preserved, thanks to the solidarity of millions of people around this Pacific Ocean. Vietnamese soldiers are especially proud to fight side by side with valiant soldiers of the United States of America in this great struggle to defend freedom and to secure a long-lasting peace in this part of the world. The Republic of Vietnam will do her best so that all the brave soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifices in the defense of freedom will not have given their lives in vain. Vietnam is the crucial test case on which will hinge not only the fate of Southeast Asia, but also of many other areas in the world, where newly independent nations are groping for a path towards the future. Together we will win this war not only against the Communist aggression, but also against the immemorial enemies of mankind-hunger, disease, and ignorance to launch a society in which everyone will find a rightful place in establishing a meaningful democracy under the sign of progress and social justice. In the spirit of the Manila Conference, the Republic of Vietnam spares no effort to explore all possible avenues which may lead us to a just and honorable peace. When such a peace is restored, a general reconciliation among all Vietnamese will be possible to put an end to the sufferings and ravages of the war, and open a new era in which all Vietnamese of good will can participate in the building of a free and peaceful nation. With these hopes, I look forward to fruitful discussions at this meeting. Thank you very much. 128 Remarks at the Opening Session of the Guam Conference. March 20, 1967 I SHALL make my opening remarks very short. We are old friends and comrades-inarms. We do not need to elaborate on preliminaries before getting down to work. Our two Governments have developed methods of regular consultation that have served us well in the critical days in which we've been associated. I am confident this will continue. Today I am introducing to you our new Ambassador, Ellsworth Bunker, and his deputy, Eugene Locke. He has served our country-and the cause of freedom-on three continents. It is typical of him that he is ready to serve in this struggle as well. His distinguished talents give us full confidence for the future. Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge has represented the United States in Saigon with. great dedication and ability. One measure of our appreciation for his splendid service is. the caliber of the man we have chosen as his successor. We meet at an auspicious time. The task of drafting a Constitution for South Vietnam, I am informed, has been completed. The drafters were elected by people in every section of the country-except where they were prevented from voting by pressures of the Vietcong. I know you regret, as I do, that the Vietcong succeeded in preventing anyone from voting. We believe that a system which stands in the way of democratic process in this fashion cannot survive very long among the people-even when it uses terror and assassination to achieve its ends. Now your great task is to conduct a national election for a new government. The success of that election is as important as any of the military operations we shall conduct in the months ahead. There are many signs that we are at a favorable turning point. Your fighting men, aided by your allies, now hold the initiative and are striking heavy blows against the strongholds and refuges of the Vietcong and their North Vietnamese masters. And in the villages the medicine of the revolutionary development program is already beginning to take effect. The Vietcong are turning sharply against that program's administration. I think that is very solid tribute to its effectiveness. There are many other things I could cite that give us encouragement. But Vietnam is still a land of war and suffering, where the danger of inflation and epidemics and political conflict lie just beneath the surface. So let us turn today to see again what we can do to make our joint efforts even more effective. NOTE: The President spoke at 3:15 p.m. at Nimitz Hill, Guam headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas. As printed above, this item follows the text released by the White House Press Office. 129 Statement by the President on the New Constitution Adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam. March 20, 1967 I AM deeply pleased to hear from Prime. Minister Ky that the Directorate has agreed to the new Constitution just adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam. The Constitution marks the most important step in Vietnam's progress toward representative government. It is the fruit of 6 months of labor by delegates whose very elections demonstrated the ability of the people of South Vietnam to move forward toward democracy in the midst of war, and despite the savage opposition of the Vietcong. Many of the provisions of the Constitution were actively debated during 6 months of consideration by the Assembly. But when agreement was finally reached, the Constitution was approved by the unanimous vote of the Assembly. Like the U.S. Constitution, the Vietnamese Constitution has been written by the democratically chosen representatives of the people. And like the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia two centuries ago, the Assembly in Saigon included many men in their late twenties or early thirties. The Constitution secures freedom of speech and freedom of religion. It guarantees civil rights and due process of law, and provides for free political expression by the press, political