<Li> 1946--47 Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina (Chính phủ Cộng hoà Nam Kỳ tự trị). The creation of this republic, during the First Indochina War (1946--1954), allowed France to evade a promise to recognise Vietnam as independent . The government was renamed in 1947 Provisional Governenment of South Vietnam, overtly stating its aim to reunite the whole country <Ul> <Li> Nguyễn Văn Thinh (1946) </Li> <Li> Lê Văn Hoạch (1946--47) </Li> <Li> Nguyễn Văn Xuân (1947--48) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> Nguyễn Văn Thinh (1946) </Li> <Li> Lê Văn Hoạch (1946--47) </Li> <Li> Nguyễn Văn Xuân (1947--48) </Li> </Ul> <Li> Nguyễn Văn Thinh (1946) </Li> <Li> Lê Văn Hoạch (1946--47) </Li>

Who backed south vietnam in the vietnam war