United Nations Security Council

First speaker on the list of speakers on the I didn't know before the concert. I call on the distinguished representative of the United States didn't want to ask you to lend lease to the people speaking for the United States. By Senator Stevenson. Mr. President members of the council I have asked for this prompt meeting to bring to the attention of the Security Council acts of deliberate aggression by the Hanoi regime against naval units of the United States naval vessels of my government on routine operations. In international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin have been subjected to deliberate and repeated armed attacks. We therefore have found it necessary to take defensive measures.

The major facts about these incidents were announced last night by the president of the United States and communicated to other governments at the same time I was requested to do and struck to him to request this beat. I shall recount these facts for the members of the council Mr. President in chronological order. At 8:00 8:00 a.m. Greenwich meridian time on August 2nd of this year the United States destroyer Maddox was on routine patrol in international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin proceeding in a south easterly direction away from the coast about 30 miles at sea from the mainland of North Vietnam.

The Maddox was approached by three high speed North Vietnamese torpedo boats in attack formation. But these paedo boats intended to take off and see the action. The medics in accordance with naval practice fired three warning shots across the bows of the approaching vessels at approximately the same time. The aircraft carrier Ticonderoga which was also in international waters and had been alerted to the impending attack sent out four aircraft to provide air cover for the destroyer matics. The pilots were under orders not to fire

unless they or the Maddox was fired upon first. Two of the attacking craft fired torpedoes which the Maddox evaded by changing course. All three attacking vessels directed machine gun fire at the medics and one of the attacking vessels approached for a close attack and was struck by fire from the night after the attack was broken off the Maddox continued on a southerly course in international waters. Now Mr President clearly this was a deliberate on to tack against a naval unit of the United States government on patrol in the high seas almost 30 miles from the mainland. Nevertheless my government did its utmost to minimize the

explosive potential of this flagrant attack in the hopes that this might be an isolated or uncalculated action. There was a local defensive find the United States was not drawn into hasty response. Then on August 3rd the United States took steps to convey to the Hanoi regime a note calling attention to this aggression stating that United States ships would continue to operate freely on the high seas in accordance with the rights guaranteed by international law and warning the authorities and Hanoi of the. And I quote grave consequences which would inevitably result from any further unprovoked offensive military action against United States forces. This notification was in accordance with the provisions of the Geneva

Accords. Our hope that this was an isolated incident and did not last long at 2:35 p.m. Greenwich meridian time on August 4th. When it was nighttime in the Gulf of Tonkin the destroyers and Maddox and S. Turner Joy were again subjected to an armed attack by an undetermined number of motor torpedo boats of the North Vietnamese Navy. This time the American vessels were 65 miles from the shore. Twice as far out on the high seas as on the occasion of the previous attack. This time numerous torpedoes verified the attack lasted for over two hours and no longer could be any shadow of doubt that this was planned

deliberate military aggression against vessels lawfully present in international waters. One could only conclude that this was the work of authorities dedicated to the use of force to achieve their objectives regardless of the consequences. My government therefore determined to take positive but limited. The relevant measures to secure its naval units against further aggression. Last night aerial strikes where the US carried out against North Vietnamese torpedo boats and their support facilities. This action was limited in scale. Its only targets being the weapons and the facilities against which we had been forced to defend ourselves. Now Mr President gentlemen it is our fervent hope that the

point has now been made that acts of armed aggression are not to be tolerated in the Gulf of Tonkin any more than they are to be tolerated anywhere else. I want to emphasize that the action we have taken is a limited and a measured response fitted precisely to the attack that produced and that the development of the deployment of additional U.S. forces to Southeast Asia are designed solely to deter further aggression. This is a single action designed to make unmistakably clear that the United States cannot be diverted by a military attack from its obligations to help its friends establish and protect their independence. Our naval units are continuing their routine patrolling on the high seas with orders to protect themselves with all appropriate means