parties, and trade unions, as well as by individuals. It establishes an executive branch and endows it with wide powers, but subjects it, at the same time, to strong measures of control by the legislature. The legislature will enjoy wide authority, perhaps wider than that of the U.S. Congress. Three times in less than 2 years South Vietnam has moved closer toward establishing a government fully responsive to the people. The first of these steps was the provincial elections held in May 1965; the second step was the election, last September 11, of the members of the Constituent Assembly; now a democratic Constitution has been adopted. There will be other steps on the road to more representative government in Vietnam during the coming months. A new round of village and hamlet elections will begin in April, when over 900 village councils will be elected. In May and June nearly 5,000 hamlet chiefs will be chosen. Then the election of a President and the Senate provided for in the new Constitution, are planned for late summer. Finally, the election of the House of Representatives will come within a month after the election of a President. All those who have thoughtfully studied the modern history of Vietnam know that military power alone cannot secure the peace and insure the progress of that nation-nor of any other. Free political institutions are indispensable to the success of South Viet nam's long struggle against terror-and those who support her in that struggle rejoice in the success of this past week. NOTE: The statement was released at Guam. 130 Toasts of the President and Chairman Thieu at a Dinner in Guam. March 20, 1967 IN 1873, when Vietnam was disputing the right of France to extend control over the whole country, a scholar named Bui Vien was sent by the Emperor to enlist the help of the United States. He was received by President Grant. On his way home he was informed of President Grant's decision that-because of unforeseen circumstances-the United States would be unable to assist Vietnam. He stopped in Japan to see an old friend, the American consul in Yokohama. As people did in those days in Asia, the two men exchanged poems. Here is what Bui Vien wrote: "We pour out wine into glasses at Yokohama in the ninth month-in autumn. Turning my head towards the clouds of Vietnam, I am anxious about my country. Sea and land-memory and emotion— remind me of my former journey. Enjoying myself with you, I regret all the more that we must part. Spiritual companion, in what year will we be together in the same sampan?" Today we know the answer. We are together. And we know our destination. We established it years ago, and affirmed it at Honolulu and Manila. The brave sons of both our nations reaffirm it anew with every day that passes. The trip is not yet over. The waters ahead may be rough. But together, with courage. and unflagging devotion to the duty we share, we will make it. Gentlemen, to the free peoples of Vietnam and the United States, who love their liberty and fight to preserve it. NOTE: The President proposed the toast at a dinner at Nimitz House, his residence on Guam. Chairman Thieu responded as follows: Mr. President, gentlemen: I would like to thank you most sincerely for making this gathering not only an opportunity for the leaders of both Governments to exchange views on common problems, but also a family affair in which protocol yields to informality and cordiality. I am deeply touched by your evocation of the historical diplomatic mission. In the last century, Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Vien went on a good will mission to the United States, a great country from across the Pacific Ocean, in what was for usmay I say-the Far East. What I would like to add in recalling the history of Vietnamese-American friendship is that, almost a century and a half ago, an American Ambassador of good will, named John White, also came to Vietnam. He was a well-respected citizen of Boston, a businessman, and traveler. History did not record his poems, but he wrote memoirs about his influences in our exotic land. Today we have had the privilege and the great pleasure to have in Ambassador Lodge a much more illustrious Ambassador from Boston. We are sad to see him leaving, but the years he spent in Vietnam will long be remembered. We know that with Ambassador Bunker, another page of cordial and constructive friendship will be opened. In this spirit may I ask you, Mr. President and gentlemen, to join me in a toast to the everlasting friendship and solidarity between our two nations, for freedom, peace, and progress. [As printed above this item follows the text released by the White House Press Office at Guam.] 131 Joint Statement Following the Meeting in Chairman Thieu and Prime Minister Ky. THE PRESIDENT of the United States and the Chief of State and the Prime Minister of Vietnam completed their discussions in Guam. These talks have demonstrated again their joint determination with their allies, to defend freedom in South Vietnam and at the same time to continue the earnest search for an honorable peace. President Johnson took this occasion to present to Chairman Thieu, Prime Minister Ky, and their party the new leadership of the U.S. Mission in Saigon. Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker will take up from Ambassador Lodge the maintenance and strengthening of close relations with the Government of Vietnam. He will be working with that Government in its struggle to preserve the nation's freedom, in its steady progress toward economic and social development, and in the new political chapter now opening of constitutional and representative government under elected leaders. President Johnson introduced Ambassador Eugene Locke, who will take Ambassador Porter's place as Deputy Chief of the U.S. Mission, and he also explained that his Special Assistant, Mr. Robert Komer, would be in Saigon giving his attention to pacification/RD matters. Meeting with their advisers, President Johnson and Chairman Thieu and Prime. Minister Ky reviewed the encouraging progress on the various programs of the Vietnamese Government which had been discussed at Honolulu early in 1966 and were outlined in the communique of the seven allied nations meeting in Manila last October. Discussion covered the military front, where the initiative lies increasingly with the allied forces and where the leaders of North Vietnam must recognize the futility Guam With of their effort to seize control of South Viet- The meeting also reviewed those programs of the Vietnamese Government to which the United States is providing assistance. They found that, a solid foundation having been laid, the pacification and revolutionary development program was now beginning to show encouraging results, despite Vietcong efforts to disrupt it by terror and intimidation. They noted the successful maintenance of financial stability while recognizing the need for continued vigilance on this front. They heard from Dr. Vu Quoc Thuc and Mr. David Lilienthal of the long-range economic planning now getting underway. Plans for continued efforts in the fields of national reconciliation and reform of land policies and tenure provisions were described. by the Vienamese leaders. They also outlined the provisions of the Constitution drafted by the Constituent Assembly elected last September 11 and agreed by the Assembly and approved by the Directorate in the last few days. This instrument provides for the principal organs of a representative government and assures to the people civil and economic rights and social justice. The Constitution offers full civil rights to those who respect its provisions and the world looks forward to the day when the Vietcong will take advantage of this offer, abandon the course of terror and violence, and join in making a free, modern society in South Vietnam. It was also announced that elections for a President will be held under the Constitution within 4 to 5 months and the elections for a legislature shortly thereafter. Meanwhile a major forward step will be made toward the restoration of democratic local government when village hamlet elections take place, starting in April. The numerous and varied efforts made in recent months to bring about a peaceful settlement were reviewed by the heads of both delegations. Thus far, they noted regretfully, North Vietnam has failed to respond to all such efforts. However, Chairman. Thieu, Prime Minister Ky, and President Johnson reaffirmed their undertakings at Manila and Honolulu and pledged themselves anew to the diligent pursuit of peace. Continuing consultations about the search. for peace will be maintained among the nations whose forces are now fighting against aggression in South Vietnam. The Vietnamese and American leaders also took note of the forthcoming meetings in Washington of SEATO on April 18-20 and of the Foreign Ministers of nations having troops in Vietnam on April 20-21. The latter will bring together again the Governments which met at Manila last October and provide an opportunity for them to review progress and programs in Vietnam and consult on future courses of action. The Vietnamese leaders are leaving Guam for Saigon this morning and President Johnson is expected to depart at the end of the day. NOTE: The joint statement was released at Guam. 132 The President's News Conference in Guam Following the Conference. March 21, 1967 REPORT ON THE CONFERENCE THE PRESIDENT. [1.] Ladies and gentlemen, at Mr. Christian's1 request, I am here to summarize for you the developments of yesterday and today. We have just completed our exchange of views. That is: Yesterday was devoted primarily to exchanges with the leaders of South Vietnam. Today Ambassador Lodge and General Westmoreland, as our specially delegated representatives there, went into their respective responsibilities with us. General Westmoreland reported to us on the military developments in that country, evaluated them and analyzed them. He went into some detail on the training, both of our troops and our allies; the supplies, the health conditions, the casualties, the accidentsmore or less the general condition of our troops and their problems. 'George E. Christian, Special Assistant to the President. Ambassador Lodge reviewed the nonmilitary matters. He spent a good deal of the morning discussing the situation that we went into some detail on yesterday, and of which the leaders of South Vietnam are so very proud. That is the new Constitution that Premier Ky presented to me yesterday. He reviewed the developments that led to that Constitution. He went into some detail on the actual provisions of it-its strengths. We discussed the elections that will follow in the aftermath of it-the hamlet and province elections that are coming up in the next few days and weeks; the presidential election that will come within 6 months; and the legislative election that will follow. In addition to that, while we went into these things at some length yesterday, we really targeted in on them this morning with our own people-for the benefit of Ambassador Bunker, who will be taking over there, |