[4]

-- gratitude for the support you gave me;

-- admiration for your ability;

-- pride in what we have accomplished together; and

-- respect for your dedication and courage.

In this last regard I think of those Foreign Service officers
who during my time gave their lives in the service of the country --
Roger Davies, Frank Meloy, and Robert Waring. I think also of
t hose of you who immediately volunteered to replace them.

I think of those of you, regardless of your rank, who willingly
and uncomplainingly serve and live with your families every day
in dangerous and difficult conditions in many parts of the world.

And I think finally with unbounded admiration of those who
put up with me for three and a half years.

-14-

Our job over these past years has been to produce a
durable foreign policy -- one that would respond to the needs
and values of the American people as well as to the aspirations
of mankind.

We were -- and still are -- in a transition to a new era
in our historical experience.

I feel confident that an objective observer -- or indeed, even
an AFSA member -- can discern that strong foundations for
future progress have been put in place in three central areas:
the strength of the great democratic nations; the imperative
of global peace; and the cause of cooperative international
economic progress.

-15-

First, we have begun to give new impetus and definition
to our alliances. While our mutual security endeavor has been
preserved and strengthened, we have brought our cooperative
efforts to bear on a new range of issues: economic policy,
harmonizing our approaches to the East; and working closely
on an agenda for cooperative economic progress with the
developing nations.

Second, we have engaged the problem of peace at a time
when American power is no longer preponderant and when we
have learned, for the first time in our history, that no final state
of tranquillity is possible; that peace is a permanent process.

And third, we have seen and responded to the need to
help shape a long-term cooperative relationship between the

-16-

developed and the developing countries and to resolve the new
range of global problems that transcend boundaries and ideologies.
We have begun to do so -- starting with the World Food Conference
in 1974 and the UNGA 7th Special Session in 1975. Almost every
key question on the agendas of the major international conferences
today was placed there -- along with concrete proposals for its
solution -- by the United States.

The record is one of which you all can be proud. Your
role has been and will continue to be central and crucial to this
effort. You share in its achievements as well as in its --
I can't bring myself to say it. But I leave here with confidence --
confidence that America's foreign policy will be in good hands, and
that you will give my distinguished successor the loyal and able
service which you gave me.

-17-

Over the past few years as Secretary of State, I
have developed the habit of threatening to resign. I did this
essentially as a morale booster for the Department and the
Foreign Service, but after last November 2 I found that the
threat had lost its magic. So now I am warning you that I may
be back. Meanwhile, farewell and God bless you all.

There is much work ahead for this country.