[KantianBurke]

Uh the elections not being held is the point. Ike knew that Ho would sweep to victory over the “Emperor” as things stood in 56. Hence he and the South Vietnamese simply refused to have the elections held. Again, that should have been a loud and clear warning.

[donozark]

We will never know for certain how elections would have turned out. Most felt the communists would not permit fair elections. Have they ever? The massive influx of so many anti-communists (Catholics mainly) from the N. could have tilted elections in a positive manner.

So fearful was the N. over loss of so many people to the S. (10 to 1 ratio) that they actually stationed troops at key intersections to head off this flight.

The ICC (India, Poland, and Canada) agreed with the perception that free elections were impossible. And in 1959 the N. proceeded to proceed...with war.