JOINT ARMY-AIR FORCE EFFORT TO LIBERATE AMERICAN POW'S HELD CAPTIVE BY NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000300050001-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 25, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 19, 1970
• Content Type: OPEN

,,uecemoer 1.9, 1 YiO CONGRESSIONAL RECORD,- SENATE
In indicating that it had no objection to
relief under the particular circumstanceq' of
this case, the Air Force in Its report to the
House Judiciary Committee stated:
"There are no ad'niinistrative procedures
under which the Air Force could relieve ,Mr.
Stanford of his liability to refund the
$3,044.16 LQA overpayment. At the time of
his separation on October 31, 1969, his lump
sum leave payment. of $1,122.54 for 318 hours
of annual leave was withheld as partial re-
payment. On February 17, 1370, Mr. gtanford
was advised by the Air Force Accounting and
Finance Office, Ramstein, Germany, that de-
ducting this lump sum annual leave pay-
ment amount of $1,122.54 from the pverpay-
ment, leaves a balance due the . United States
of $1,921.62. No further colleotign actlpn was
taken. Mr. Stanford _receivedthe 1194 pay-
ment of $3,044.16 in good faith and in re-
liance upon determinations made by re-
sponsible officials.
"Based upon the above, the Department of
the Air Force interposes no objection to the
enactment of H.R. 16965."
The committee is, in agreement with the
conclusions arrived at by the House Judici-
ary Committee and accordingly recommends
favorable consideration of H.R. 169f5_with-
LIBERATE AMICAN.'AW'.$ >iELD
CAPTIVE BZ NOR' H ,VIETNAM
The Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution (S. Res, 486) relating to the
joint Army-Air Force effort to liberate
American prisoners of war held, captive
by North Vietnam, which had been re-
ported from the Committee on the Judi-
ciary with an amendment:
Beginning on page 3, line 1, after the
Word "Resolved" strike all through line
17, and on page 4, line 1, strike the words
"rescue mission,"; and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
That the official command, officers and men
involved in the military expedition of No-
vember 21, 1970, seeking release from cap-
tivity of United Ptates prisoners of war be-
lieved to be held by the enemy near Hanoi,
North Vietnam, be commended for the cour-
age they displayed in. this hazardous and
humanitarian undertaking which has lifted
the hopes and spirits of our brave men im-
prisoned and fighting, as well as. Americans
everywhere.
Resolved further, That a copy of this reso-
lution be forwarded by the Secretary of the
Senate to each person who participated in
the special joint Army-Air Force rescue
mission.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed
to.
The preamble was amended and agreed
to.
Mr. MANSFIELD. Mr. President, I ask
unanimous. consent to have printed in
the,RECORD an excerpt from the report
(No, 81-1493), explaining the purposes
of the measure.
There being no objection, the excerpt
was ordered to be printed in the RECORD,
as follows; , I 1r. t
The sole purpose of the resolution is to
commend the coft.,age of the officers and
men who carried,.put, the. hazardous mission
of the special joint Army-Air Force task
force to Son Tay, North Vietnam, on No-
vember 21, 1970.
Senate Resolution 486, the subject of this
report, was introduced November 25 by Sen-
ator Dole for himself and 34 cosponsors. It
was ordered to lie over under the rule, and
on November 30 it was ordered to be placed
on the calendar. On December 8, the reso-
lution was, referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations with instruction to re-
port within 10 days.
On December 14 and 15, the committee
received the written comments of the De-
partments of State and Defense, respectively,
endorsing the resolution. Under the instruc-
tions of the Senate, the committee consid-
ered the resolution in executive session on
December 14 and 17. On the latter date,
the resolution was ordered reported with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
The resolution, with its preamble,
reads as follows:
Whereas conditions have not materially
improved in the year since Congress passed
H. Con. Res. 454 calling for humane treat-
ment and release of American prisoners of
war'held by North Vietnam and the Na-
tional Liberation Front; and
Whereas increasing numbers of American
military personnel remain in captivity in
North Vietnam in circumstances which vio-
late the Geneva Convention of 1949 on pris-
oners of war and offend standards of human
ng as six years; and
Whereas the Government of North Viet-
nam and the National Liberation Front have
refused to identify the prisoners they hold,
tQ.allow impartial inspection of camps, to
permit free exchange of mail between pris-
oners and their families, and to release se-
riously sick and injured prisoners, as re-
quired by the Geneva Convention, despite
repeated entreaties from world leaders: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the official command, offi-
cers and men involved in the military ex-,
pedition of November 21, 1970, seeking re-
lease from captivity of United States prison-
ers of war believed to be held by the enemy
near Hanoi, North Vietnam, be commended
for the courage they displayed in this haz-
ardous and humanitarian undertaking which
has lifted the hopes and spirits of our brave
men imprisoned and fighting, as well as
Americans everywhere.
Resolved further, That a copy of this reso-
lution be forwarded by the Secretary of the
Senate to each person who participated in
the special joint Army-Air Force rescue mis-
sion.
Mr. DOLE subsequently said: Mr.
President, earlier today the Senate
adopted Senate Resolution 486, On No.-
vember 25, I submitted that resolution,
which was ultimately sponsored by 40
Senators, and asked unanimous consent
that it'be given immediate consideration
in order to demonstrate 'the Senate's
gratitude and respect for the courage
demonstrated by the Army and Air Force
personnel who carried out the Son Tay
prisoner rescue attempt.
