Speech #890191738

John Gardner. to Vietnam to do everything possible to expedite the aid program. The aim of this program Is not only the pacification of the countryside. but to use a cliche which has been used so much in connection with Vietnam. the job of winning. or winning back. the hearts and minds of the people of South Vietnam. who were so badly alienated by the activities of dictator Diem and those who followed him in the government of South Vietnam. I would make the point. on the basis of the hearings of the Armed Services Committee. that there is precious little terrain where the pacification and economic and social justice program can take effect. because there is so little of the land we really control. and that as to the population where the program can be carried out we are dealing. to a large extent. with homeless refugees and people in cities who. in many ways. are far more in need of economic aid than the peasants in the hamlets and villages. So I would say. in summary. that because of our lack of control over the terrain and the population. and because of the sagging condition of the South Vietnamese economy. there is not much prospect that. in the immediate foreseeable future. we will be able to make much progress in our economic and social aid program to South Vietnam. I turn now to the military situation.