America and Diem’s government force our countrymen to immigrate; denounce this scheme!

The Geneva Accords of 1954 created a temporary military separation line at the 17th Parallel establishing a communist government in the north and a democratic government in the south. The accords specified that reunification elections occur by the end of 1956 and allowed for free migration of people between the two zones for 300 days. Between five hundred thousand and one million people moved south to escape the communist government established in the north. Additionally, an estimated one hundred thousand people moved north with hopes for a better life under communism. Although the grace period ended on May 18, 1955, most Vietnamese people truly believed the split was temporary and they would be allowed to return to their homes.