The United States and VIetnam: 1787 - 1941
Abstract
As efforts continue to settle the Cambodia-Laos issue, Vietnam is again a focus of American attention. With the passage of time since the United States pulled out of Vietnam, American policy makers have begun approaching the major Indochinese issues from new perspectives, particularly new perspectives toward that general region. As is so often the case, history, by informing, may also help illuminate these issues. In this book, Ambassador Robert Hopkins Miller, a diplomat with considerable experience in Southeast Asia, presents the early history of United States-Vietnam relations. In 1787, President Thomas Jefferson first showed an interest in the region -- then call Cochinchina -- for the purpose of trading for rice. From this beginning, Miller traces the ebb and flow of U.S. diplomatic, economic, and strategic interests in Vietnam until Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. Amply illustrated with excerpts from contemporary correspondence and official documents, the research shows Vietnam's intricate relationship with China, the gradually increasing commercial involvement of the Western powers, and the impact of Japan's expansionist policy. The chapters building up to World War II are particularly informative as they demonstrate, among other matters, the responsibility of national leaders to identify unambiguous political aims. A chronology of events occurring between the United States and Vietnam from 1787 to December 7, 1941 is included.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA261856
Entities
People
- Robert H. Miller
Organizations
- National Defense University