Press copy of the Toast by the President of the United States, Formal Dinner, Elysee Palace, Paris, France, 31 May 1961

IMMEDIATE RELEASE MAY 31, 1961 Office of the White House Press Secretary THE WHITE HOUSE of (Paris, France) TOAST BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, FORMAL DINNER, ELYSEE PALACE, PARIS, FRANCE, , MAY 31,91961 THE PRESIDENT: President DeGaulle, ladies and gentlemen: It is naturally a great honor for any President of the United States to come to Paris. de In this city in 1783, Benjamin Franklin signed the Treaty which made us sovereign, independent and equal, and ent of addition, it is not difficult for this President of the United States to 000 come to France. I sleep in a French bed. In the morning my to bolp breakfast is served by a French chef. I go to my office, and the bad Z news of the day is brought to me by my Press Secretary, Pierre 0.80 sw Salinger, not in his native language, and Iam married to a daughter of France. But I do not believe that sentiment is sufficient to explain the close relations which exist between the United States and France. 10W There is no doubt that the early Revolutionary leaders paid due tribute to France, George Washington and the others, for the role which France Ligoeq played in the independence of our country. But it is an interesting fact in history that John Adams, who was also a Minister to France, and 508 a successor to General Washington, should want as his epitaph to be has written, "He kept the peace with France. So changes the times, and ent where once General Washington and Mr. Adams paid tribute to France, vd Mr. Adams could claim as his great contribution that he did not engage in war with this country. So that sentiment and friendship which come 3813 seadd and go are not sufficient to explain the enduring ties which exist between add bgs France and the United States. It is something more substantial. I live in a part of America which is the most eastern part, and I look across the ocean and the nearest country I can see is S'P betinU 20 France. It has been in the century a strong conviction of the XI Presidents and the people of the United States that the security evad axedto dgin to n ode of my country would be directly threatened if France were not (OVER)