"Young people sense this strongly. They have not grown accustomed to ugliness. They have not resigned themselves to living among the litter and neglect of a careless civilization.

"May they never do so.

"But it is not enough to be offended by ugliness. Those who would not live without beauty must join in a tireless effort to bring it into being. They must help to reverse the sorry decline of cities and countryside. They must become a force for restoring order and dignity to the environment that surrounds them. I know that ugliness will yield to such a force, if it is supported by millions of our people, in public and private life.

"And, THEREFORE, I, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the year 1967 to be Youth for Natural Beauty and Conservation Year; and I ask our young people-individually and through clubs, school groups, and other organizations to observe, to plan, and to act to preserve and protect, salvage and restore, develop and enhance their surroundings.

"I ask the youth organizations which sponsored the National Youth Conference— and all other organizations and individuals working with youth-to expand the natural

beauty and conservation activities now under way, and to begin new activities. I expect them to report their accomplishments to me during the year and also their plans for the future.

"I call upon the President's Council on Recreation and Natural Beauty, the Citizens' Advisory Committee on Recreation and Natural Beauty, and all Federal officials and agencies to cooperate, consistent with their authorities and available funds, in providing technical assistance and support to the young people. It is an investment in better environment, and in better citizenship.

"I further call upon all citizens to be alert to the activities and hopes of our young people, to hear their requests, to encourage and assist them, and with them to grow more aware of the beauty of America and the ways in which we can preserve it.

"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of the United States of America to be affixed."

NOTE: The President spoke shortly after 10:30 a.m. at the LBJ Ranch, Johnson City, Texas. Following the President's remarks, Mrs. Johnson spoke briefly (see 2 Weekly Comp. Pres. Docs., p. 1834).

The National Youth Conference on Natural Beauty and Conservation was held in Washington on June 27. For the remarks of the President at the opening session, see Item 295.

Proclamation 3759 is printed in the Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, the Federal Register, and Title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 Weekly Comp. Pres. Docs., p. 1835; 32 F.R. 31; 3 CFR, 1967 Comp.).

PEACE TALKS

[1] Q. Mr. President, I would like to ask a two-part question with respect to nego

tiations. First, have you any response to the new British proposal on peace talks,1

1 1 Press reports stated that British Foreign Secretary George Brown had proposed that representatives of the three countries meet in any suitable British territory to arrange a cessation of hostilities.

and, second, have you heard from Secretary General U Thant with respect to your own proposals along that line?

THE PRESIDENT. We have heard from the British. We are delighted to have their views and their suggestions.

We are very agreeable and rather anxious to meet, as I have said over the past months, anywhere, any time that Hanoi is willing to come to a conference table.

We appreciate the interest of all peaceloving nations in arranging a cease-fire, in attempting to bring the disputing parties together, and in an effort to work out a conference where various views can be exchanged.

America is ready to designate her representative today, and will be glad to do so if the other parties do likewise.

On the Secretary General, we have encouraged him in every way we can to take leadership and initiative, and use the full influence and resources of the United Nations to bring about a stop of the violence on both sides, to bring an end to the total war by both sides. And any recommendations he makes, any suggestions he presents, will be very carefully considered and evaluated insofar as the United States is concerned.

We will be glad to meet anyone more than halfway, insofar as talking instead of fighting is concerned.

BOMBING TARGETS IN NORTH VIETNAM

[2.] Q. Mr. President, what is your reaction to the reports by the New York Times from North Vietnam about the results of our bombing there?

THE PRESIDENT. Well, I have followed our activity in Vietnam very closely. I think the country knows-and I would like to repeat again—that it is the policy of this

Government to bomb only military targets.

We realize that when you do that, inevitably and almost invariably there are casualties, there are losses of lives.

We regret to see those losses. We do everything we can to minimize them. But they do occur in North Vietnam as they do in South Vietnam.

There are thousands of civilians who have died this year in South Vietnam as a result of detonation of grenades and bombs. And every casualty is to be regretted.

But only military targets have been authorized. And I am informed that our men who are responsible for carrying out our orders have done their very best to execute those orders as given.

PROSPECTS FOR 1967; REVIEW OF 1966

[3.] Q. Mr. President, on this last day of the old year, what do you see ahead for the country in 1967?

THE PRESIDENT. I believe that we will have a good year.

This year has brought us great satisfaction in many fields, and some disappointments in others. But on the whole I believe that generally there are more people working today than have ever worked before. They are making better wages than they have ever made before.

The farmer's income is almost at an alltime high, almost a net income of $5,000 per year.

On the domestic front we have made great advances in educating more children, in providing better schools, in improving their health, in making deep dents in reducing poverty.

In our foreign affairs, we have had some disappointments.

We deeply regret that we had to send sub

stantial forces to Vietnam in July of 1965. In the 18 months they have been there, although we think there has been a decided turn in the military situation, we have not been able to arrange a cease-fire or to bring the other side to the conference table, or to bring peace to the world.

We have diligently worked for 18 months in every way we know how, but we have not succeeded.

That is one of our major regrets.

We have done our best to hold NATO together, and we think we have had some success in that direction.

We think in Latin America things are on the upgrade.

We think in Asia, as a result of our Manila Conference and our other efforts in that direction, things are going as good as we expected.

We can point in Africa to the African Development Bank. And while there are mixed situations in both Africa and the Middle East, we have done our best to live up our responsibilities.

to

And we think generally speaking the American people have much to be thankful for. There are many challenges ahead. There are many problems yet unsolved. But in unity there is strength.

I believe that the new Congress and this administration will put the interest of the Nation first and do what we can to solve the problems that remain unsolved.

In short, I think we have had a generally good year. I think most Americans believe that they have done reasonably well this year.

