Speech #920132414

The Nixon doctrine simply indicates that we are not going to be furnishing American manpower to nations fighting to defend themselves. but that we will provide material assistance and help. I had the feeling at the time that if we could have gotten out of Southeast Asia when we had 540.000 men there. some arrangement could have been made with both North Vietnam and South Vietnam to rebuild the whole nation. that the United States would have been willing to put $10 billion into that effort if. by such a program. we could have shortened and stopped that war. As I understand the amendment. it would cut into the heart of programs that we are carrying on for refugee assistance and relief in Vietnam. It would cut into the heart of the program that we have underway for land reform. to try to make more viable economic conditions for the people of South Vietnam so that they can actually see the end result of the struggle as beneficial to them. After all. the Communists have moved into many areas there and have offered all sorts of panaceas to the people. An offer of hope on one side. if there is no evidence of real material benefit on the other side. could undercut our efforts. These programs have been carried on with the encouragement of our Governmentreform of land ownership in South Vietnam. providing protection for refugees. money required to purchase materials. such as the distinguished Senator from Mississippi has pointed out to Senators in his letter. a program of acquiring chemicals. steels. and other basic commodities needed by these nations in their own selfinterest and selfdefense. 90 percent of such products being purchased from American corporations. It would be foolhardy for us to reduce this program. to gut the Nixon doctrine. the doctrine of enabling other countries to defend themselves. and to try to skim off and cut out of this billand really gut the purpose of the billfunds which are vitally needed now to carry on that program. The state of shock the Government of Vietnam was in after the action taken by the Senate just last week. when we voted down the foreign assistance bill. and the discussion carried on since then about the rate of our troop withdrawals. are deeply involved with their own feelings about whether they can carry this load themselves.