knew Europe in 1948, have little doubt that, if we do not lose heart, the gloomy prophecies of today can once again fade in the achievements of tomorrow; for although the problems are huge, the greatest danger is not in our circumstances or in our enemies but in our own doubts and fears.

Robert Frost wrote 50 years ago, "Nothing is true except a man or men adhere to it—to live for it, to spend themselves on it, to die for it.” We need this spirit even more than money or institutions or agreements. With it we can make the Alianza para el Progreso a reality for generations who are coming in this hemisphere, and ultimately we will hold a continent where more than 20 strong nations live in peace, their people in hope and liberty, and believing strongly in a free future.

III-82

"I HAVE COME TO REAFFIRM THAT ALLIANCE [FOR PROGRESS] AND TO PLEDGE ALL THE ENERGIES OF MY GOVERNMENT TO OUR COMMON GOALS": Remarks Made by the President (Johnson) Before a Group of Latin American Officials, November 26, 1963

I have asked you to come here today because this is, in a very special sense, a family gathering. For nothing in President Kennedy's public career meant more to him than the ties which united this country and

yours.

A little less than 3 years ago, here in the White House, in this very room, President Kennedy met with you, the representatives of the countries of Latin America. In the first full-scale foreign policy address of his administration, he called for an Alliance for Progress among all the nations of the Americas.8

Today, among you in this same room, I have come to reaffirm that alliance and to pledge all the energies of my Government to our common goals. All [And?] I know from personal experience that the future of this hemisphere, the relations between the United States and Latin America, must be among the highest concerns of my Government.

I have lived my life together with many who proudly claimed descent from Latin America. The sound of the Spanish tongue, and the signs of your rich cultural traditions, were among my earliest and my most enduring impressions. I began my government service in Washington under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. And from him I learned that nothing is more important to the country I now lead than its associations with our good neighbors to the south.

In October of 1960, during the political campaign, I reminded my fellow citizens of the United States that "We must support, morally and financially, the struggle of our Latin American friends against

7 Text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 16, 1963, pp. 912913. The President spoke to the group at the White House; it was composed of delegates to the funeral of President Kennedy.

'Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, pp. 343–347.

political, economic and social injustice-not only to improve their standard of living but to foster the democratic way of life in every country." To me, therefore, as it was to President Kennedy, the AIliance for Progress is part of a long and deeply rooted tradition. That alliance contains the basic principles of the new society which we are building, principles agreed to by all our countries in the Charter of Punta del Este.9

The first of these agreed principles is the right of every American nation to govern itself, free from outside dictation or coercion from any quarter. None among us can tell another how to organize its society or how to conduct its affairs.

The second of these agreed principles is the right to human freedom-the right of each person to freely speak his views, worship God in his own way, and participate in the polítical life of his nation. History and circumstances have created restraints on democracy in some of our nations. But we must never forget that our task will not be complete until every American lives in the dignity of freedom.

The third of these agreed principles is the right to social justicethe right of every citizen to share in the progress of his nation. We have called for land for the landless, education for those denied education, and an end to the unjust privilege of a few at the expense of the needs of the many.

The fourth of these agreed principles is dedication to economic progress. To this end we have embarked upon a cooperative program in which the nations of Latin America have agreed to dedicate their resources, bear fresh sacrifice, and expect hard labor. And the United States has pledged itself and will carry out its own commitment.

And it is to these principles that we have dedicated ourselves. So I reaffirm the pledge which President Kennedy made last week 10 to improve and to strengthen the role of the United States in the Alliance for Progress. We all know that there have been problems within the Alliance for Progress. But the accomplishments of the past 3 years have proven the soundness of our principles. The accomplishments of the years to come will vindicate our faith in the capacity of free men to meet the new challenges of our new day.

And it was in the spirit of the principles that we have worked out together that President Kennedy launched the Alliance for Progress in this very room. Inspired by his memory, and in that same spirit, we will carry on the job.

Let the Alliance for Progress be his living memorial.

III-83

"IN LINE WITH HIS DETERMINATION TO PROTECT UNITED STATES CITIZENS EVERYWHERE, PRESIDENT JOHNSON HAS OFFERED FULL ASSISTANCE TO PRESIDENT PAZ [OF BOLIVIA] IN HIS ACTION ON BEHALF OF UNITED STATES AND OTHER FOREIGN CITIZENS": Statement Issued at the White House, December 8, 1963 11

III-84

UNITED STATES RECOGNITION OF THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND HONDURAS: Statement Issued by the Department of State, December 14, 1963 12

12

The United States on December 14 recognized the Governments of the Dominican Republic and Honduras, after consultation with other hemisphere governments.

Both the Honduran and the Dominican regimes have issued decrees setting forth election timetables for return to representative and constitutional governments. Both regimes have given public assurances of respect for civil liberties, freedom of action for political parties, and that international obligations will be fulfilled.

In Honduras a decree law was issued November 22 creating an electoral commission representing major parties and civic sectors. It calls for preparation of a new electoral law by March 1, 1964, and revision of voter registrations by January 1, 1965. A constituent assembly election will be held February 16, 1965, and the assembly will be installed on March 16, 1965, at which time the supreme power of the government passes to the assembly. The electoral commission was sworn in on December 2 and has held several meetings.

