Nixon’s message

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32838, 11 February 1972, Page 9

Nixon’s message

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. The highlights of President Nixon’s 95,000-word message to Congress on United States foreign policy, are given by United Press International, are:

CHINA: The Presidential visit to Peking this month will “signal the 'end of a sterile and barren interlude in the relationship between two great peoples.” Mr Nixon described the understanding between Washington and Peking as “fragile, but a giant step towards the creation of a stable structure of world peace.” SOVIET UNION: “We have succeeded in giving a new momentum to the prospects of more constructive relations through a series of concrete agreements which get at the cause of the tension between our two countries. The agreements vary in importance, but together provide serious grounds for believing that a fundamental improvement in the United States-Soviet Union relationship may be possible.”

WESTERN EUROPE AND JAPAN: “Our allies are no longer willing to have the alliance rest only on American prescriptions—and we are no longer willing to have our alliances depend for their potency and sustenance primarily on American contributions ... The United States will expect, and welcome, a great diversity of policy aimed at a goal of a stable world peace rather than the containment of the Soviet Union and China behind an American shield.”

INDO-CHINA: “ . . .We are ready to conclude a settlement of military issues only. To date, however, our earnest efforts to end the war for all participants through negotiations have foundered on Communist obstinacy. That has left us no choice

but to move towards ending the war for America through Vietnamisation of the conflict.” SOUTH ASIA: “ . . .We made a determined, year-long effort to prevent a war. We did not succeed. Our deep Interest in the well-being of both India and Pakistan compounded our disapponitment . . . The fighting in South Asia has ominous implications for the stability of other areas.” MIDDLE EAST: ”... No progress was made towards the essential requirements of peace in the Middle East: an arrangement which rests the

security of all on something more reliable than the good will of a nation’s adversaries.” LATIN AMERICA: “ . . . We have yet to work out with our friends a solution of the conflict between their desire for our help and their determination to be free of dependence upon us.”

TRADE: “The time has come to begin moving towards a series of international negotiations for the reduction of trade barriers . . . Other nations must help the United States to solve her balance - of - payments problem.”