Speech #850049897

Placed at one of the strategic points of access for the important raw materials of Southeast Asia. the possession of which is decisive in the world. held back in her development by 100 years of foreign domination. exhausted by 15 years of war and destruction. the northern half of her territory given to the Communists. free Vietnam is in a more menaced and critical position than other Asian countries. At great human sacrificeand thanks to the aid given by the generous American peoplefree Vietnam has succeeded. in record time. to overcome the chaos brought about by war and the Geneva accords. The national rehabilitation and stability which have been achieved. have permitted the integration of over 860.000 refugees into the economy of the other 11 million people in free Vietnam. and have permitted the adoption of important economic and political reforms. Nevertheless. at the time all Asia is passing from one civilization to another. at the moment when all the important problems come up at once to the leaders and seem to call for immediate solution. at a time when all must be done in a climate of increasing revolutionary tension. it has become necessary for Vietnam. more than for other countries. to adopt a certain number of principles. guide lines for action. not only to protect her from the totalitarian temptations but. above all. to assist her to attain independence instead of anarchyto safeguard peace without sacrificing independenceto attain economic progress without sacrificing essential human liberties. It was for these reasonsbasing myself on fundamental sources of Asiatic culture. and within our own Vietnamese democratic traditionthat I had the honor to define this doctrine in the message of April .17. 1956. delivered to the National Constituent Assembly of Vietnam. I take the liberty of citing from it the most significant passages. for they constitute the basis of our constitution. I quote: In the face of the massive forces of material and political oppression which constantly menace us. we feel. more than other peoplethe essential need to base our political life on a solid foundation andrigorously to hasten the successive steps of our actions along lines which. without hesitation. will bring about the largest measure of democratic progress.