August 31

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Lead Story
Polish government signs accord with Gdansk shipyard workers , 1980
American Revolution
Sam Mason survives Indian attack, 1777
Automotive
William Cobb demonstrates first solar-powered car, 1955
Civil War
Battle of Jonesboro leads to fall of Atlanta, 1864
Cold War
William O. Douglas calls for recognition of PRC, 1951
Crime
Los Angeles mob attacks Night Stalker, 1985
Disaster
Earthquake shakes Charleston, South Carolina, 1886
General Interest
Jack the Ripper claims first victim, 1888
Edison patents the Kinetograph, 1897
Germany prepares for invasion of Poland, 1939
Hollywood
Actor Richard Gere born, 1949
Literary
William Saroyan is born, 1908
Music
Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's The Threepenny Opera premieres in Berlin, 1928
Old West
Sam Mason survives Indian attack, 1777
Presidential
FDR signs Neutrality Act, 1935
Sports
Sandy Koufax strikes out 18, 1959
Vietnam War
Dulles supports Diem's decision not to hold national election, 1955
Ky refuses to negotiate with the Communists, 1965
Senate Committee calls for stepped-up bombing, 1967
Thieu government maintains control of Senate, 1970
U.S. weekly casualty figures hit new low, 1972
World War I
American soldier Harry Butters killed in the Battle of the Somme, 1916
World War II
The British cross the Gothic Line, 1944

Vietnam War

Aug 31, 1955:

Dulles supports Diem's decision not to hold national election

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Secretary of State John Foster Dulles supports South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem's position regarding his refusal to hold "national and general elections" to reunify the two Vietnam states. Although these elections were called for by the Geneva Accords of July 1954, Diem and his supporters in the United States realized that if the elections were held, Ho Chi Minh and the more populous north would probably win, thereby reuniting Vietnam under the Communist banner. Accordingly, he refused to hold the elections and the separation of North and South soon became permanent.

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This Week in History, Aug 31 - Sep 6

Aug 31, 1955
Dulles supports Diem's decision not to hold national election
Aug 31, 1965
Ky refuses to negotiate with the Communists
Aug 31, 1967
Senate Committee calls for stepped-up bombing
Aug 31, 1970
Thieu government maintains control of Senate
Aug 31, 1972
U.S. weekly casualty figures hit new low
Sep 01, 1966
De Gaulle urges the United States to get out of Vietnam
Sep 01, 1968
Fighter pilot nominated for Medal of Honor
Sep 01, 1970
McGovern-Hatfield amendment defeated in the Senate
Sep 02, 1969
Ho Chi Minh dies
Sep 02, 1972
47th North Vietnamese MiG shot down
Sep 03, 1950
U.S. Military Assistance Advisory Group arrives in Saigon
Sep 03, 1967
Thieu-Ky ticket wins national election
Sep 04, 1967
Marines in heavy fighting
Sep 04, 1969
Radio Hanoi announces the death of Ho Chi Minh
Sep 05, 1969
Calley charged for My Lai massacre
Sep 05, 1970
U.S. forces launch last major American operation of the war
Sep 06, 1969
Ho Chi Minh to be succeeded by committee
Sep 06, 1972
Thieu abolishes popular elections

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