In this book, Ambassador Robert Hopkins Miller, an experienced diplomat from Southeast Asia, presents the early history of US-Vietnam relations. In 1787, President Thomas Jefferson first expressed the concern about the area - then known as Cochinchine / Cochinchina - for the purpose of trading rice. From the beginning, Miller has followed the ups and downs of US diplomatic, economic and strategic concerns in Vietnam. As evidenced by numerous excerpts from contemporary letters and documents, this study shows the complex relationship of Vietnam with China, the increasing trade relations of Western powers, and the influence of Japan's expansionist policy in this country. The chapters leading up to World War II are especially rich in information as it presents the responsibilities of national leaders in recognizing their clear political goals, among other things.