5.3.21

Peace Negotiations

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Peace Negotiations, 1970

Nixon had promised to end the war in his election campaign of 1968, and was determined to be true to his word.

US demands

US demands

  • In April 1965, President Johnson explained Operation Rolling Thunder.
  • Johnson said the USA was ready to negotiate anytime.
  • But Johnson insisted that South Vietnam’s independence must be guaranteed.
North Vietnam demands

North Vietnam demands

  • Two days later, North Vietnam said any peace talks must include a united Vietnam.
  • They expected a communist government to be elected.
  • This made a peace settlement seem impossible.
Stalemate

Stalemate

  • After the Tet Offensive in 1968 both sides agreed to talks in Paris.
    • But they simply stated their previous standpoints.
Wider negotiations

Wider negotiations

  • Nixon had promised to end the war in his election campaign of 1968.
    • So Nixon began to hold talks with China and the USSR in order to try and end the Cold War.
  • North Vietnam feared that they wouldn’t be able to keep fighting without their allies.
    • So North Vietnam agreed to talks with the USA in 1970.
Tactics

Tactics

  • South Vietnam was not informed about these peace talks.
  • The USA even thought about abandoning South Vietnam’s President Thieu to achieve peace.
  • Meanwhile, Nixon kept pressuring the North by continuing the fight.
  • At the same time, he pushed Vietnamisation, handing more control to South Vietnamese forces.
Pressure

Pressure

  • However, the USA was also under pressure to end the war quickly as opposition was increasing at home, and Congress had cut funding.

Peace Negotiations, 1972–73

The USA was also under pressure to end the war quickly as opposition was increasing at home, and Congress had cut funding.

The Easter Offensive

The Easter Offensive

  • In 1972, the North launched the Easter Offensive.
  • This was a shock to the USA as they didn’t think the North were strong enough to launch another major attack after Tet.
  • Although the USA defeated the attack, it showed that the war could drag on for years.
Negotiations breakdown

Negotiations breakdown

  • On 8th October 1972, the USA and North Vietnam produced an agreement.
    • But Thieu refused to sign because he had been left out of the talks in Paris.
  • The North accused the USA of using Thieu’s refusal as an excuse to back out of the agreement, and the talks broke off.
Further talks

Further talks

  • Nixon promised Thieu deliveries of weapons, supplies and aid if he would attend the talks.
  • And Nixon also encouraged China and the USSR to persuade the North to return to the talks.
  • Talks resumed on the 8th January 1973.
Jump to other topics
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