They are out there dying in order to save freedom.

The purpose of the United States remains a purpose of peace.

Our stand must be as firm as ever.

They fight for dreams beyond the din of battle--the dream of security in their village, a teacher for their children, food for their bodies, medicine for their sick, the right to worship in the way they choose.

Why do these Vietnamese fight on?

We cannot accept their logic that tyranny 10,000 miles away is not tyranny to concern us.

And that is why it is vitally important to every American that we stop the Communists in South Vietnam.

And yet they fight on.

We are making reality out of the hopes of the common people--hope for a better life.

So this afternoon I extend to these two friends and these allies of ours a most warm welcome to our country.

I welcome these two brave leaders of the Vietnamese Republic and their colleagues to American soil.

There are special pleaders who counsel retreat in Vietnam.

We cannot accept their logic that tyranny 10,000 miles away is not tyranny to concern us, or that subjugation by an armed minority in Asia is different from subjugation by an armed minority in Europe.

The problem is that if you are fully responsive in some military matters, the Chief of Staff can very quickly get your men involved.

Such men are very difficult to find, but they are not impossible to find.

I have two or three items of interest, I think, to give you.

Yes, this will be a total of 6 1/2 million tons.

I have plans to ask Ambassador Lodge to come into Honolulu and join General Westmoreland there.