I recently came across a mention of the Ho-Sainteny agreement. Apparently it called for an independent Vietnam within the French Union, and had at least nominal support from both Ho Chi Minh and General Leclerc.
Obviously, it fell apart OTL for a variety of reasons, but it could it have held? And what would be the impact of Vietnam (especially led by Ho Chi Ming) becoming independent shortly after World War II, avoiding most of the Indochina War and allowing France to potentially continue to have a military presence in the region? How would the French government and other colonies react to the loss of one of their former colonies?
Obviously, it fell apart OTL for a variety of reasons, but it could it have held? And what would be the impact of Vietnam (especially led by Ho Chi Ming) becoming independent shortly after World War II, avoiding most of the Indochina War and allowing France to potentially continue to have a military presence in the region? How would the French government and other colonies react to the loss of one of their former colonies?