against any further aggression. As President Johnson said last night and I quote him we still seek no wider war. Mr. President let me repeat that the United States vessels were in international waters when they were attacked. Let me repeat that. Freedom of the Seas is guaranteed under long accepted international law applying to all nations alike. Let me repeat that these vessels took no belligerent action of any kind until they were subject to armed attack. And let me say once more that the action they took in self-defense is the right of all nations and is fully within the provisions of the charter of the United Nations. The acts of aggression by the North Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin make no sense whatsoever standing alone. They defy rational explanation except

as part of a larger pattern with a larger purpose. As isolated events the kidnapping of village oficial those in the Republic of South Vietnam makes no sense either and neither does the burning of a school house or the sabotage of an irrigation project or the random bomb thrown into a crowd of innocent people sitting in a cafe. All these wanton acts of violence and destruction fit into the larger pattern of what has been going on in Southeast Asia for the past decade and a half. So does the arming of terrorist gangs in South Vietnam by the regimes of Hanoi in Peking. So does the infiltration of armed personnel to make war against the legitimate government of that nation. So

does the fighting in Laos and all of the acts of subversion and all of the propaganda and the sabotage of the international machinery established to keep the peace by the Geneva agreements and the deliberate systematic and flagrant violations of these agreements by two regimes which signed them and which by all tenants of decency law and civilized practice are bound by their provisions. The attempt to sink United States destroyers in international waters is much more spectacular than the attempt to murder the mayor of the village in his bed at night. But they are both part of the pattern. And the pattern is designed to subjugate the people of Southeast Asia to an empire ruled by means of force or. Of rule by terror of expansion by violence. Mr. President it is only in this larger view

that we can discuss intelligently the matter that we have brought to this comes. In his statement last night President Johnson concluded by emphasizing that the mission of the United States is peace. Under the explicit directions of President Johnson I want to repeat that assurance in the Security Council this afternoon. Our mission in Southeast Asia is peace. We hoped that the peace settlement of 1954 would lead to peace in Vietnam. We hoped that settlement and the supplementary that that settlement in the supplementary Geneva Accords of 1962 would lead to peace in Laos communist governments have tried aggression before and have failed. Each time the lesson as had to be learned a new we are

dealing here with a regime that has not yet learned the lesson that aggression does not pay cannot be sustained and will be thrown back by people who believe as we do. That people want freedom and they want independence and not subjugation. And the role of satellite in a modern empire. In Southeast Asia we want nothing more and nothing less than the assured and guaranteed independence of the peoples of that area. We are in Southeast Asia to help our friends preserve their own opportunity to be free of imported terror of aid in the assassination managed by the North Vietnam communists. Based in Hanoi and backed by the Chinese Communists from Peking two months ago when we were discussing in this comes the problems created on the Cambodia South Vietnam frontier.

By the Viet Cong. I defined our peace aims in Southeast Asia and I should like to take the liberty of repeating them because of their pertinence here again today. I said then that there is a very easy way to restore order in Southeast Asia. There is a very simple safe way to bring about the end of United States military aid to the Republic of Vietnam. Let all foreign troops withdraw from Laos. That all states in that area make and abide by the simple decision to leave their neighbors alone. Stop the secret subversion of other people's Independence. Stop the clandestine and illegal transit of national frontiers. Stop the export of revolution. Hand.

That has taken place in that area. That is what I said to the Council in May that is what I repeat to this council in August when the political settlements freely freely negotiated. At the conference tables in Geneva are inforced the independence of South Vietnam and of Southeast Asia will be guaranteed when the peace agreements reached long ago. I made effective peace will return to Southeast Asia and military power can be withdrawn. Stop the violators of the political agreements reached at Geneva for the future of Southeast Asia. The people of Laos want to be left alone. The people of Vietnam want to be left alone. The people of Cambodia want to be left alone when their neighbors decide to leave them alone. There will be no fighting in Southeast Asia and no need for

