Lyndon Johnson

Though we have followed our separate stars, we meet here today as two neighbors strong and prosperous, at peace with one another.

Here in El Chamizal we have honored our pledged word.

El Chamizal stands as a shining example of how such matters should be settled.

The monument which the people of Mexico have already erected on this site will stand forever as a symbol of good will between our two nations.

At 12:01 this morning, the boundary between Mexico and the United States changed at El Paso and Ciudad Juarez.

Let this monument, and this place, stand as testimony to the world of what two nations, working together, can accomplish.

The plain language of the Convention of 1910 has become a reality today.

May these links between our two countries, like the Chamizal itself, stand as testimony to the world of how good neighbors conduct their affairs.

A relocated Rio Grande means a new boundary; a new boundary means new bridges linking our two countries.

Reason, understanding, and good will have achieved a settlement of which both our peoples can be proud.

Long live the friendship of Mexico and the United States.

Respect for the rights of others is peace.

We will continue to honor all of our commitments.

I commend the work of the Task Force in identifying ways and means to streamline procedures.

All Federal Agencies must wage a relentless and continuing war against red tape.

Red tape means higher costs, wasted motion and frustration for our States and cities.

There is no way to make up for lost time to poor families without adequate housing, to the unemployed who need training to get a job, to those who need the social services which can be provided by a neighborhood center.

I asked you to form a Task Force to dig deeply into the problem of unnecessary red tape in the Federal Government.

I truly believe this effort is an important step forward in Inter-Agency cooperation.

The Joint Administrative Task Force which you established has met the goal.

I do not want a single unnecessary day of delay in delivering vital services under programs authorized and directed by the Congress.

We are all now aware that one of the major problems confronting Governors and Mayors is the amount of red tape involved in getting grant-in-aid projects processed by Federal Agencies.

President Johnson reiterated his desire for a continued high level of trade and stressed his opposition to protectionist restrictions.

I am pleased to note that your decisions will cut average processing time for 42 programs by 51 percent, with individual program improvements ranging from 24 to 72 percent.

President Johnson reiterated firm support for this promising Latin American initiative.