Pentagon Papers, Volume 1, B-33 – B-34:

On 26 August in a ceremony at Hue, the Emperor Bao Dai relinquished his power to Ho Chi Minh’s representatives. He spoke of “mighty democratic forces in the north of Our Realm,” and of apprehension that “conflict between the North and the South should be inevitable.” To avoid such conflict, and to deny an invader opportunities to capitalize on internal struggle, he would assume the status of “free citizen of an independent country .” Bao Dai called upon “all parties and groups, all classes of society as well as the Royal Family to strengthen and support unreservedly the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in order to consolidate our national independence.” Bao Dai adopted the name Vinh Thuy, and accepted the title of “Supreme Political Adviser” to Ho Chi Minh’s government.

A few days later, on 2 September 1945 — the day Japan signed the surrender instrument Ho proclaimed the foundation of a new state, issuing the following “Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam”:

All men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means : All the  peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free.

I know what you’re thinking: Fucking commie!

Thanks for reading,

Notes:

The Pentagon Papers – A Detailed Summary of the First Three Volumes: https://elpidio.org/2018/11/30/the-pentagon-papers-a-detailed-summary-of-the-first-three-volumes/ 

The Complete Pentagon Papers: http://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/2011_PENTAGON_PAPERS.html?module=inline