American advisors to leave their homes to help these people resist aggression any time that decision can be put in enforceable terms. My government will be only too happy to put down the burden that we have been sharing with those determined to preserve their independence until such assurances are forthcoming. We should all stand for the independence of a free peoples in Southeast Asia as we have elsewhere. I repeat that when the political settlements freely negotiated at the conference tables in Geneva are enforced and the independence of South East Asia will be guaranteed when the peace agreements reached long ago I made effective peace will return to Southeast Asia and military power can be withdrawn. Thank you Mr. President. Yes well you know but it's a dodger. Thank you Mr. President that she and his fellow members of the

Security Council. Yeah those first of all I must say I she will inform you what you do with that. In the course of this meeting which I have had an idea what you would you take me off submitting to the Security Council. Yes but even if you just keep it looking you know some considerations of that which is a practical suggestion something uses that gets off on the government to AAVE Union of Soviet Socialist Republics around citing the question now under consideration that I Mr. President I mean you've got to decide to do it again. This is a new to the whole US of this movement off to the Security Council. The statement of the representative of the United States of America counts as of this moment as I have said has no name one cited information on the

alleged attacks. I'll go by the. Don't be two boots of the Democratic Republic of the Republic of Vietnam against destroyers of the United States. Consequently it is only natural and a unbiased discipline to induce a meeting of the Security Council. Old SO world public opinion of not indeed any sensible man who objectively approaches the deed with station off the question now under discussion. The show quite naturally they. Come to the conclusion that in order to ensure an objective discussion within the. The Council of the conflict that has arisen. It would be necessary to request the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam

to submit to information of the substance of the question which is touched upon in the complaint submitted by the United States. The need for receiving such information from the other side and dictator by the very serious consideration. We do see data so as to allow the Security Council. Was allowed to secure the ghats it was for knowledge of the fact and with full knowledge of one concrete circumstances to discuss the question that has been raised. Yes but the need for such information is the Old City Connection was a factor as Mayor there are reports that have been quoted him

on the DL aged. Taxi don't be dual boots against the American destroyer Maddox. Yeah and these reports have been proven by the representative of the United States a good deed that followed the protests were made up by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. A protest which indicated that the United States of America and their minions in cells that we have now must say into naval vessels of the tool shed of the island self harm the mo and Hong-Mo that are located the territorial waters of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. I also if you go off to the Bobby grades all I mean we can balance it against the Vietnam frontier post in a Vietnamese village regional. I saw no 20 kilometer

away from the border between Vietnam and Laos. Mr. President I should also like to do the attention of the council to the following seconds and namely that the provisions of the charter of the United Nations here in Article 32 ng contain the following missed important indications which Pammy do break the betting all along the question are under consideration. Articles 32 of the Choctaw reads as follows. A member of the United Nations which is not a member of the Security Council already in a state which is not a member of the United Nations if it is they partied to a dispute to conceal donations by the Security Council shall be invited to to participate

always I would vote into the discussion of relating to the dispute. In this connection with the president I sure don't like to point out that if the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam up all will to wish to participate in the deliberations of the Security Council then Iraq or done so always. Article said he drove the chalked out of which I could just scrape out eight would be the duty of the Security Council and I wish to emphasize that with due to the media it lead to a new fight a duly presented to absolve the Democratic Republic of Vietnam to take talk to the Security Council. Not the president. May I by your leave Have you done to some of the. Boy so

that would be fired and would remain incredibly Fido will we to rely solely on the one sided information he's or to submit it to the Security Council. As we know on the 4th of August this year. The defense department of the United States made a statement to DNA faked to death at the veto of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam had carried out. I ledge didn't you wetbacks against them in the conventional saw as a result of which the American destroyer was sense eternal joy had sunk to come in to stop Ito boats and I could go to a movie and damaged two others and of one kind of talk a little defector that the Security Council in

