July 14, 1971
Page 25028
VIETCONG PEACE PROPOSAL
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the recent peace proposal advanced by the Vietcong representative in Paris, Madame Binh, suggests there could be a possible breakthrough in the long-stalemated negotiations to end this tragic war. A significant new element in the proposal is the offer to release American prisoners of war if the United States agrees to a total withdrawal by the end of this year. The Vietcong have proposed that the release of prisoners should begin with the commencement of our troop withdrawals, and end on the day of our final troop withdrawal.
Apparently the Communists are willing to negotiate about withdrawal of our troops and return of our prisoners without demanding that we negotiate about the political future of South Vietnam.
Mr. President, whatever objectionable elements may be contained in this latest proposal, we should be greatly heartened by this apparent pledge by the other side that the establishment of a date certain for total U.S. troop withdrawals will lead to a release of our prisoners. I urge the administration to seize upon this change in the Vietcong negotiating position to work positively for a negotiated settlement at Paris. We cannot afford another lost opportunity to end our involvement in Indochina.
I have said many times that our total withdrawal must be conditional upon the release of all of our prisoners. The fate of these prisoners in the north and elsewhere in Indochina has been one of the most disheartening aspects of our involvement. Families have waited too long to be reunited or even to have word of American servicemen reported missing in action. Further suffering by these men and their families is intolerable.
Mr. President, last month the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Maine passed a joint resolution memorializing Congress in respect to prisoners of the Vietnam war. The resolution, which I wholeheartedly support, urges Congress to take all possible steps to gain the release of names, addresses, and state of health of every captive American; to press for the repatriation or removal to a neutral country all sick and wounded prisoners; to urge the International Red Cross or some other humanitarian organization to monitor the prison camps and help minister to the needs of the captives; and to bring the pressure of world opinion on the North Vietnamese Government to abide by the terms of the Geneva Convention.
Mr. President, the resolution of the Maine Legislature concludes by expressing on behalf of the people of Maineand, I am certain, of us all our sympathy, moral support, and great respect for the unfailing courage of our Americans who are prisoners of war or missing in action and their patient and courageous families.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the complete text of the joint resolution of the Maine Legislature be printed in the RECORD
There being no objection, the joint resolution was ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING CONGRESS IN RESPECT TO PRISONERS OF THE VIETNAM WAR
We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Maine assembled in the regular session of the One Hundred and Fifth Maine Legislature, do respectfully represent that:
Whereas, the Governments of the United States and North Vietnam are parties to the Geneva Convention; and
Whereas, it is the intent of the Geneva Convention that the high contracting parties to the convention insure the proper and humanitarian treatment of prisoners; and
Whereas, the Government of North Vietnam has not conformed its actions to the terms of the Geneva Convention and has shown a blatant disregard for the feelings of the families of prisoners held; now, therefore, be it
Resolved: That we, your Memorialists speaking for and on behalf of the people of the State of Maine, recommend and urge that the Congress of the United States take all possible steps to gain the release of names, addresses and state of health of every captive American; repatriate or remove to a neutral country all sick and wounded prisoners; permit the International Red Cross or some other humanitarian organization to monitor the prison camps and help minister to the needs of the captives; and abide by the Geneva Convention, which they have signed. in the sending and receiving of prisoner mail, including shipments of food, clothing, medical supplies and educational and recreational materials and to bring the weight of world public opinion to bear on the Government of North Vietnam to require them to live up to the terms of the Geneva Convention which our government has signed in good faith and with which we are conforming; and be it further
Resolved: That copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State,
be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of State to the Honorable Richard M. Nixon, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States and to the members of said Senate and House of Representatives from this State; and be it further
Resolved: That the Maine Legislature also express, on behalf of the people of Maine, our sympathy, moral support and great respect for the unfailing courage of our Americans who are prisoners of war or missing in action and their patient and courageous families.