Evening star., 1960-06-13
DEPARTURE STATEMENT
President Says Trip
Promotes Friendship
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
Here is the teTt OF the
Stdtement By President EiSen-
1Der yesterday before his
arturo for the Far East
N friends
Thu ugh recent weeks my
mail has been heavy with per-
sonal messages from thousands
of Americans and friends of
America overseas - messages
of calm faith that our decent
peaceful purposes will not be
obscured in the worlds eyes by
propaganda and invective.
These messages, written in
fullnesS of heart, have been in
spring proof that-far from
Washington and the world CEN
ters of power-men and women
are deeply concerned with the
world role of the Republic-for
peace with justice in freedom.
To all those who have written
and cabled me heartening
words, I am most thankful.
AS you know, there have
been public warnings, based on
a variety of considerations.
that I should not visit the Far
East at this time. With these.
! did not agree. However, they
moved me to rethink and to re-
examine my individual respon-
sibility within the American
mission of free world leader
ship.
In that process, I decided
neither to postpone nor to can
Gel my trip to the Far East.
Reason for Decision
So that. I can continue to
learn more about the immedi-
ate problems and purposes Of
our friends, and to continue to
promote a better understanding
of America abroad - which,
particularly in the circum-
stances of the moments a
compelling responsibility on
me as the President of the
United States.
If the trip now ahead of me
were concerned principally
with the support of a regime
or a treaty or a disputed pol
icy; if it were intended merely
to bolster a particular pro-
gram, or to achieve a limited
objective, such a journey would
have no real justification. But
this trip is not so concerned,
nor so intended.
Rather. it represents an i'm
portant phase of program
whose paramount objective
was, and is, to improve the
climate of international under
standing.
Toward that goal, we have
worked in many ways: For in
stance by the exchange of stu
dents, and by our economic
assistance program.
Cites Series Of Visits
Not the least among these
means has been a long series
of visits, through seven and
one-half years, by chiefs of
state and senior officials of
other governments to the
United States, and like trips
abroad by myself, the Vice
President and our associates at
all levels of American Govern
ment.
Never, I believe, in the his
tory of international affairs
has there been so massive a
program of communications
between government officials
and between peoples. We
should not permit unpleasant
incidents and sporadic turmoil,
inspired by misled or hostile
agents, to dim for us the con-
crete and gratifying results
They have been to the great
profit and to the great good OF
the entire world.
For one thing, Americas sin
cere dedication to the pursuit
of a permanent peace, with
Justice for all, is becoming more
clearly understood than evel
before, throughout the free
world,
For another, the free world
economy-including our own
has been steadily strengthened
For a third, among most o1
the worlds peoples there now
is a genuine consensus of con
viction that we can, by nego'
tiation, solve even the mos
difficult of international prob
lens.
Sees Immense Progress"
We in truth have made i'm
mense progress. In the devout
hope that I can help further
even a little. this forward
movement, I go to the Philip.
pines, Republic of China, Japar
and Korea.
In these countries we have
many millions of warm and de-
voted friends. in every case tht
vast majority of the popula
tion. But because these art
countries of freedom, where
men and women are free to as
semble, to speak out and tt
criticize, we must not expect
regimented unanimity or an,
subject-any more than WI
expect it here at home
l am going to these countries
Because with the Republic o