○  renunciation speech  ○

an to move from the unilateral act of de-escalation that i have just announced toward genuine peace in southeast asia.

now, as in the past, the united states is ready to send its representatives to any forum, at any time, to discuss the means of bringing this ugly war to an end. i am designating one of our most distinguished americans, ambassador averell harriman, as my personal representative for such talks. in addition, i have asked ambassador llewellyn thompson, who returned from moscow for consultation, to be available to join ambassador harriman at geneva or any other suitable place --just as soon as hanoi agrees to a conference.

i call upon president ho chi minh to respond positively, and favorably, to this new step toward peace. but if peace does not come now through negotiations, it will come when hanoi understands that our common resolve is unshakable, and our common strength is invincible.

tonight, we and the other allied nations are contributing 600,000 fighting men to assist 700,000 south vietnamese troops in defending their little country. our presence there has always rested on this basic belief: the main burden of preserving their freedom must be carried out by them -- by the south vietnamese themselves.

we and our allies can only help to provide a shield behind which the people of south vietnam can survive and can grow and develop. on their efforts -- on their determinations and resourcefulness --the outcome will ultimately depend. that small, beleaguered nation has suffered terrible punishment for more than 20 years. i pay tribute once again tonight to the great courage and the endurance of its people. south vietnam supports

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