Channels, Fall 2018

Page 62 Mach • Before Vietnam To understand the circumstances surrounding the initial stages of American involvement in Southeast Asia and Vietnam, it is necessary to consider the developing world events following the conclusion of the Second World War. The rehabilitation of Europe, the rebuilding of Japan, the rise of the Soviet Union, and an emerging Southeast Asia all demanded the attention of Truman and his administration. The situation facing Truman was considerably more intricate than many historians acknowledge, which made decision- making more delicate. While there are plenty of legitimate critiques, in view of the world situation and the information available at that time, the Truman Administration truly acted in a reasonable fashion amid great uncertainty. Considering the increasingly complex situation in Southeast Asia following the Second World War, Truman and his administration acted consistently. In light of the threat of Communist expansion, the administration was bearing in mind the vested interests of the United States, their Allies, and the people of Southeast Asia. After a decade of conflict engulfing nearly the entire world, the Second World War finally concluded in August 1945. Belligerent nations suffered nearly 100 million casualties, civilian and military combined. The United States suffered the death of their President only months before the war ended. Franklin Delano Roosevelt steered the United States valiantly through four years of warfare. The entirety of the US, and much of the whole free world, mourned the loss of FDR. Harry S. Truman, thrust into the Presidency of the most powerful nation in the world, ultimately consented to the use of atomic weaponry to end the war against Japan. With this pronouncement, Truman made his first of many landmark decisions that would define his Presidency. FDR’s legacy, however, continued to have an acute impact on the Truman Presidency for years to come, specifically in Southeast Asia. Roosevelt held intense anti-colonialist sentiments during his years as President. American policy, specifically in the 19th century, tended to be more sympathetic to independence movements than many of its European counterparts. While the US did acquire land from both Mexico and Spain, its imperialistic gains paled in comparison to the British and French empires. This sympathy, coupled with a moralism that included an emphasis on missionary work, was the extent of American concern for Southeast Asia until the Second World War. Roosevelt, however, differed from his predecessors quite significantly. His anti-colonialism, fueled largely by hatred of colonial rule, its lack of democratic tendencies, and his own sensitivity to nationalism, recognized that less colonialism meant greater trade opportunities for the United States. Altruism played only a part in Roosevelt’s anti- colonialist ideas. His administration believed colonialism left room for “‘secret diplomacy’ and war,” which Roosevelt endeavored to avoid at all costs. His allies, however, did not hold the same beliefs about colonialism, resulting in friction between the US, Great Britain, and France. Both Britain and France maintained colonial holdings throughout the world, including Southeast Asia. Despite the entanglements of his allies, Roosevelt remained privately anti-colonialist throughout most of the war, which caused concern for Churchill and other British officials. The fate of post-war colonial holdings of the Western Allies was uncertain. Roosevelt focused his attention on French Indochina and argued that the people of Indochina were infinitely better off before French interference. While Roosevelt