lks, i am taking the first step to de-escalate the conflict. we are reducing -- substantially reducing -- the present level of hostilities, and we are doing so unilaterally and at once.
tonight, i have ordered our aircraft and our naval vessels to make no attacks on north vietnam, except in the area north of the demilitarized zone where the continuing enemy buildup directly threatens allied forward positions and where the movements of their troops and supplies are clearly related to that threat. the area in which we are stopping our attacks includes almost 90 percent of north vietnam's population, and most of its territory. thus, there will be no attacks around the principal populated areas, or in the food-producing areas of north vietnam.
even this very limited bombing of the north could come to an early end -- if our restraint is matched by restraint in hanoi. but i cannot in good conscience stop all bombing so long as to do so would immediately and directly endanger the lives of our men and our allies. whether a complete bombing halt becomes possible in the future will be determined by events. our purpose in this action is to bring about a reduction in the level of violence that now exists. it is to save the lives of brave men --and to save the lives of innocent women and children. it is to permit the contending forces to move closer to a political settlement. and tonight i call upon the united kingdom and i call upon the soviet union -- as co-chairmen of the geneva conferences, and as permanent members of the united nations security council -- to do all they c
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