I suppose that Ho Chi Minh meant the help that Vietnam provided for France in the course of World War II. At that time, Vietnam got into the center of conflict between France and Japan. Becoming a location of the fight for territory between the two nations, Vietnam lost its positions (“Ho Chi Minh,” 2013). Ho Chi Minh states that “in the field of politics, they have deprived our people of every democratic liberty” (Ho Chi Minh, 1960, p.17).
Despite the obvious harm from the French, Vietnam was still eager to help and proved to be a compassionate and tolerant partner. Ho Chi Minh mentions that Vietnamese “fellow-citizens have always manifested toward the French a tolerant and humane attitude. Even after the Japanese putsch of March 1945, the Vietminh League helped many Frenchmen to cross the frontier, rescued some of them from Japanese jails, and protected French lives and property” (Ho Chi Minh, 1960, p.200. Thus, Ho Chi Minh believes that France can pay back and accept their independence.
Ho Chi Minh in “Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam” singles out two principles which were decisive it the acquisition of Vietnamese independence (Ho Chi Minh, 1960). They are the principles of self-determination and equity. He hopes that “the Allied nations which at Tehran and San Francisco have acknowledged the principles of self-determination and equality of nations, will not refuse to acknowledge the independence of Vietnam” (Ho Chi Minh, 1960, p.20). Thus, being aware of the hypocrisy that could be demonstrated by the west, he claims that the countries that accepted the principles mentioned above will not forget their recognition and support the Vietnamese independence. On the whole, Ho Chi Minh believes in equity of people. In the speech, he cites the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America and Declaration of the French Revolution. Two documents proclaimed the equal rights of people to live and be free and happy (Ho Chi Minh, 1960). Thus he approaches to the belief that Vietnam also deserves independence.
Ho Chi Minh mentions the crimes committed by the French during the occupation of Vietnam. They pushed the Vietnamese people to declare independence and stop the invasion. One of the crimes was that against the nation. Due to various regimens imposed by the French, the Vietnamese people lost their internal unity as a nation. Ho Chi Ming also claims that the French built more prisons than schools and “mercilessly slain our patriots” (Ho Chi Minh, 1960, p.18). Another “crime” from the French which could weaken the nation was stimulation of opium and alcohol consumption (Ho Chi Minh, 1960).
Moreover, the French treated Vietnamese people as unworthy ones and not equal. Another crime had economic nature. According to Ho Chi Minh, the French “have fleeced us to the backbone, impoverished our people, and devastated our land” (Ho Chi Minh, 1960, p.18). France exploited the Vietnamese land for their own profit despite the fact that the land was not theirs and could serve local people for long years. However, the most severe crime was making millions of people starve and die. It was caused by extreme poverty which was the result of high taxes. Nevertheless, despite oppression and problems, Vietnamese people were ready to fight fpr their independence with a leader such as Ho Chi Minh.
References
Ho Chi Minh. (2013).
Ho Chi Minh (1960). Selected Works. (Vol. 3). Hanoi, VN: Foreign Languages Publishing House.