The United States and Vietnam, 1787-1941
     by Robert Hopkins Miller

BOOK FOREWORD:

As efforts continue to settle the Cambodia-Laos issue, Vietnam is again a focus of American attention. With the passage of timesince the United States pulled out of Vietnam, American policymakershave begun approaching the major Indochinese issues fromnew perspectives, particularly new perspectives toward that generalregion.

As is so often the case, history, by informing, may also help illuminate these issues.

In this book, Ambassador Robert Hopkins Miller, a diplomatwith considerable experience in Southeast Asia, presents the earlyhistory of  US-Vietnam relations. In 1787. President Thomas Jefferson first showed an interest in the region--then called Cochinchina--for the purpose of trading for rice.

From this beginning, Miller tracesthe ebb and flow of US diplomatic, economic, and strategic interests in Vietnam. Amply illustrated with excerpts from contemporary correspondenceand official documents, the research shows Vietnam's intricate relationship with China, the gradually increasing commercialinvolvement of the Western powers, and the impact of Japan's expansionistpolicy.

The chapters building up to World War II are particularly informative as they demonstrate, among other matters, theresponsibility of national leaders to identify unambiguous politicalaims.In documenting the early development of US-Vietnam relations,the author has provided a service for historians and contemporaryanalysts alike. In presenting the long view of historical perspective,Ambassador Miller has enhanced our understanding of this area ofthe world.

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