'A vast human tragedy'

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33816, 12 April 1975, Page 15

'A vast human tragedy'

■ (N.Z.P..4 -ReuZer—Copyright > ! WASHINGTON, April LI. In his foreign policy address to a joint session [ of Congress last night, President Ford said, in part: “The American people can be proud of what their country has achieved andi helped others to accomplish, but we have, from time to’ time, suffered set-backs and: disappointments in foreign [ policy. “Some were difficulties we| imposed upon ourselves. I i “A vast human tragedy] [has befallen our friends in [Vietnam and Cambodia. i “The chances of an en- , during peace after the last American fighting man . left Vietnam in 1973 rested on two publicly-stated premises: First, that, if necessary, the United States would help to sustain the terms of the Paris accords it signed two! years ago; and. second, that I the United States would pro-| vide adequate economic and' military assistance to South! Vietnam. “Let us refresh our memories for a moment. ! “The universal consensus [ tn the United States at that time was that if we could j end our own involvement, | and obtain the release of our prisoners, we would provide adequate material support to South Vietnam. “The North Vietnamese, from the moment they signed the Paris accords, systematically violated the cease-fire and other provisions of the agreements. ‘Torn by emotions’

“In the face of this situation, the United States, torn as she was by the emotions of a decade of -war, was unable to respond. “We deprived ourselves, by law. of the ability to enforce the agreements, thus

i giving North Vietnam assurance that it could violate those agreements with i impunity. I “Next, we reduced our economic and amts aid to South Vietnam, and, finally, we signalled our increasing reluctance to give any support to a nation struggling for its survival.

“Encouraged by this, the North Vietnamese in recent ) onths began to send even [their reserve divisions into South Vietnam.

[ “Eighteen divisions, virtually their entire army, are [now in South Vietnam. “The Government of South [Vietnam, uncertain of further [American - assistance, hastily ordered a strategic withdrawal to more defensible [positions. “This extremely difficult manoeuvre, decided upon without consultations, was poorly executed, hampered by floods of refugees, and, thus, led to panic. “The results are painfully obvious and profoundly I moving | Call to Hanoi I “. . . I call upon Hanoi, and ask Congress to join me [in this call, to cease military [operations immediately, and [to honour the terms of the [ Paris agreements. The United [States is urgently requesting [the signatories of the Paris [conference to meet their obligation to use their influence to halt the fighting and to enforce the 1973 accords.

“Diplomatic notes to this effect have been sent to all members of the Paris conference, including the Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.

“The situation in South Vietnam and Cambodia has reached a critical phase requiring immediate and positive decisions by the United States Government. “I have received a full report from General Weyand, whom I sent to Vietnam to assess the situation, and he (advises that the present military situation is critical, but that South Vietnam is continuing to defend herself with the resources available.

“However, he feels that if there is to be any chance of success for their defence plan, the South Vietnamese need urgently an additional SUS722m in very specific military supplies from the United States.

“In my judgment. a stabilisation of the military situation offers the best opportunity for a political solutir ‘Not pulling out’ ! “I must, of course, consider the safety of some 6000 Americans who remain in

South Vietnam, and the tens of thousands of South Vietnamese employees of the United States Government, of news agencies, of contractors, and of business for many years, whose lives, with their dependants, are in grave peril. “There are tens of thousands of other South Vietnamese intellectuals, professors and teachers, editors, and opinion-leaders who have supported the South j Vietnamese cause and her| alliance with the United I States, to whom we have al profound moral obligation. I

[ “I am also mindful of our [posture towards the rest of [the world, and particularly [on our future relations with IfG- free nations of Asia. “These nations must not I think for one minute that [the United States is pulling put on them, or intends to [abandon them to aggression.

[ “I have therefore coni'eluded that the national initerests of the United States [and the cause of world [stability require that we conItinue to give both military [and humanitarian assistance [to the South Vietnamese. “Assistance to South Vietnam at this stage must, be [swift and adequate: drift land indecision invite far deeper disaster.

: “The sums I had requested [before the major North Vietnamese offensive and the sudden South Vietnamese retreat, are obviously inadequate. Half-hearted action would be worse than none. We must act together, and decisively. “I am asking Congress to appropriate without delay SUS722m for emergency military assistance, and an initial sum of SUS2SOm for economic and humanitarian aid for South Vietnam.

Pledge given "... I hereby pledge, in the name of the American I people, that the 'United States will make a maximum humanitarian effort to help care for and feed them.

“I ask Congress to clarify immediately its restrictions ion the use of American military forces in South--East Asia for the limited purposes of' protecting American lives by ensuring their [evacuation, if this should (become necessary.

! “I also ask for a prompt revision of the law to cover [those Vietnamese to whom ; we have a special obligation, (and whose lives may be (endangered, should the worse (come to pass. [ “I hope that this authority will never be used, but if it is needed there will be no time for Congressional debate. Because of the urgency of the situation, I

urge Congress to complete action on ail these measures by not later than April 19.

"it may be too late’

“In Cambodia, the situation is tragic. The United States and the Cambodian Government have each made major attempts, over a long period and through many channels, to end that conflict, but because of their military successes, steady ! external support, and American legislative restrictions, the Communists side has shown no interest in negotiations. compromise, or a political solution.

“And yet. for the last three months the beleaguered [people of Phnom Penh have i fought on. hoping against [hope tl . t the United States I would not desert them, but, [instead, provide the arms ■and ammunition they so [badly need . . . I “In January, I requested food and ammunition for the brave Cambodians, f regret to say,’ as of this evening, it may be too late.

i “Members of Congress and [my fellow-Americans, this [moment of tragedy for Indo[China is a time of trial for : us, a time for national iresolv Let us put an end [to self-inflicted wounds. Let [us remember that our nationa’ unity is a most [priceless asset. Let us deny [our adversaries the satisfaction of using Vietnam to pit Americans against Americans.

“We must first of all face the fact that what has happened in Indo-China has disquieted many of our friends, especially in Asia. We must deal with this situation promptly and firmly. To this end, 1 have already scheduled meetings with the leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Indonesia, and I expect, to meet the leaders of other Asian countries as well . .