rorism have increased. The number and size of armed engagements have grown. The pace of infiltration from the north, across the demilitarized zone, through Laos, and by sea, has been stepped up. These documents show clearly that the North Vietnamese Communists have repeatedly violated the Geneva Accords. I believe that this report makes it clear that South Viet-Nam needs additional help in defending itself. The Government of South Viet-Nam realizes this and has welcomed support from the non-Communist world. The United States is now taking steps to help South Viet-Nam develop the military, economic, and social strength needed to preserve its national integrity. It is our hope that other nations will join us in providing assistance to South Viet-Nam until such time as the Communists have halted their acts of violence and terror. I think there are a number of ways in which other nations can help [the Republic of Viet-Nam]. There is first, of course, the sense of political support for the Government of Viet-Nam as it meets this serious threat from the north. Then there are many tasks which are present in South Viet-Nam on which assistance is needed. They are economic assistance, technical assistance, administrative help, and measures of the sort which we have in mind to improve the effectiveness of the South Vietnamese armed forces. Improvements in their mobility, their communications, and their equipment, and things of that sort. I would think that the mechanisms are those which are already established in South Viet-Nam, and I know that the South Vietnamese Government has had discussions and is having discussions with others on this particular point. There is no question that the North Vietnamese have been systematically violating the 1954 Geneva Accords. Indeed, the title of the report which we are issuing to the public today, A Threat to the Peace, is taken from Under Secretary Bedell Smith's statement at the time of the Geneva Accords as to our attitude toward that situation.21 Now, actions are being taken by the other side to breach these accords. It is not a violation of an agreement of this sort to take steps to protect oneself against the other party's breach, even though in the absence of such a breach those steps might not be considered normal. If the North Vietnamese bring themselves into full compliance with the Geneva Accord, there will be no problem on the part of South VietNam or anyone supporting South Viet-Nam. "Text in American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 787-788. Doc. 545 546. "IN THE FACE OF THE AGGRESSION, DIRECTED BY" NORTH VIET-NAM, "THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM HAS REQUESTED ... THE UNITED STATES... TO INTENSIFY. AID": Communication From the Liaison Mission of the Republic of Viet-Nam to the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Viet-Nam, December 9, 1961 22 23 ... In the face of the aggression, directed by the so-called "Democratic Republic of Viet-Nam" against the Republic of Viet-Nam, in flagrant violation of the Geneva Agreement," the Government of the Republic of Viet-Nam has requested the Government of the United States of America to intensify the aid in personnel and material which the latter was already granting to Viet-Nam. The right of "self-defence" being a legitimate and inherent attribute of sOTereignty, the Government of the Republic of Viet-Nam found itself constrained to exercise this right and request for increased aid, since North Viet-Nam continues to violate the Geneva Agreement and to do injury to life and property of the free people of Viet-Nam. These measures can end as soon as the North Viet-Nam authorities will have ceased the acts of aggression and will have begun to respect the Geneva Agreement. 547. "WE ARE PREPARED TO HELP THE REPUBLIC OF VIET-NAM TO PROTECT ITS PEOPLE AND TO PRESERVE ITS INDEPENDENCE": Message From the President of the United States (Kennedy) to the President of the Republic of Viet-Nam (Diem), December 14, 1961 25 DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have received your recent letter in which you described so cogently the dangerous condition caused by North Viet-Nam's efforts to take over your country.26 The situation in your embattled country is well known to me and to the American people. We have been deeply disturbed by the assault on your country. Our indignation has mounted as the deliberate savagery of the Communist program of assassination, kidnapping and wanton violence became clear. Your letter underlines what our own information has convincingly shown that the campaign of force and terror now being waged against your people and your Government is supported and directed from the outside by the authorities at Hanoi. They have thus violated the provisions of the Geneva Accords designed to ensure peace in Viet-Nam and to which they bound themselves in 1954. At that time, the United States, although not a party to the Accords, declared that it "would view any renewal of the aggression in violation of the agreements with grave concern and as seriously threaten ” Cmnd. 1755, p. 8. 23 Text in American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 750-767. 24 See ante, doc. 538. 25 White House press release dated Dec. 14, 1961 (for release Dec. 15; text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 1, 1962, p. 13). 26 Ante, doc. 544. 