French Defeated in Dien Bien Phu
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles delivers a statement of support for France after its defeat by the Vietnamese in the 55-day battle of Dien Bien Phu, which ended on May 7, 1954.
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French Defeated in Dien Bien Phu
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Secretary of State John Foster Dulles delivers a statement of support for France after its defeat by the Vietnamese in the 55-day battle of Dien Bien Phu, which ended on May 7, 1954.
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