○  renunciation speech  ○

nations has grown rapidly. and i think every american can take a great deal of pride in the role that we have played in bringing this about in southeast asia. we can rightly judge -- as responsible southeast asians themselves do -- that the progress of the past three years would have been far less likely, if not completely impossible, if america's sons and others had not made their stand in vietnam.

at johns hopkins university about three years ago, i announced that the united states would take part in the great work of developing southeast asia, including the mekong valley, for all the people of that region. our determination to help build a better land -- a better land for men on both sides of the present conflict -- has not diminished in the least. indeed, the ravages of war, i think, have made it more urgent than ever.

so i repeat on behalf of the united states again tonight what i said at johns hopkins -- that north vietnam could take its place in this common effort just as soon as peace comes. over time, a wider framework of peace and security in southeast asia may become possible. the new cooperations of the nations of the area could be a foundation stone. certainly friendship with the nations of such a southeast asia is what the united states seeks -- and that is all that the united states seeks.

one day, my fellow citizen, there will be peace in southeast asia. it will come because the people of southeast asia want it -- those whose armies are at war tonight; those who, though threatened, have thus far been spared. peace will come because asians were willing to work for it and to sacrifice for it -- and to die by the thousands for it. but let it n

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