Remarks of President Lyndon Johnson at Syracuse University

Page 2 - Aggression - deliberate, willfull and systematic aggression -- has unmasked its face to the entire world. The world remembers -- the world must never forget -- that aggression unchallenged is aggression unleashed. We of the United States have not forgotten. That is why we have answered this aggression with action. America's course is not precipitate. America's course is not without long provocation. For ten years, three American Presidents -- President Eisenhower, President Kennedy and your present President -- and the American people have been actively concerned with threats to the peace and security of the peoples of Southeast Asia from the Communist Government of North Viet Nam. President Bisenhower sought -- and President Kennedy sought -- the same objectives that I still seek. That the Governments of Southeast Asia honor the international agreements which apply in the area; That those Governments leave each other alone; That they resolve their differences peacefully; That they devote their talents to bettering the lives of their peoples by working against poverty and disease and ignorance. In 1954 we made our position clear toward Viet Nam. In June of that year, we stated we "would view any renewal of the aggression in violation of the 1954 agreements with grave concern and as seriously threatening international peace and security." In September of that year, the United States signed the Manila Pact on which our participation in SEATO is based. That Pact recognized that aggression by means of armed attack on South Viet Nam would endanger the peace and the safety of the nations signing that solemn agreement. In 1962 we made our position clear toward Laos. We signed the Declaration of Neutrality of Laos. That Accord provided for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and respect for the neutrality and independence of that little country. The agreements of 1954 and 1962 were also signed by the Government of North Viet Nam. In 1954 that Government pledged that it would respect the territory under the military control of the other party and engage in no hostile act against the other party. In 1962 that Government pledged that it would "not introduce into the Kingdom of Laos foreign troops or military personnel." MORE