You may be certain that the American people and their government will never be second in this effort.

I, Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States of America, under and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Act, do hereby proclaim the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1960, as set forth in Section 4 of the Act…

Executive Order No. 10651 of January 6, 1956, is revoked.

So I want to point out to you that the message that I will give on the evening of the 4th will not be a complete or final summation of all that we hope to achieve in these 4 years.

I look forward to a continuation of the close friendship between our two countries in these times which present not only great problems but also great opportunities.

I don't have any important news for you.

Mrs. Johnson joins me in sending our personal best wishes.

Secretary Rusk and Mr. Bundy will arrive at the ranch tomorrow.

McGeorge Bundy.

I have decided to propose to the Government of Panama the negotiation of an entirely new treaty on the existing Panama Canal.

For nearly 200 years of our existence as a nation, America has stood for peace in the world.

By his inventions, man has made war unthinkable, now and forevermore.

After careful review with my senior advisers, I have accepted this recommendation.

For 50 years the Panama Canal has carried ships of all nations in peaceful trade between the two great oceans--on terms of entire equality and at no profit to this country.

Since the first Christmas, man has moved slowly but steadily forward toward realizing the promise of peace on earth among men of good will.

The canal is growing old, and so are the treaties for its management, which go back to 1903.

Our world is still troubled.

At this Christmas season of 1964, we can think of broader and brighter horizons than any who have lived before these times.