Geneva, << juh NEE vuh, >> Accords were a series of international agreements made on July 20 and 21, 1954. The agreements sought to end more than 71/2 years of war in the former French colony of Indochina. In that war, the forces of France, Cambodia, Laos, and the Associated State of Vietnam had fought Vietminh troops. The Vietminh was a nationalist movement dominated by Communists and led by Ho Chi Minh, ruler of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The government of the Associated State of Vietnam was based in southern Vietnam. The government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was based in northern Vietnam.
The Geneva Accords, or Geneva Agreements, were negotiated at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland. At the conference were representatives of the Associated State of Vietnam, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and Communist China.
Three of the pacts arranged cease-fires in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. The cease-fires for Cambodia and Laos provided for the withdrawal of foreign troops, both French and North Vietnamese. The Cambodian and Laotian governments were to have full control of their countries. The cease-fire for Vietnam, signed by France and the Vietminh, set up a provisional (temporary) boundary at 17° north latitude. The Vietminh was to administer northern Vietnam. The Associated State of Vietnam and France were to administer southern Vietnam. A control commission, composed of representatives of Canada, India, and Poland, was to supervise the cease-fires.
Another agreement called for the major nations of the world to obey the cease-fires and to recognize the independence and neutrality of Cambodia and Laos. A further agreement called for elections to be held in 1956 in Vietnam with the goal of establishing a unified, independent Vietnam. This agreement was orally accepted by all the nations represented at the conference except the United States and the Associated State of Vietnam. They both feared the Communists might win a national election and control all Vietnam. The United States and the Associated State of Vietnam promised only not to use force to oppose the accords.
In 1955, the Associated State of Vietnam changed its name to the Republic of Vietnam. Ngo Dinh Diem became president of the republic and refused to permit the proposed elections in South Vietnam. Both sides violated the cease-fire. In 1957, Communist guerrillas called the Viet Cong began the struggle that grew into the Vietnam War (see Vietnam War ).
