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THE PRESIDENT'S Reading Copy September 16, 1969 After careful consideration with my senior civilian and military advisors and in full consultation with the Government of Vietnam, I have decided to reduce the authorized troop ceiling in Vietnam to 484,000 by December 15. This compares with the ceiling of 549,500 which existed when this Administration took office. Under the newly authorized troop ceiling a minimum of 60,000 troops will have been withdrawn from Vietnam by December 15. Since coming into office, my Administration has made major efforts to bring an end to the war: We have renounced an imposed military solution. -- We have proposed free elections organized by Joint Commissions under international supervision. -- We have offered the withdrawal of U. S. and allied forces over a 12-month period. -- We have declared that we would retain no military bases. - -- We have offered to negotiate supervised cease-fires under international supervision to facilitate the process of mutual withdrawal.