Speech #900281537

I wonder if it is truly responsible for high administration officials to suggest that American journalists .and trade representatives should go to Peking in light of what has happened to Japanese journalists and trade representatives who were also there seeking to establish peaceful contacts with the Chinese Communists? Mr. President. is it responsible to suggest that American officials should seek visas to go to Communist China when Edgar Snow. the American writer who has been on very friendly terms with the Chinese Communists since his laudatory book. "Red Star Over China." was first published in 1937. has just been refused a visa to visit his old friends on the mainland? Finally. I wish to inquire whether it is responsible for the second highest elected official in the land to be talking enthusiastically about closer relations with Communist Chinaan enthusiasm which the Chinese Communists themselves quite obviously do not sharewhen America is engaged in the longest war in the Nations history and the Chinese Communists are urging our enemies in Hanoi to prolong the conflict and are supplying arms. equipment. and support personnel so that the North Vietnamese can prosecute the war even more vigorously.