Speech #940044412

But there is also an opportunity to achieve a settlement. or transition. that will end the daily bloodbath and reduce the possibility of violent reprisals when hostilities cease. In the judgment of wellinformed. respected nonCommunist Vietnamese in Saigon and in the United States. a negotiated transition will permit an honorable peace. Only through such diplomatic initiativesby communicating with all parties concerned. and seeking the good offices of the United Nations and other countriescan we facilitate the movement and protection of refugees and threatened populations in all areas of South Vietnam. Instead of wringing our hands over this issue. or pretending we can fly this problem out of Vietnam. we must immediately pursue those diplomatic agreements and understandings that will help secure the free movement and protection of the civilian population. Such agreements and understandings followed the first Indochina war. and similar civil wars in recent yearsfrom Algeria. and NigeriaBiafra. to Bangladesh.