al interests of the United States and, indeed,
with the peace of the world.

Some misguided persons have said that Quemoy is nothing to become
excited about. They said the same about south Korea--about Viet-Nam,
about Lebanon.

Now I assure you that no American boy will be asked by me to fight
_just_ for Quemoy. But those who make up our Armed Forces--and, I
believe the American people as a whole--do stand ready to defend the
principle that armed force shall not be used for aggressive purposes.

Upon observance of that principle depends a lasting and just peace. It
is that same principle that protects the western Pacific free-world
positions as well as the security of our homeland. If we are not ready
to defend this principle, then indeed tragedy after tragedy would
befall us.

But there is a far better way than resort to force to settle these
differences, and there is some hope that such a better way may be
followed.

That is the way of negotiation.

That way is open and prepared because in 1955 arrangements were made
between the United States and the Chinese Communists that an
Ambassador on each side would be authorized to discuss at Geneva
certain problems of common concern. These included the matter of
release of American civilians imprisoned in Communist China, and such
questions as the renunciation of force in the Formosa area. There have
been 73 meetings since August 1955.

When our Ambassador, who was conducting these negotiations, was
recently transferred to another post, we named as successor Mr. [Jacob
D.] Beam, our Ambassador to Poland. The Chinese Communists were
notified accordingly the latter part of July, but there was no
response.

The Secretary of State, in his September 4th statement, referred to
these Geneva negotiations. Two days later, Mr. Chou En-lai, the
Premier of the People's Republic of China, proposed that these talks
should be resumed "in the interests of peace." This was followed up on
September 8th by Mr. Mao Tse-tung, the Chairman of the People's
Republic of China. We promptly welcomed this prospect and instructed
our Ambassador at Warsaw to be ready immediately to resume these
talks. We expect that the talks will begin upon the return to Warsaw
of the Chinese Communist Ambassador, who has been in Peiping.

Perhaps our suggestion may be bearing fruit. We devoutly hope so.

Naturally, the United States will adhere to the position it first took
in 1955, that we will not in the