We all deeply regret that in 18 months we have not been able to bring peace to the world.

COMMUNIST CHINA'S FIFTH NUCLEAR EXPLOSION

[4.] Q. Mr. President, earlier this week Communist China exploded its fifth atomic device and the Atomic Energy Commission has evidence that they are working on a nuclear bomb. What do you believe these developments hold for the future peace of the world?

THE PRESIDENT. It is our hope that all the nations of the world could reach some agreement in the field of nonproliferation. In recent weeks I have felt encouraged about the discussions that have taken place. I wish that it were possible to say to the American people and to the world that all the nations of the world could reach agreement in this field.

As yet we have not been able to bring that about. And even when we bring it about, we do not know that all nations will agree. We are working to that end. We think it is a desirable objective. We will hope for the best.

PROSPECTS FOR THE ECONOMY DURING 1967

[5.] Q. Mr. President, yesterday the stock market closed without making its traditional yearend rally, and leading economists and businessmen have mixed views about the performance expected of the economy in 1967. Could you give us your assessment of what you expect of the economy next year?

THE PRESIDENT. I think it is very difficult to see economic indicators 12 months in advance and conclude just what will happen.

Q. The other is do you think it was a mistake not to ask for a tax increase this year? THE PRESIDENT. The answer is no to both questions.

I presume you know we got two increases this year in taxes. We took from the economy through administrative and legislative action several billions of dollars.

We think we took an adequate amount from the economy.

We estimated our deficit for this year at $6 billion 4 million at the beginning of the year, and it turned out to be $2 billion 3 million.

We passed, and I signed on March 15, the first tax measure which reinstituted some excise taxes, accelerated the payment of others, increased the withholdings, both by administrative and legislative action.

In September we submitted another program that involved the investment credit provision, and, by suspending that, increasing our tax revenues a very minimal amount.2

Primarily that measure was passed in order to cool the economy. Most of the

2 For statements by the President upon signing the Tax Adjustment Act of 1966 and the suspension of investment tax credits and accelerated depreciation allowances, see Items 132 and 596.

economists felt that was desirable and the Congress agreed.

I do not believe that we could have passed any more tax measures than we passed. I think on the two tax measures passed it was desirable that we did so.

In March I met with leaders of business in the country, dozens of them. I consulted with leading economists. I asked them at the White House in March how many of them favored a tax increase and there wasn't a single hand that went up.

I read in the papers in retrospect some people feel very strongly there should have been another tax increase.

But in the light of the developments of the economy at this moment, I do not think so.

BOMBING TARGETS IN NORTH VIETNAM

[7.] Q. Mr. President, in his reports from North Vietnam, Mr. Salisbury,3 of the Times, spoke of heavy destruction in residential areas around two light industries there, a rice mill and a textile plant. Sir, I don't believe that these industries fall within the categories of target objectives previously announced by the Defense Department. Has there been a change in tactics to include such targets or has there been some sort of mistake?

THE PRESIDENT. None whatever. There has been no change. So far as the evidence that we have at this time there has been no mistake. I can only repeat to you what I have said before, and what has been said by other departments of the Government. Our orders are to bomb only military targets. Those are the only orders we have issued. We believe that our men have carried out those orders to the very best of their ability. There will be civilian casualties in connec

Harrison Salisbury, Assistant Managing Editor of the New York Times.

among polluted rivers, spoiled fields and forests, and streets where nothing pleases the eye.

"Young people sense this strongly. They have not grown accustomed to ugliness. They have not resigned themselves to living among the litter and neglect of a careless civilization.

"May they never do so.

"But it is not enough to be offended by ugliness. Those who would not live without beauty must join in a tireless effort to bring it into being. They must help to reverse the sorry decline of cities and countryside. They must become a force for restoring order and dignity to the environment that surrounds them. I know that ugliness will yield to such a force, if it is supported by millions of our people, in public and private life.

"And, THEREFORE, I, LYNDON B. JOHNSON, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the year 1967 to be Youth for Natural Beauty and Conservation Year; and I ask our young people-individually and through clubs, school groups, and other organizations to observe, to plan, and to act to preserve and protect, salvage and restore, develop and enhance their surroundings.

"I ask the youth organizations which sponsored the National Youth Conferenceand all other organizations and individuals working with youth-to expand the natural

beauty and conservation activite der way, and to begin new a pect them to report their accomp me during the year and also ther the future.

"I call upon the President's C Recreation and Natural Beauty, Advisory Committee on Reces Natural Beauty, and all Federal ... : agencies to cooperate, consistent authorities and available funds, i ing technical assistance and suppe young people. It is an investment environment, and in better cit

"I further call upon all citizent to the activities and hopes of cur ple, to hear their requests, to ex assist them, and with them to g aware of the beauty of Americ ways in which we can preserve

"IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand and cause the Seal of the States of America to be affixed."

NOTE: The President spoke shortly after 12t at the LBJ Ranch, Johnson City, Texas F the President's remarks, Mrs. Johnson (see 2 Weekly Comp. Pres. Docs., p. 1854 The National Youth Conference Beauty and Conservation was held in on June 27. For the remarks of the P the opening session, see Item 295.

Proclamation 3759 is printed in the Compilation of Presidential Documents, the Register, and Title 3 of the Code of Fedral tions (2 Weekly Comp. Pres. Docs, p. ifF.R. 31; 3 CFR, 1967 Comp.).

December 31, 1966

THE PRESIDENT. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.

PEACE TALKS

[1] Q. Mr. President, I would like to ask a two-part question with respect to nego

tiations. First, have you any resp the new British proposal on peace

で

1Press reports stated that British Forei tary George Brown had proposed that represe of the three countries meet in any suitable territory to arrange a cessation of hostili