By prosecuting steadfastly a policy of securing unity and solidarity throughout the whole nation, the Government has won full popular support. Within the year under review, unlimited sacrifices have been made in the interests of the country by every class of the population.
Our troops which embrace people of all ranks of society including intellectuals, labourers, agriculturists and youth, both men and women, have sacrificed themselves on the battle front as well as on the home front. Under the most difficult conditions, they have endured all privation and kept high their fighting spirit, showing themselves ever ready to die if necessary for the protection of their national territories. Their families have also made great sacrifices urging their members to enlist themselves in the forces of national liberation and put the interest of the nation above all else.
Members of the Central Government as well as those of the Regional Executive Committees have served without salaries. Government employees and teachers have also worked for minimum salary.
In the public courses of the BINH DAN HOC VU (Popular Educational Service) thousands of teachers of both sexes taught free of charge. Intellectuals and specialists devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the Resistance Movement and towards the building up of the nation. In the factories, labourers volunteered to increase the number of their working hours. Especially in the armament factories, labourers have made the utmost sacrifice.
In the paddyfields, agriculturists and even children have devoted all their efforts to increase production of foodstuffs for the troops. Above all the rest, in the war area of Nambo, our countrymen have sacrificed their lives and their properties, thus showing that they prefer death to slavery.
Our countrymen abroad, in Laos, Thailand, France and China, have sent their best wishes to the Fatherland in its present struggle in which they too are as far as possible participating. And our men at home have contributed not merely in labour but also in money to the tune of about 80 million piastres.
It is the spirit of unity and self-sacrifice that is the real secret of our success in the year that has just passed by. Therein too lies the secret of the clearsighted policy of President Ho. What has been accomplished so far is due to our spirit of unity and self-sacrifice. What we have failed to accomplish so far is due to the fact that our spirit of unity and self-sacrifice can still be further strengthened.
We shall still meet with many difficulties and obstacles in our struggle for freedom. We are aware of the present situation and our shortcomings. We are conscious of the urgent duties of both Government and people.
For the realization of complete independence, our chief task is to preserve the sovereignty and integrity of our territory and perfect the union between Bacbo, Trungbo and Nambo. Exactly as President HO CHI MINH proclaimed: “We are ready to safeguard all economic interests of the French here but only on condition that France fully recognizes the Independence of VietNam”. Let us not forget that in order to preserve our sovereignty, we must bend all our energies to the task, and first and foremost, we must rely on ourselves.
Every one of our people wishes the Conference of Fontainebleau* will speedily reach a definite agreement. But the only agreement we will approve of is one that recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Viet Nam, one which is prepared to abide by all the conditions necessary for the attainment of our national independence.
While the situation is far from clear, still we hope sincerely to maintain here an atmosphere suitable for the carrying on of negotiations. But we are not answerable for incidents which we do not provoke. We sincerely wish to see dissipated the present atmosphere of suspicion to be replaced by an atmosphere of mutual trust and goodwill. Only in such an atmosphere of mutual confidence can the French-VietNam incidents be satisfactorily settled, irrespective of the part of the VietNam in which they may occur, for Viet Nam is one and indivisible.
Our second duty is to strengthen and consolidate our democracy. Throughout Bacbo, Trungbo and Nambo, the administrative machinery must be fully democratized, unified, simplified and made more expeditious so as to eliminate bureaucracy. A clear distinction as regards powers and functions must be drawn between the general administration and the specialist departments as also between the executive and the judiciary, without sacrificing coordination and cooperation. It is important to stress the proper discharge by officials of their public duties. Appointments must be made according to ability. Discipline must be stern but at the same time just, especially in meting out punishment or reward. Every one must discharge his duty with new spirit, uprightness and integrity, doing his utmost for the nation. Control and supervision must be systematic.
And since we are consolidating the foundations of a democratic regime, we must always give ear to public opinion. At the same time, the education of the people in regard to their duties and rights as citizens is a task that must be pushed forward unremittingly.
