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Elsewhere in the Far East the French empire was crumbling fast.
而在遠東的其他地方，法蘭西帝國快速瓦解
The centre of power in the world had shifted from Europe to a straight line between Moscow and Washington
世界的權力中心從歐洲轉移到了莫斯科和華盛頓一線
but France, like Britain and the Netherlands hated to give up its imperial prestige so quickly.
但是法國和英國和荷蘭一樣，不愿這么快就放棄其帝國特權
Sadly France was so battered from the Second World War and the First World War that it could only maintain a small army.
不幸的是法國在一戰和二戰中連受重創，元氣大傷，只能維持小規模的軍事力量
Even so the French would not give up Vietnam without a fight.
即便如此，法國還是不愿不拼一下就放棄越南
They poured men and materials into an endless battle against a nationalist Viet-Minh movement lead by Ho Chi Minh.
他們將人力和物力投入在對抗胡志明所領導的國家越盟運動中
When the French finally realised that their cause and their empire were lost the warring parties signed the Geneva Accord on July 21st 1954.
當法國終于意識到自己的目標和帝國已經輸了時，戰爭雙方在1954年7月21日簽署了日內瓦條約
The Geneva Accord partitioned Vietnam into north and south zones,
日內瓦公約規定越南分為南部和北部兩部分
supposedly they would be united as a result of free parliamentary presidential elections.
也許能夠在自由的議會總統選舉的條件下實現統一
Fearing, with good reason, that Ho Chi Minh and the Viet-Minh would have won the elections
因為有充分的理由擔心胡志明和其越盟會贏得選舉
the South Vietnamese refused, with US support, to ratify the Geneva Accord.
南越在美國的支持下拒絕簽署日內瓦條約
Hostilities didn't break out at once.
敵對狀態沒有立刻爆發
