spartans_in_darkness

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CHINA
ers decided to take an aggressive
stance in response to Diem's increasing
repression of the southern communists.
This decision was a distinct
change from the previous years when
Hanoi, concentrating on its own
internal development, and certain of
Diem's inevitable fall, generally had
refrained from supporting the southerners.
THAILAND
UdonThanl •
(Udom)
CAMBODIA
(D) Hanoi's change of policy was
due largely to the urgings of Le Duan,
a veteran member of the Viet Minh
hierarchy, who had spent some time
in the south during the preceding
months assessing the plight of the
southern communists. He came back
and reported to the party leadership
how difficult it had become for the
communists there because of Diem's
repressive measures, and he pushed
for action by Hanoi. Ho Chi Minh,
who had held out for a program only
of conventional political activities
such as recruitment, civil agitation,
and propaganda, relented in the face
of Le Duan's arguments. Hanoi's new
policy was most succinctly put this
way:
(V) Road system in Laos
ambushes. Travel along the trails heading south
remained dangerous for the Viet Minh who tried
it."
To achieve national reunification
on the basis of independence
and democracy, the session
mapped out the following tasks:
the entire people will unite and
strive for national reunification
. . . to build a peaceful, unified,
independent, democratic, prosperous
and strong Vietnam....3
(D) With the escalation of the struggle
between Saigon and the southern communists,
the trail assumed a new importance as a communications
and supply route. The impetus for this
change came from Hanoi. In May 1959, at the
15th Plenum (Enlarged Session) of the Central
Committee of the Lao Dong Party, Hanoi's leadfOfil8EeREfHeOMIHTN*1
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