God and country, sometime alone, at other times with the support of the international community. Against all odds, we, meaning the free world and Afghans, halted and checkmated Soviet expansionism a decade ago. But the embattled people of my country did not savor the fruits of victory. Instead they were thrust in a whirlwind of foreign intrigue, deception, great-gamesmanship and internal strife. Our country and our noble people were brutalized, the victims of misplaced greed, hegemonic designs and ignorance. We Afghans erred too. Our shortcomings were as a result of political innocence, inexperience, vulnerability, victimization, bickering and inflated egos. But by no means does this justify what some of our so-called Cold War allies did to undermine this just victory and unleash their diabolical plans to destroy and subjugate Afghanistan.

Today, the world clearly sees and feels the results of such misguided and evil deeds. South-Central Asia is in turmoil, some countries on the brink of war. Illegal drug production, terrorist activities and planning are on the rise. Ethnic and religiously-motivated mass murders and forced displacements are taking place, and the most basic human and women’s rights are shamelessly violated. The country has gradually been occupied by fanatics, extremists, terrorists, mercenaries, drug Mafias and professional murderers. One faction, the Taliban, which by no means rightly represents Islam, Afghanistan or our centuries-old cultural heritage, has with direct foreign assistance exacerbated this explosive situation. They are unyielding and unwilling to talk or reach a compromise with any other Afghan side.

Unfortunately, this dark accomplishment could not have materialized without the direct support and involvement of influential governmental and non-governmental circles in Pakistan. Aside from receiving military logistics, fuel and arms from Pakistan, our intelligence reports indicate that more than 28,000 Pakistani citizens, including paramilitary personnel and military advisers are part of the Taliban occupation forces in various parts of Afghanistan. We currently hold more than 500 Pakistani citizens including military personnel in our POW camps. Three major concerns - namely terrorism, drugs and human rights - originate from Taliban-held areas but are instigated from Pakistan, thus forming the inter-connecting angles of an evil triangle. For many Afghans, regardless of ethnicity or religion, Afghanistan, for the second time in one decade, is once again an occupied country.

Let me correct a few fallacies that are propagated by Taliban backers and their lobbies around the world. This situation over the short and long-run, even in case of total control by the Taliban, will not be to anyone’s interest. It will not result in stability, peace and prosperity in the region. The people of Afghanistan will not accept such a repressive regime. Regional countries will never feel secure and safe. Resistance will not end in Afghanistan, but will take on a new national dimension, encompassing all Afghan ethnic and social strata.

The goal is clear. Afghans want to regain their right to self-determination through a democratic or traditional mechanism acceptable to our people. No one group, faction or individual has the right to dictate or impose its will by force or proxy on others. But first, the obstacles have to be overcome, the war has to end, just peace established and a transitional administration set up to move us toward a representative government.

We are willing to move toward this noble goal. We consider this as part of our duty to defend humanity against the scourge of intolerance, violence and fanaticism. But the international community and the democracies of the world should not waste any valuable time, and instead play their critical role to assist in any way possible the valiant people of Afghanistan overcome the obstacles that exist on the path to freedom, peace, stability and prosperity. Effective pressure should be exerted on those countries who stand against the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan. I urge you to engage in constructive and substantive discussions with our representatives and all Afghans who can and want to be part of a broad consensus for peace and freedom for Afghanistan.

With all due respect and my best wishes for the government and people of the United States,

Ahmad Shah Massoud."




How is THAT for irony?

 

[selfAdjoint]

What a damn shame that we never responded. Imagine how this would have changed Korea and the Cold war!

How could responding to a Ho Chi minh letter have any effect on Korea?

 

[member 5645]

Originally posted by selfAdjoint


How could responding to a Ho Chi minh letter have any effect on Korea?

If vietnam had become what the phillipines were, it would give another staging point for our war in Korea.

 

[Njorl]

Originally posted by phatmonky
If vietnam had become what the phillipines were, it would give another staging point for our war in Korea.

That would have been meaningless. Do you have a map? We had Japan at our disposal. Korea was an intractable draw because China was willing to fight in Korea, and we were unwilling to fight in China.

Njorl

 

[member 5645]

Originally posted by Njorl
That would have been meaningless. Do you have a map? We had Japan at our disposal. Korea was an intractable draw because China was willing to fight in Korea, and we were unwilling to fight in China.

Njorl

Maybe you need to look at the map, or perhaps think more broadly. Vitenam could have opened another front with China.
We were unwilling to fight china because of the situation we had. Who is to say what would have changed with a second front. Perhaps China would not have involved herself if she had to worry about two front. You don't know, neither do I - simply a talkking point.

 

[selfAdjoint]

Vietnam as a second front against China in the Korean war? That's a pipe dream. Supposing we stabbed our French allies in the back and supported Ho Chi Minh. Vientnam would then become a Communist country. How likely is it that they would sit still for us using them as a staging area to fight a second Communist country, China, as part of a war against a third one, North Korea? It boggles the mind!

 

[Njorl]

Originally posted by phatmonky
Maybe you need to look at the map, or perhaps think more broadly. Vitenam could have opened another front with China.
We were unwilling to fight china because of the situation we had. Who is to say what would have changed with a second front. Perhaps China would not have involved herself if she had to worry about two front. You don't know, neither do I - simply a talkking point.

The problem with China was not a lack of places to apply manpower, it was a shortage of manpower itself. We were not willing to fight China in its totality. One of our best assets in the Korean conflict was our capacity to mount amphibious campaigns - not just assaults, but entire campaigns. The coasts of China were much more accomodating than those of Korea. We did not need another front. Indeed, another front would be a liability, not an advantage. Fronts need manpower, which was China's strongest asset. The contained conflict favored us. With fewer assets to defend in the conflict, we were free to use our more potent and maneuverable assets. If a friendly Vietnam were in play, a friendly Thailand would be at stake, and need to be defended.

Njorl