27 ing international peace and security." We continue to maintain that view. In accordance with that declaration, and in response to your request, we are prepared to help the Republic of Viet-Nam to protect its people and to preserve its independence. We shall promptly increase our assistance to your defense effort as well as help relieve the destruction of the floods which you describe. I have already given the orders to get these programs underway. The United States, like the Republic of Viet-Nam, remains devoted to the cause of peace and our primary purpose is to help your people maintain their independence. If the Communist authorities in North Viet-Nam will stop their campaign to destroy the Republic of VietNam, the measures we are taking to assist your defense efforts will no longer be necessary. We shall seek to persuade the Communists to give up their attempts of force and subversion. In any case, we are confident that the Vietnamese people will preserve their independence and gain the peace and prosperity for which they have sought so hard and so long. His Excellency NGO DINH DIEM JOHN F. KENNEDY President and Secretary of State for National Defense The Republic of Viet-Nam E. Status and Pending Independence of Trust Territories of the Western Pacific 548. THE FUTURE OF WESTERN SAMOA: Resolution 1626 (XVI), Adopted by the U.N. General Assembly, October 18, 1961 1 The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 1569 (XV) of 18 December 1960 concerning the future of the Trust Territory of Western Samoa under New Zealand administration,2 Taking note of Trusteeship Council resolution 2102 (XXVII) of 7 July 1961,3 "See American Foreign Policy, 1950-1955: Basic Documents, pp. 787-788. 1 U.N. General Assembly Official Records, Sixteenth Session, Supplement No. 17 (A/5100), pp. 33-34. This resolution, sponsored by the representatives of 64 member states (including the U.S.), was adopted by acclamation. U.S. position, see U.N. docs. A/C.4/SR. 1169, p. 82, and 1170, p. 89. 3 For the Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1960, pp. 692–693. Text in U.N. Trusteeship Council Official Records, Twenty-seventh Session, Supplement No. 1 (T/1581), p. 1. Having examined the report of the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner concerning the plebiscite held in Western Samoa on 9 May 1961,1 Having heard the statements of the representative of the Administering Authority and of the Prime Minister of Western Samoa, 1. Expresses its high appreciation of the work of the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner for Western Samoa and his staff, and of the co-operation he received from the Administering Authority and from the Government and people of Western Samoa; 2. Endorses the results of the plebiscite, namely that: (a) The people of Western Samoa have, by an overwhelming majority, expressed their agreement with the Constitution for an independent State of Western Samoa adopted by the Constitutional Convention on 28 October 1960; 7 (b) The people of Western Samoa have agreed by an overwhelming majority that on 1 January 1962 Western Samoa should become an independent State on the basis of that Constitution; 3. Resolves, in agreement with the Administering Authority, that the Trusteeship Agreement for Western Samoa approved by the General Assembly on 13 December 1946 shall cease to be in force upon the accession of Western Samoa to independence on 1 January 1962: 4. Expresses the hope that Western Samoa, on the attainment of independence, will be admitted to membership in the United Nations, should it so desire. Part X DISARMAMENT EFFORTS AND THE PEACEFUL USES OF ATOMIC ENERGY A. United States Arms Control Machinery 549. PROPOSAL TO AUTHORIZE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNITED STATES DISARMAMENT AGENCY: Letter From the President (Kennedy) to the President of the Senate (Johnson), June 29, 1961 (Excerpts) 1 3 DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I am transmitting herewith, for consideration by the Congress, a draft of legislation 2 to carry out the recommendation contained in my May twenty-fifth Message, for the establishment of a strengthened and enlarged disarmament agency to make an intensified effort to develop acceptable political and technical alternatives to the present arms race. For the past five months, Mr. John J. McCloy, my adviser on disarmament matters, has been conducting, at my request, an extensive study of the governmental effort and organization necessary to give effect to our national purpose in this field. He has had available to him the results of searching studies by individual members and committees of the Congress, the agencies of Government principally concerned, national and international organizations and eminent private individuals. During the course of his study, Mr. McCloy has consulted closely with Secretary [of State] Rusk, Secretary [of Defense] McNamara, Chairman Seaborg [of the Atomic Energy Commission] and other high officials. All of these studies and consultations have inescapably pointed to the conclusion that a new effort, considerably larger than our present effort, in terms of size, range of skills and authority will be necessary. This can best be accomplished by the creation of a new United States agency. Following Mr. McCloy's recommendations, I am therefore proposing that a new United States Disarmament Agency for World Peace 1 White House press release dated June 29, 1961 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, July 17, 1961, pp. 99-100). An identical letter was sent on the same day to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. * S. 2180 (H. 7936), 87th Cong.; not printed here. See infra. Ante, doc. 6. |