Paris Peace Accords signed
The United States South Vietnam Viet Cong and North Vietnam formally sign An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam in Paris.Due to South Vietnams unwillingness to recognize the Viet Congs Provisional Revolutionary Government all references to it were confined to a two-party version of the document signed by North Vietnam and the United Statesthe South Vietnamese were presented with a separate document that did not make reference to the Viet Cong government.This was part of Saigons long-time refusal to recognize the Viet Cong as a legitimate participant in the discussions to end the war.The settlement included a cease-fire throughout Vietnam.
It addition the United States agreed to the withdrawal of all U.S.troops and advisors (totalling about 23700) and the dismantling of all U.S.bases within 60 days.
In return the North Vietnamese agreed to release all U.S.and other prisoners of war.Both sides agreed to the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Laos and Cambodia and the prohibition of bases in and troop movements through these countries.It was agreed that the DMZ at the 17th Parallel would remain a provisional dividing line with eventual reunification of the country through peaceful means.
An international control commission would be established made up of Canadians Hungarians Poles and Indonesians with 1160 inspectors to supervise the agreement.According to the agreement South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu would continue in office pending elections.Agreeing to the South Vietnamese Peoples right to self-determination the North Vietnamese said they would not initiate military movement across the DMZ and that there would be no use of force to reunify the country.Footnote The last U.S.
serviceman to die in combat in Vietnam Lt.Col.William B.
Nolde was killed by an artillery shell at An Loc 60 miles northwest of Saigon only 11 hours before the truce went into effect.
