1. Minh's speech proclaiming Vietnam's independence contains a demand that the free world supports that independence in part as payment for services rendered during World War 2. What did 'service' Vietnam render during that conflict?
During the World War 2, the people of Vietnam rendered ‘service’ by assisting the French in their country. As Ho Minh states in the speech, the Vietnamese offered the French advice by urging them to ally themselves with the Vietnam League ( Ho Chi Minh, 1960). They instead turned the proposal down and massacred Vietnamese patriots. Despite the treatment, the citizens of Vietnam were tolerant with the French and offered human services by helping the French men to the frontier.
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It shows that they had to risk their lives in their attempts to help the French. In their courage, they also helped in the rescue of French prisoners from Japanese jails when caught as prisoners of war and counts as an act of service. Also, the Vietnamese gave their aid and support in the protection of the lives of the Frenchmen in their territory as well as their property (Ho Chi Minh, 1960).
2. Minh claimed that Vietnam's independence is consistent with the philosophical principles which the Allies claimed were paramount during World War 2. What principles was Minh referring to, and did he make references to occasions where those principles were reasserted?
The principles that Minh claimed were in line and consistent with Vietnam’s independence were self-determination and equality of nations (Ho Chi Minh, 1960). The self-determination principle is a justification of independence, especially of the colonial people. It is a principle which helps minority and indigenous people to raise claims of autonomy and freedom from foreign domination. In Vietnam’s case, Mihn invoked the principles to declared independence of Vietnam from the French and Japanese rule of their country.
The principle of equality of nations as provided for in public international laws, as well as international human rights laws, give equal rights to democracy and the equal rights of people within the state. The principles reassert in the economic and political aspects mentioned by Mihn which were gravely interfered with by the French and Japanese in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh, 1960). The reference to the laws allowed the incorporation of principles of non-intervention and noninterference with Vietnams affairs which would help keep off foreign domination.
3. In the speech, Minh mentioned crimes committed by the French during their occupation of Vietnam. Which crimes, as you read them, were in your opinion most severe and justified Vietnamese independence?
The French committed some severe crimes against the Vietnamese which justified their right to acquire independence. In the speech, Mihn referred to the massacres committed by the French when they killed the Patriots held at Yen Bay and Caobang as political prisoners (Ho Chi Minh, 1960). The act capturing and later killing of political representative was against human rights which justified Vietnam independence. The French occupation of Vietnam subjected people especially those from Quang Tri province and the North of Vietnam to starvation. In the speech, Mihn claimed that more than two million citizens died from starvation and hunger during the war period.
The occupation of French subjected people to misery and suffering through extreme poverty which was caused by the French subjection of the citizens to unjustified taxes and the control of the bank issuing of money and command of the export trade. The French mercilessly exploited the working class by forcing them to work in the rice fields, mines and industries which benefitted the French and left the citizens destitute impoverished and diseased and as a result, many died. The French imposed on the citizens’ rights by forcing them to take drugs such as opium and alcohol (Ho Chi Minh, 1960) which weakened the race by undermining their ability to reproduce and function properly as human beings. The forced abuse of drugs and alcohol inhibited people’s freedom of mind and physical freedom.
References
Ho Chi Minh, (1960). Selected Works Vol. 3. Hanoi: Foreign Languages Publishing House. Retrieved from: http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/5139/
