Should the President risk engaging our forces in hostilities to rescue foreign nationals? Does not the President have an inherent right under the Constitution to rescue American nationals in an emergency when their lives are endangered? One week before the President requested authority to use the Armed Forces to rescue foreign nationals. he reported to Congress. under the war powers resolution. that an Ameircan naval vessel had entered the territorial waters of South Vietnam on April 3 to participate "in the refugee evacuation effort." The President made the following statement in describing the legal authority under which he acted: This effort is being undertaken pursuant to the Presidents constitutional authority as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive in the conduct of foreign relations and pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. as amended. which authorizes humanitarian assistance to refugees. civilian war casualties and other persons disadvantaged by hostilities or conditions relating to hostilities in South Vietnam. This statement indicated to me that clarification of the Presidents legal authority to use the Armed Forces in Indochina was urgently needed. In my opinion.
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refugee refugees