Our third duty is to bend all our energies to promote our national economy. Farmers and workers must compete with one another to increase production; handicraftsmen must extend and improve their activities; industrialists must invest more capital for business enterprises; economic organizations and chambers of commerce must intensify their efforts. The Committee for National Planning must do its utmost for the building up of the nation and the general welfare of the people. We must realize that on the economic front as well as on other fronts, heroic efforts are necessary if we are to lead our nation to a splendid future. The Government is always ready to help and encourage private enterprises.
Our 4th duty is the selection and training up of able men. Whatever the situation may be, we shall always need able men to assume responsibility. In the army, in laboratories, in the domain of trade and finance, we are in need of sufficient numbers of leaders, capable, high-spirited, broad-minded, energetic, possessing initiative, confidence and zeal and, above all, truthful and devoted to the interests of the nation. So it is the duty of the Government to employ to the best purpose as many as possible our able men, and it is the duty too of every citizen to endeavour to train himself to shoulder responsibility. When that problem is solved, many a complicated problem will be to a large extent simplified. The Government has always helped citizens to develop their abilities and to find suitable employment.
Our 5th duty is to be more and more united so as to achieve all the foregoing objectives. We must attain solidarity among classes, religions, and political parties, with the unity of Bacbo, Nambo and Trungbo; in short, unity of the whole nation. Every one of us must shoulder our individual share in this huge task. We must combat all separatist ideas and actions that militate against national unity, and at every moment, in every sphere of activity, we must endeavour to strengthen our solidarity. In order to lay the strong and lasting foundation of our national unity, the Government will use all its power to protect every just right and interest of the citizen; it will see that the burden of national sacrifice is shared equitably by all and ensure to the best of its power an improved livelihood for every class of the population. Unity is strength! Only unity can guarantee victory!
Last year, on this day of independence, we swore together: “We are resolved to devote all our spirit, all our strength, our lives and our wealth to preserve steadfastly our national freedom.”
To-day on the occasion of the first anniversary of Independence Day, let us remember our duties and do our utmost to accomplish them and thereby redeem our oath of last year.
We are celebrating this anniversary while so many of our soldiers and fellow-citizens have already sacrificed their lives to preserve our independence. While our troops and our people in Nambo are still struggling in defence of the nation, remember your duties and make every endeavour to fulfill them. Thereby you shall show yourselves grateful and worthy of all these splendid sacrifices. Thereby you will best support our struggle in Nambo.
We are celebrating Independence Day while our President Mr. HO CHI MINH is abroad.* We all trust his clearsighted leadership and support him wholeheartedly to a man. By remembering our duties and by endeavouring to accomplish them, we shall show ourselves his best supporters, and by so doing, prove worthy of complete independence.
We are confident for the future because of the results already attained during the last year. We are confident because we do not fear difficulties and obstacles. We shall grow ever more and more united and never cease struggling.
Fellow-countrymen!
Long live the Democratic Republic of VietNam!
Long Live the Independence of VietNam!
Countrymen of the whole nation, unite yourselves!
Long live our President HO CHI MINH!
Long live our Acting President HUYNH!
* At the time of Mr. Giap’s speech, this conference was being held to settle finally all points between the two countries. However, these negotiations, entered upon as a result of the Preliminary Agreement of March 6th 1946 signed at Hanoi, were also broken off prematurely, owing to the increasing determination on the part of the French in VietNam to pursue a policy of “FAIT ACCOMPLI”, to set up puppet bodies, to further hostilities, and to violate ever more and more VietNamese sovereignty and territorial integrity. It was decided by both delegations to resume negotiations with a view to a final settlement next January. Meantime, only a Provisional Agreement, aimed at providing a “modus vivendi”, was signed at Paris on Sept. 14th 1946 between President Ho Chi Minh and the French Minister for Overseas Affairs (Editor’s note).
* At Paris where Mr. Ho Chi Minh signed the Provisional Agreement of September 14th, which Agreement provides a modus vivendi till final negotiations scheduled for January 1947 are completed.