connection with this incident as well has not received a NATO official information from the site involved the name of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. In this connection Mr. President we need to send you to the attention of the council to the fact that there are reports according to which the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has a described of these incidents incidents that look at that between digital and to describe it as a provocative act on the Baath to all of the American armed forces are acts of provocation County doubting that we should emphasize this did Lethal real waterless of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Even on the bases of the tool

references I have just missed the president even though on the basis of what has become known thus far. The Soviet Union it cannot fail to condemn IDF acts of the United States of America. We have dispatched their Navy to the Gulf of Tonking. The same should be said of the old dog given by the president of the United States. Although given to the Navy of the United States Navy the continuation off to truly get to it is by I mean we can naval vessels along the coast of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. I feel compelled to say that the Soviet government with all determination to them and the

bombing by the armed forces of the United States of all folks go still gets aid in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam where we believe Mr. President that such acts can not be described otherwise up and that acts of aggression. End of view of the Soviet government and softest United States concerning the expansion of Mid Atlantic to it is in South Vietnam for all great dangers for the maintenance of peace a summer a while devoted of Solace East Asia. Government. Expects a the United States to put an immediate end to military activities against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

Should this not be the case. The United States has shot a bear the heavy responsibility for the consequences of such acts. Having said this Mr. President and bearing in mind the fact that the Security Council is but beginning their consideration of this question and the fact that we need for this discussion the submission of information not only from one side but also the submission of information all available to the other side. Yes I should like to vote for one of the few practical proposals which in our view might contribute to an objective discussion by the Security Council. All for the question now before it and they are by the dust so

correct and appropriate a decision that would be in accordance with the spirit and the letter of the charter of United Nations. Before long or submitting of these are practical considerations to the attention of the Security Council I should like Mr. President to reserve my right to use Did appropriate stage of debate or totally to the aims and purposes of the policy of the United States in Southeast Asia. It was particular reference. Go to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Oh wait. Just be. I would like to distinguish a representative of the United States when he tried to picture his government had his gun trained as an opponent and then sent for a dummy in Southeast Asia. I who DOESN'T them to Auteuil overly

present the hode of this question of it in any time in our own USA Lytle we should return to the consideration of descriptions. But I should like to point out even now now when we're just beginning the consideration of the question I do not want to to Oka that particular statement. And this does device of the fact that of course we can although I could be always the acid actions of a made the old Ian does sick and lost part of the statement made by to distinguish representative of the United States. In conclusion I miss the prison term. I should like to submit to the consideration of the Security Council and those of a layman or a practical proposals which in my view maybe. Maybe I'd also from the point of your decided government are only present

measures that should be adopted now are still are still in should they not objective and old sided to the consideration of the problem. It was in the Security Council. I propose even now at this stage of this particular meeting that the Security Council should add up to the following draft resolution and I quote this is going to take out in connection with the complaint of the government of United States of America and to the effect that to the defense been alleged attacks of by don't beat up votes of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam against the destroyers of the United States. On requests requests to the

president it's an obvious Security Council to establish contact with the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam with the request the e-media need to submit to the Security Council or the information that is required in connection with the complaint made by the government of the United States to invite the representatives of the government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam immediately to take part in Des meetings of the Security Council. I doubt those members of the Security Council who are truly interested in achieving an objective discussion of this question while truly interested in eliminating Yeah the serious threat that has arisen to international peace and security. Well supporters of this proposal now submitted by decided to none as a first step are

designed to ensure the necessary conditions of the adoption of appropriate and correct decisions by the Security Council. May I say that yet none of you hand over to the secretary or to fix up this draft resolution. Selah dad is issued a new avi it's a shorter takes to the so that each will be able to be translated into all the languages and some of you later took to the members of the Security Council under the rules of the Security Council. I sell debt to all members of the council and should have you just as soon as possible. A written text of this practical in concrete terms of first proposal of the Soviet Union concerning the question now are under consideration. Me I thank you sir.