SECTION 3

Source
Thanh 1990 (3 Sept 1945 & 1984)
Isaacs 1947 (1 Oct 1945)
Porter 1979 (1948)


Hồ Chí Minh's Selected Writings 1960 (1920-1969)


Borton 2003 (n.d.)
13
In the fall of 1940, the Japanese fascists invaded Indochina in order to establish more bases from which to attack the Allies. The French colonialists abjectly surrendered and opened our country to the Japanese. Our people then had to wear the bonds of both the French and the Japanese. Our people suffered even greater hardships and greater poverty. The result was that at the end of 1940 and the beginning of 1941, from Quang Tri to Bac Ky, more than 2 million people died of starvation.


In the autumn of 1940 when the Japanese Fascists, with a view to fighting the Allies, invaded Indochina to organize new war bases, the French imperialists, on their knees, surrendered our country.

Since then, under the double Japanese and French yokes, our people literally bled. The result has been terrifying. From Quangtri to the North, two million of our countrymen died of famine in the first months of this year.
In the autumn of 1940, when the Japanese fascists, in order to fight the Allies, invaded Indochina and set up new bases of war, the French imperialists surrendered on bended knees and handed over our country to the invaders.

Subsequently, under the joint French and Japanese yoke, our people were literally bled white. The consequences were due in the extreme. From Quang Tri up to the North, two millions of our countrymen died from starvation during the first months of this year.


In the autumn of 1940, when the Japanese fascists invaded Indochina to establish new bases against the Allies, the French colonialists went down on their bended knees and opened the doors of our country to welcome the Japanese in.

Thus, from that date, our people were subjected to the double yoke of the French and the Japanese. Their sufferings and miseries increased. The result was that towards the end of last year and the beginning of this year, from Quang Tri province to the North, more than two million of our fellow-citizens died from starvation.

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14
On 9 March this year, the Japanese disarmed the French army. The French colonialists had to flee or surrender. Not only have they failed to “defend” us, but during these five years, they have also sold our country twice to the Japanese.
On March 9, 1945, the Japanese disarmed the French troops. Once again, the French either fled or unconditionally surrendered. Thus they have been totally incapable of “protecting” us; on the contrary, in the space of five years they have twice sold our country to the Japanese.
On March 9th, 1945, the Japanese disarmed the French troops. Again, the French either fled or surrendered unconditionally. Thus, in no way have they proved capable of “protecting” us; on the contrary, within five years they have twice sold our country to the Japanese.
On the 9th of March this year, the French troops were disarmed by the Japanese. The French colonialists either fled or surrendered, showing that not only were they incapable of “protecting” us, but that, in a period of five years, they had twice sold our country to the Japanese.

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15

Prior to 9 march, the Viet Minh appealed countless times to the French to join forces to resist the Japanese. But the French colonialists did not answer and began terrorizing the Viet Minh even more. Even after they lost, they cruelly killed many political prisoners at Yen Bay (Bai) and Cao Bang.
Before March 9, the League of Viet-Minh several times invited the French to join it in struggle against the Japanese. Instead of responding to this appeal, the French struck all the harder at the partisans of the Viet-Minh. They went as far as to murder a large number of the political prisoners at Yen Bay and Caobang during their rout.
Before March 9th, many a time did the Viet Minh League invite the French to join in the fight against the Japanese. Instead of accepting the offer, the French, on the contrary, let loose a wild reign of terror with rigour worse than ever before against Viet Minh’s partisans. They even slaughtered a great number of our “condamnés politiques” imprisoned at Yen Bay and Cao Bang.
Before the 9th of March, how often the Viet Minh had urged the French to ally themselves with it against the Japanese! But instead of agreeing to this proposal, the French colonialists only intensified their terrorist activities against the Viet Minh. After their defeat and before fleeing, they massacred the political prisoners detained at Yen Bai and Cao Bang.		 –
16


However, our people still have a tolerant and humanitarian attitude toward the French. After the change on 9 March, the Vietnam Minh helped many Frenchmen escape across the border, rescued (many) Frenchmen from Japanese prisons, and protected their lives and property.

They truth (fact) is, since the autumn of 1940, our country has been a colony of Japan and not of France. When Japan surrendered to the Allies, people throughout our country rose up to reserve (seize) power and established the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam Democratic Republic).
Despite all this, our countrymen have continued to maintain a tolerant and human attitude toward the French. After the events of March 9, the League of Viet Minh helped many Frenchmen to cross the frontier, saved others from Japanese prisons, and besides protected the lives and property of all Frenchmen.

In fact, since the autumn of 1940, our country has ceased to be a French colony and became a Japanese possession.

After the surrender of the Japanese, our entire people rose to regain their sovereignty and founded the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam.
Despite all that, our countrymen went on maintaining, vis-à-vis the French, a humane and even indulgent attitude. After the events of March 9th, the Viet Minh League helped many French to cross the borders, rescued others from Japanese prisons and, in general, protected the lives and properties of all the French in their territory.

In fact, since the autumn of 1940, our country ceased to be a French colony and became a Japanese possession.

After the Japanese surrender, our people, as a whole, rose up and proclaimed their sovereignty and founded the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam.
In spite of all this, our fellow-citizens have always manifested a lenient and humane attitude towards the French. After the Japanese putsch of March 9, 1945, the Viet Minh helped many Frenchmen to cross the frontier, rescued others from Japanese jails and protected French lives and property. In fact, since the autumn of 1940, our country had ceased to be a French colony and had become a Japanese possession.

When the Japanese surrendered to the Allies, our entire people rose to gain power and founded the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam.		 –