168. Editorial Note
On July 12, 1966, President Johnson discussed U.S. policy in Asia in an address to the American Alumni Council broadcast on radio and television. He stated in part:
“There is a fourth essential for peace in Asia which may seem the most difficult of all: reconciliation between nations that now call themselves enemies.
“A peaceful mainland China is central to a peaceful Asia.
“A hostile China must be discouraged from aggression.
“A misguided China must be encouraged toward understanding of the outside world and toward policies of peaceful cooperation.
“For lasting peace can never come to Asia as long as the 700 million people of mainland China are isolated by their rulers from the outside world.
“We have learned in our relations with other such states that the weakness of neighbors is a temptation, and only firmness that is backed by power can really deter power that is backed by ambition. But we have also learned that the greatest force for opening closed minds and closed societies is the free flow of ideas and people and goods.” (Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966, Book II, pages 721–722; for the complete text, see ibid., pages 718–722)