Paris Peace Talks, Northern Victory

What were the demands of the North Vietnamese/NLF during the 1973 PPTs?

1. Replacement of current Saigon regime and coalition government, removal of Thieu 

2. Didn’t want to commit to full de-escalation 

What were the demands of the US/South Vietnamese during the 1973 PPTs?

1. The North should endure a de-escalation

2. Wanted Thieu to remain

3. Ceasefire/keeping current territory

4. Congress rejected any proposals of aid to the South as fighting continued to escalate in 1973 

5. Wanted free elections in writing so they won't be criticised when it doesn’t happen 

6. Want to release P.O.W, large priority 

What does America really want/do during the talks?

1. Cut out their key allies from peace talks, confirms communist accusations of being imperialist puppets; South Korea/South Vietnam not there

2. Wants decent interval before unification so that they can blame the South Vietnamese 

What was the Easter Offensive Operation Linebacker 1, and why did it contribute to the PP settlement taking so long?

1. March 1972

2. The bombing under Nixon of North Vietnam 

3. Not close to a ceasefire? Continued aggression

What happened in April 1972?

Secret diplomacy: Kissinger; USSR and China still hopeful of North Vietnamese victory

What happened in October 1972?

1. North Vietnamese moderated view on Thieu's removal from power; negotiations reopened

2. Paris Peace Talks reach significant stage of agreement

3. Ceasefire agreed commencing January 1973

4. Each side would keep areas they controlled at time of ceasefire 

5. Within 60 days US troops would be withdrawn, prisoner exchange would commence

6. Commission would be set up in SV to consider introduction of free elections in a postwar South Vietnam, ability of SV to determine their own future

7. Free elections would determine possibility of reunification of Vietnam as a single state

8. Kissinger announces "Peace is at hand" but Thieu appalled that SV marginalised from the discussions

Is this peace with honour?

1. YES—1972 was crucial to Nixon, elections, wants peace deal as way to ensure next term of presidency 

2. NO—USA wanted achieved peace with honour to better their reputations but knew the South would eventually fall to the communists, continued to blame their wrongdoings on the SV, cut out allies from peace talks—achieved peace but the South will end in a loss

What was the presidential election, and why did it contribute to the PP settlement taking so long?

1. November 1972

2. Nixon wants to be re-elected, wins the vote, enters second term as president, wins against McGovern in landslide victory 

3. Nixon extremely focused on reputation and winning the election, wanted to make sure he looked successful attaining peace; once he wins he has less to lose, so can focus on closing the deal 

What were the Linebacker II Christmas bombings, and why did they contribute to the PP settlement taking so long?

1. December 1972

2. Another bombing under Nixon of North Vietnam 

3. Ensured the North follow through on peace deal, bad for Nixon's reputation, contributed the most to the Paris Peace talks 

4. Idea of honour gone after complete lack of support for the South 

Who was President Thieu, and why did he contribute to the PP settlement taking so long?

1. President of South Vietnam

2. Source of disagreement in the talks as North originally wanted him removed but eventually allowed him to stay in power 

What was Peace with honour, and why did it contribute to the PP settlement taking so long?

1. Nixon used phrase in a speech to address the Paris Peace talks, policy where USA attains peace without putting reputation on the line 

2. To achieve peace with honour, countries involved must mutually agree on terms; otherwise, no honour for the US

3. Takes longer to agree a peace settlement when they want it to appear successful and honourable for the USA 

When was the Paris Peace Agreement finalised?

January 1973

When were the last US troops withdrawn from Vietnam, and when did the Vietcong intensify guerrilla warfare in the South?

March 1973

What happened in August 1974?

1. US stops bombing Cambodia

2. Nixon resigns after the Watergate Scandal; replaced by Vice President Ford

What happened in December 1974?

Conventional forces escalated when they realise US are not going to intervene

What happened in 1975?

US congress rejects any requests for US aid despite being startled by the speed of the NVA advances

What happened in April 1975?

Thieu resigns as President and flees the country

What happened on April 30, 1975?

1. USA closes its embassy

2. Vietnam surrendered to the North

3. Vietnam unified as a single socialist state

What other names are the signatories on the front page of the peace agreement more commonly known as?

1. Democratic Republic of Vietnam = North Vietnam 

2. of the Republic of Vietnam = VC/NLF 

Why get prisoners to sign this before their release? 

1. The North made American prisoners sign a copy of the peace agreement so that they could use it as propaganda

2. Making Thieu sign despite not being in the talks 

3. Make it seem as though the prisoners were supporting the peace process 

Who got most from this peace deal: the US, the North Vietnamese, the South Vietnamese?

1. The North as the US, would be moving out, big win for them, means they can fight the South and have China as backup, knew they would win 

2. North reunites Vietnam after continuing fighting, the Americans would never win but held them back, meant the North could finally take over after getting the US out