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7338159
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Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the present critical situation in Cambodia
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7338159
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contentType
document
title
Letter from the President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives regarding the present critical situation in Cambodia
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collections
White House Press Releases (Ford Administration)
Press Releases
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7338159
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25
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1975-02-25
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2
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1975
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c592bf7402147e89
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Digitized from Box 8 of the White House Press Releases at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 25, 1975
Office of the White House Press Secretary
THE WHITE HOUSE
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT TO
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 1975
Dear Mr. Speaker:
I wish to convey to the House of Representatives my deep concern over the
present critical stiuation in Cambodia. An independent Cambodia cannot
survive unless the Congress acts very soon to provide supplemental military
and economic assistance.
Unless such assistance is provided, the Cambodian army will run out of
ammunition in less than a month.
The Cambodian people are totally dependent on us for their only means of resis-
tance to aggression. The Communist forces now attacking have a constant,
massive outside source of supply from the North as has been demonstrated by
their ability to sustain the current heavy offensive.
If additional military assistance is withheld or delayed, the Government forces
will be forced, within weeks, to surrender to the insurgents.
The economic situation is almost as difficult. Refugees forced to flee their
homes by the Communists' repressive measures and scorched-earth policies
have poured into Phnom Penh and other cities. Severe food shortages are
already beginning. If the Congress does not provide for continued deliveries of
rice and other essential supplies, millions of innocent people will suffer
people who depend on us for their bare survival.
The Government of the Khmer Republic has demonstrated on countless occasions
its willingness to negotiate a compromise political settlement to bring peace to
its tormented land. It has been proven over the past two years that the progressive
outbacks of American support have only undercut the possibilities of negotiation by
encouraging a ruthless enemy in the hope of obtaining a total victory.
These are the harsh realities which the Congress must bear in mind as it considers
the Administration's request for supplemental assistance to Cambodia.
It has been a basic policy of this Government to give material support to friends and
allies who are willing and able to carry the burden of their own self-defense.
Cambodia is such an ally.
This is a moral question that must be faced squarely. Are we to deliberately
abandon a small country in the midst of its life and death struggle? Is the United
States, which so far has consistently stood by its friends through the most diffi-
cult of times, now to condemn, in effect a small Asian nation totally dependent
upon us? We cannot escape this responsibility. Our national security and the
integrity of our alliances depend upon our reputation as a reliable partner.
Countries around the world who depend on us for support -- as well as their foes.
will judge our performance. It is in this spirit and with this sense of respon-
sibility, Mr. Speaker, that I urge rapid and favorable action on my request for
additional assistance to Cambodia.
Sincerely,
/s/ Gerald R. Ford
Honorable Carl Albert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.
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