In the Dominican Republic, a decree law was issued on November 26 setting forth a schedule for five elections, the first to be held between September 1 and November 30 next year for minor local officials and to serve also as a voter census. Municipal elections will follow on January 15, 1965, a constituent assembly election on March 1, 1965, and congressional elections on June 24, 1965. Presidential elections are scheduled for July 15, 1965, and the elected government will assume office on August 16, 1965.

A new Central Electoral Board was established November 8 to preside over the electoral process. On December 6 a decree was issued requiring legally recognized parties to submit draft constitutions at least 90 days before the constitutional assembly elections are held in order to qualify for participating in these elections.

"White House press release dated Dec. 8, 1963; Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 30, 1963, p. 998. Four American officials and two other foreigners had been seized and held as hostages by Bolivian tin miners who were protesting an action by the Bolivian Government. On December 16, a Department of State press officer (McCloskey) announced that the hostages had been released (ibid., Jan. 6, 1964, p. 9).

19

Department of State press release No. 625 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Dec. 30, 1963, pp. 997-998).

Docs. III-83, 84

III-85

"I KNOW THAT YOU SHARE MY DETERMINATION TO PRESS TO FULL REALIZATION THE VISIONS OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND PRESIDENT KENNEDY OF AN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF NATIONS MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER IN PROGRESS AND FREEDOM": Letter From the President (Johnson) to the Assistant Secretary of StateDesignate for Inter-American Affairs (Mann), December 15, 1963 13

DEAR AMBASSADOR MANN: I want you to know how gratified I am by your response to my request that you leave your important position in Mexico and come home to take up the tasks we have discussed.

I have asked you, in addition to your duties as Assistant Secretary, to undertake the coordination and direction of all policies and programs of the United States government, economic, social and cultural, relating to Latin America. There can be no illusion that the work will be easy. But, as I told you, next to keeping the peace and maintaining the strength and vitality which makes freedom secure-no work is more important for our generation of Americans than our work in this hemisphere.

I am sure you share my pride in the accomplishments to date; my deep gratitude to the loyal and dedicated United States officials-and the officials of other governments in the hemisphere-who have made this possible; and to the Congress for its vision in authorizing and financing the Alliance for Progress program.

I know that you share my determination to press to full realization the visions of President Roosevelt and President Kennedy of an American community of Nations moving forward together in progress and freedom.

The Alliance for Progress is a partnership in which each free American republic has a part to play together. We must find ways to expand education, health, and low-cost housing facilities; we must find ways to help governments increase revenues by tax reforms and, at the same time, maintain an adequate and sustained rate of economic growth; we must find ways to bring about land reform and, at the same time, to increase agricultural production. Job opportunities must be expanded and educational and health facilities and low-cost housing must be provided. Social justice is a goal for which we must constantly strive. All of the American nations must market their resources and devote themselves to finding ways to bring the strength of those resources to the task at hand.

I want you to work closely with private United States groups and institutions carrying out activities in Latin America. These include, but are not limited to, the AFL-CIO, religious and charitable groups,

13 White House press release dated Dec. 15, 1963 partment of State Bulletin, Jan. 6, 1964, pp. 9-10). new post on Dec. 19, 1963.

(text as printed in the DeMann was confirmed in his

cooperatives and the private business sector, which can make the significant contribution envisaged in the Punta del Este Charter.14

You will find many outstanding public servants throughout our Government who will help you in your difficult task. You can count on my intense interest and complete support.

Sincerely,

LYNDON B. JOHNSON.

III-86

"IT IS MY VIEW THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE STRENGTHENING OF REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY ARE INTERRELATED AND THAT PROGRESS IN EACH OF THOSE FIELDS CAN ONLY BE MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH PROGRESS IN THE OTHERS": Letter From the President of the United States (Johnson) to the President of Brazil (Goulart), December 18, 1963 15

DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I greatly appreciated receiving your letter of December 13 16 conveying your good wishes on my assumption of the Presidency, as well as your message of sympathy of November 22 12 in connection with President Kennedy's tragic death.

17

Your Foreign Minister [João Augusto de Araujo Castro] and reports from our Embassy and Consulates have told me of the great outpouring of sympathy which was manifested in all walks of life in Brazil at that grievous event. The sympathy which we received from the entire Brazilian nation has, I am convinced, evidenced the bonds of natural affection that exist between our two peoples and demonstrated once again the deep popular support of the great ideals of peace, freedom and progress for which President Kennedy stood. It is in this spirit that I particularly welcome your having taken the initiative in opening an exchange of personal correspondence between us. Like President Kennedy I am convinced that in the building of a better world, there is no area more important than Latin America. I am acutely conscious of the great importance of joint efforts by our two countries.

It is my view that economic development, social justice and the strengthening of representative democracy are interrelated and that progress in each of those fields can only be made in conjunction with progress in the others. I am convinced that development should be accompanied by reforms to modernize economic and social structures, to build durable institutions and develop human skills, and in this great effort for economic and social progress in all of Latin America, I am convinced that the Alliance for Progress can be of essential im

"Text in American Foreign Policy: Current Documents, 1961, pp. 395–409. 15 White House press release dated Dec. 23, 1963 (text as printed in the Department of State Bulletin, Jan. 13, 1964, pp. 47-48).

16 Not printed here.

"Not printed here.