Kathryn C. Statler - Replacing France: The Origins of American Intervention in Vietnam

Replacing France

THE ORIGINS OF
AMERICAN
INTERVENTION IN
VIETNAM

KATHRYN C. STATLER

Publication of this volume was made possible in part by a grant
from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Portions of this book were published in earlier form as articles in The Cold War after Stalins Death: A Missed Opportunity for Peace? 2006 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., and reproduced here by permission of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.; Journal of AmericanEast Asian Relations (Special Issue, summerfall 1997) 1997, and reproduced here by permission of Imprint Publications; The First Vietnam War: Colonial Conflict and Cold War Crisis 2007 by Harvard University Press, and reproduced here by permission of Harvard University Press; and The Eisenhower Administration, the Third World, and the Globalization of the Cold War, 19531961 2006 by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., and reproduced here by permission of Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

Map by Dick Gilbreath, University of Kentucky Cartography Lab

Copyright 2007 by The University Press of Kentucky

Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,

serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College, Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University, Morehead State University, Murray State University, Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University.

All rights reserved.

Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Statler, Kathryn C., 1971

Replacing France : the origins of American intervention in Vietnam / Kathryn C. Statler.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8131-2440-7 (hardcover : alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 0-8131-2440-9 (hardcover : alk. paper)

1. VietnamPolitics and government19451975. 2. United StatesForeign relations19451989. 3. FranceForeign relations1945 4. United StatesForeign relationsFrance. 5. FranceForeign relationsUnited States. I. Title.

DS556.8.S73 2007

959.70431dc22 2006103511

This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting the requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.

Manufactured in the United States of America.

Seven years of war were required for our enemies to chase
us out of North Vietnam. One and a half years of solidarity
with our allies were sufficient for them to chase us out of South
Vietnam.

Maurice Duverger, Le Monde, March 21, 1956

A number of individuals and institutions have my enduring gratitude for their help in producing this work. Many thanks to the University Press of Kentucky, and a special merci to Stephen Wrinn and the Editorial Board for agreeing to publish the book, to Liz Smith for her skilled copy editing, and to Anne Dean Watkins for her prompt assistance in all matters. Isabelle Nathan and the staff at the French Foreign Ministry Archives were always gracious and informative during my many trips to Paris, as were the archivists and personnel at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, the College Park National Archives, the Washington D.C. National Security Archive, the National Archives in Paris, the Chteau de Vincennes French Military Archives, the Pierre Mends France Institute, the Center for Twentieth-Century European History, the French Overseas Archives in Aix-en-Provence, and the British Public Record Office. Anthony Edmonds, Maarten Pereboom, Michael Adamson, David Anderson, George Herring, Walter Hixson, James Matray, Mark Lawrence, Pierre Journoud, Laurent Cesari, Jason Parker, Nigel Quinney, and David Schmitz provided excellent feedback of the work-in-progress at conferences and in more informal venues. The manuscript has also benefited enormously from the constructive suggestions of its two anonymous readers. Former professors and advisers at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)Fredrik Logevall, Kenneth Mour, Laura Kalman, and Jeffrey Russellgave invaluable advice over the years and have influenced this book in many ways. Particular recognition goes to my graduate adviserFredrik Logevallwho was the first to bring my attention to the importance of telling the story from as many vantage points as possible and continues to support me in presenting and publishing my work. I would also like to thank three former fellow graduate students and current colleaguesAndrew Johns, Kimber Quinney, and Kenneth Osgoodwho have encouraged and prodded me every step of the way in my academic career. Each of you has had a profound influence on my research, writing, and way of thinking. Moreover, graduate school, trips to Abilene, and SHAFR conferences would have been a lot less fun without you. I am also incredibly grateful for the support of my colleagues in the History Department at the University of San Diego (USD). I could not ask for a more collegial environment, and special thanks go to Iris Engstrand, James Gump, Molly McClain, Yi Sun, Michael Gonzalez, and Colin Fisher. Assistance from USD has taken many forms, and I consider myself fortunate to work at an institution that invests in its faculty.

Research abroad is time-consuming and expensive. I am therefore most appreciative of the financial support provided by a number of institutions and grant programs. Funds for earlier research were provided by the Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation fellowship program, the University of California Center for German and European Studies, the UCSB Social Sciences and History Department research grant programs, and the USD interdisciplinary research grant program. Help from USD via History Department travel money, a university professor fellowship, and a lengthy sabbatical, as well as a National Endowment for the Humanities summer stipend, allowed me to finish research and writing in France. All translations in the book are my own, as are any errors committed.

Finally, I could not have completed this study without the love, support, patience, and good humor of my family. Therefore, my greatest thanks go to my parents and sister, Joan, John, and Gretchen Statler, and to my husband and daughter, Craig and Claire Choisser. This book is dedicated to them. Mom and Dad, your constant encouragement and enthusiasmnot to mention long hours of babysittingare priceless; and Gretchen, your sympathetic ear is deeply appreciated. Claire, as a two-year-old, you are not conducive to long hours of work, but you sure are fun. Craig, you are my most honest critic and strongest supporter, making me a better academic, and a better person. So, family, thank you for allowing me the many hours I spent attached to the keyboard; but most of all, thank you for the time away from the keyboard.