Cold War handed a watershed defeat by communist Viet Minh rebels at the 1954 Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the French accepted a negotiated abandonment of their colonial stake in Vietnam. In the Geneva Conference, peace accords were signed, leaving Vietnam divided between a pro-Soviet administration in North Vietnam and a pro-Western administration in South Vietnam at the 17th parallel north. Between 1954 and 1961, Eisenhower's United States sent economic aid and military advisers to strengthen South Vietnam's pro-Western regime against communist efforts to destabilize it. Many emerging nations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America rejected the pressure to choose sides in
1954 International Cross Country Championships 1954 International Cross Country Championships The 1954 International Cross Country Championships was held in Birmingham, England, at the Bromford Bridge Racecourse on 27 March 1954. In addition, an unofficial women's championship was held one week earlier at the same place on 20 March 1954. A preview on the men's event, a report on the men's results as well as the women's results was given in the Glasgow Herald. Complete results for men, and for women (unofficial), medallists, An unofficial count yields the participation of 62 athletes from 7 countries. An unofficial count yields the participation of 12 female athletes from