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7337074
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Remarks of the President upon Returning from His Trip to Japan, the Republic of Korea and the U.S.S.R. [Ford Speech or Statement]
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7337074
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document
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Remarks of the President upon Returning from His Trip to Japan, the Republic of Korea and the U.S.S.R. [Ford Speech or Statement]
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White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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Soviet Union
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Japan
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7337074
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24
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1974-11-24
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11
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1974
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Digitized from Box 5 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 24, 1974
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
THE WHITE HOUSE
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
UPON RETURNING FROM HIS TRIP TO
JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AND THE U.S.S.R.
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE
7:31 P.M. EST
Mr. Speaker, my very dear friends in the Congress,
members of the Cabinet, distinguished guests, my fellow
Americans:
I thank you all very, very much for coming out
this evening and welcoming us so very warmly.
Since I left Washington eight days ago, I have
traveled some 17,000 miles for the purpose of peace and
not a single step toward war. And every one of those miles,
in my opinion, was most worthwhile. But as always when we
return to our homeland, my companions and myself are very,
very happy to be here.
Secretary Kissinger has a few more miles to go
on this trip, but I will assure him that this warm welcome
includes him as well.
Thursday is Thanksgiving. I cannot help but
reflect on the many, many blessings that we Americans
have. We do have some very serious problems, but we have
much, much more to be thankful for. America is a strong
country, Americans are very strong people. We are free
and we are blessed with good friends and allies.
On my trip I talked with the leaders of two of
our allies, Japan and Korea. In both nations, I saw
now much they value their relationship with us. We will
continue to work together to strengthen our ties.
The visit to Japan marked my first trip outside
North America since becoming President and it was the
first time that a President of the United States has
visited that energetic and productive island nation.
Our trip was historic for another reason, for
it marked a change in our relationship. In the past the
central concern of our alliance was military security.
This security relationship has now been broadened to
include energy and food. I am particularly hopeful
that by working together with Japan, one of the world's
most technically advanced societies, we will be able to
make a substantial joint contribution to resolving the
energy crisis.
MORE
(OVER)
Page 2
Japan emerged from the destruction of war with
a deep commitment to peace. In Korea a sturdy people
rebuilt a nation from the ashes of another conflict. Only
a little over 20 years ago, Korea was a battleground. Today
it is a snowcase of economic development.
Just over two decades ago, American fighting
men were battling over the rugged mountains of Korea.
Today the major burden of Korea's defense is borne
by the Koreans themselves. American servicemen are
stationed there, but like their comrades in Europe and
elsewhere, they are there to help an ally maintain the
peace, not to do the job alone.
A highlight of the trip for me was the opportunity
to meet with our soldiers in Korea and to have lunch with
them in one of their camps. They are outstanding fighting
men and women doing a fine job. We can all be very proud
of them.
The final stop on our trip was the Soviet Union.
The meetings with General Secretary Brezhnev, I am pleased,
went very, very well. They represent both a beginning
and a continuation. They were the beginning of what I
nope will be a productive personal relationship between
Mr. Brezhnev and myself. We both, I believe, came away
from Vladivostok with mutual respect and a common
determination to continue the search for peace.
They were a continuation because we maintained
the steady improvement of our relations begun three years
ago. We talked, as American and Soviet leaders have in
the past, about the Middle East, European security, and
other bilateral relations. We often agreed, but not always.
When we did not, we stated our differences quite frankly.
But on perhaps the most important issue facing
the Soviet and American peoples, the further limitation
of strategic arms, we found a large measure of agreement.
We discussed the issue fully and in the end we established
a sound basis for a new agreement that will constrain
our military competition over the next decade. The
understanding we reached resulted from an intensive round
of give and take, the kind of give and take negotiations
that recognized the legitimate security of both sides.
Many details remain to be worked out by our
negotiators, but ceilings on the strategic forces of
both nations have been accepted. A good agreement that
will serve the interests of the United States and the
Soviet Union is now within our grasp. Vladivostok
was an appropriate ending to a journey designed to
strengthen ties with old friends and expand areas of
agreement with old adversaries.
MORE
Page 3
I believe we accomplished what we set out
to achieve and perhaps more. And in that process I
pray that we nave done all we could to advance the
cause of peace for all Americans and for all mankind.
Thank you very much.
END
7:38 P.M. EST