1919
According to a French intelligence report, Nguyen Ai Quoc (an alias of Ho Chi Minh) often visited the Paris-based Sainte Genevière Library, where he met patriotic scholar Phan Chu Trinh.
1950
President Ho Chi Minh received a delegation of Interzone V led by the chairman of the Interzone V Resistance Administration Committee.
The same day he signed a decree which stipulated that criminal offenses like monetary speculation, banknote counterfeiting, and other crimes that sabotage the country’s financial system be tried at military courts.
1954
In “Since our resistance began, American imperialists have engaged in the war in Indochina,” the President said: “American interference has prolonged the Indochina people’s struggle and made it more difficult, but it has failed to prevent us from continuously achieving great victories that will lead to our final victory.”
1961
Speaking at the second Congress of the Vietnam Youth Federation, the President said: “I love young people very much since they are a force that supports older revolutionary generations and leads younger children. Young people are pioneers in the country’s economic and cultural development, and are a key force in the army, police, and self-defense militia. They always show a willing spirit and are eager to go anywhere they are needed and take on any difficult task. The youth assume glorious tasks which require great responsibility.”
1963
In an interview with Soviet Union reporters on the third anniversary of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam, the President said: “With their close unity and brave fighting spirit, and with the great support of the peoples of many other countries, the Southern people will surely defeat American imperialists and their lackeys.”
1966
In a letter of praise to Thai Binh Province’s Tan Phong Cooperative that achieved the highest paddy yield in the country, the President said: “You should not be complacent with your initial outcomes … You must maintain a close unity and a true democratic spirit …”
The same day, in a letter of thanks to a Japanese group of journalists who sent him a message expressing warmth toward the Vietnamese people, the President said: “I applaud the Japanese people for their brave fight for independence, democracy, peace and neutrality. On behalf of the Southern people, I would like to convey our thanks to the Japanese people for their strong denunciation of American imperialists’ invasion of Vietnam and their great support for us in our fight against the American invaders to save our country.”
In an interview with the Communist Party of Japan’s Akahata newspaper, the President said: “For the sake of our Fatherland’s independence and freedom, and for the sake of peace in Asia as well as in the world, the Vietnamese people do not resign themselves to any hardship and are determined to defeat American invaders.”
1968
In Hanoi, the President met with 30 officers and soldiers of a South commando unit, and artists of a traditional operetta group from Nam Dinh Province.
By Duong Trung Quoc* and his assistants
*The author is a historian and member of the National Assembly
