The military commitment is a separate subject. related to the aid program only in the sense that they both proceed from a single U.S. policy. When. as a result of the Geneva Conference. Vietnam was divided at the 17th parallel in June 1954. the northern half held almost all of the available natural and industrial resources. It also held almost 1 million persons who refused to live under communism and immediately started their refugee trek to the south. South Vietnams existence was fragile indeed. but nevertheless. with the help of American aid. considerable progress was made. In the first 5 years after partition. rice production was doubled.