It was hoped the Senate would act on
the resolution with the same dispatch as
the House did in order that the expres-
sion of gratitude by both Houses of Con-
gress could be available at the time spe-
cial ceremonies were held honoring the
2neh involved in the rescue mission. How-
ever, the resolution was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
On December 7, the House of Repre-
sentatives passed a similar resolution-
the text of which was read by the reso-
lution's sponsors at the awards ceremony
an December 9. While the sentiments of
ihe.U.S..Senate could not be represented
at the ceremony, today's action affirms
not only the Senate's recognition of the
courage demonstrated by the men who
took part in the hazardous mission to
5,20731
rescue American prisoners of war from
the Son Tay Prison but it also must be
interpreted as a strong indication to
North Vietnam that we condemn the
continued inhumane treatment of Amer-
ican prisoners of war held by North Viet-
nam and the National Liberation Front.
Their refusal to comply with even the
minimal standards of human decency is
not acceptable to Americans, whatever
their personal opinion of the Vietnam
war. Passage of this resolution during
the Christmas season cannot be a sub-
stitute for the return of those American
prisoners to their families and loved
ones, but it is appropriate that these
families know the American people care
and join them in their prayers for the
safe return of their men.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
pore. At this time, in accordance with
the previous order, the Chair now recog-
nizes the distinguished Senator from
Florida (Mr. GURNEY) for not to exceed
1 hour.
TRIBUTES TO THE HONORABLE
SPESSARD L. HOLLAND, THE SEN-
IOR SENATOR FROM FLORIDA
Mr. GURNEY. Mr. President, we are
here today to honor my most distin-
guished colleague, the senior Senator
from Florida, SPESSARD HOLLAND, who is
retiring after almost 25 years of service
in this great legislative body. In preface
I wish to make some general remarks.
These are troublesome times and with
American involvement in the war in
Vietnam, racial strife, rising crime, and
other problems there has been in recent
years much public soul searching and in-
trospection about the American com-
monwealth. It has been suggested in
some quarters that the American spirit
has been marred, even that the national
psyche has been mortally wounded.
There is much hand wringing and pes-
simism about our future; many recrimi-
nations about our recent past.
Mr. President, I do not, and I cannot
share this pessimistic mood. While I
recognize the frailties ,and tf~e fallibility
of men, and while I think our mistakes
and wrong turnings must always be ex-
posed and corrected, I have ultimate
confidence in basic goodness of the Amer-
ican system and the durability of the
American spirit.
I think one of the roots of my optimism
has been my experience here in the Sen-
ate in the last 2 years. And my confidence
is justified, I think, because of the caliber
and the dedication I have found in the
Members of this august Chamber. We
are today honoring one of the most dis-
tinguished Members as his retirement
approaches-the distinguished senior
Senator from Florida, the Honorable
SPESSARD L. HOLLAND. I suggest that the
fact our country has produced a man
like SPESSARD HOLLAND IS cause for opti-
mism; I suggest that the presence of
SPESSARD HOLLAND in public life shows
the basic good sense of our people, and
I suggest that his entire career is a mon-
ument to the best elements in our na-
tional life.
Senator HOLLAND'S career and presence
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820732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE December 19, 197,
in public life justifies our faith in de-
mocracy and reinforces my belief in
the essential virtue and goodness of our
Republic.
Senator HOLLAND was born in Bartow,
Fla., on July 10,1892. He was the son of
Benjamin Franklin Holland, a native of
Georgia and a confederate veteran who
came to Florida in 1881, and Fannie Vir-
ginia Spessard Holland, who had been
born in Virginia.
He was graduated from Summerlin In-
stitute, which is now the Bartow High
School, in 1909, and in 1912 he received
his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude,
from Emory College in Atlanta. Senator
HOLLAND graduated from the University
of Florida Law School in 1916.
In college, he earned membership in the
Phi Beta Kappa Society and qualified for
a Rhodes scholarship, which he was un-
able to accept because of the outbreak
of World War I.
He was, of course, an outstanding col-
lege athlete who played varsity football,
baseball, and basketball in college-when
he was not busy as a member of the track
team. He was, in fact, offered a contract
in 1916 by Connie Mack to play profes-
sional baseball with the Philadelphia
Athletes. If he had chosen to go that
route, he would doubtless be in the Hall of
Fame at Cooperstown. But World War I
intervened.
In 1917, he entered in the service o1' his
country. Commissioned a second lieuten-
ant in the coast artillery, he went to
France in 1917 and transferred to the
Army Air Corps and saw action at the
Meuse Argonne, Champaign, St. Mihiel,
and Luneville in 1918. He is credited with
officially downing a German aircraft and
he lost his own plane in combat. In 1918,
he was awarded the Distinguished Serv-
ice Cross with the citation noting "ex-
traordinary heroism in connection with
military operations against an armed
enemy." At the end of the hostilities,, he
was a captain.
In 1919, he returned home and made
one of the wisest decisions of his life:
He married Miss Mary Groover of Fort
White, Fla. The Hollands have two sons
and two daughters and 13 grandchil-
dren. Both sons, who are now attorneys
practicing in Florida, saw action in
World War II.
After his war service, Senator HOL-
LAND practiced law briefly before accept-
ing an appointment as prosecuting at-
torney for Polk County. In 1920, he was
elected county judge.
In 1932, he was elected to the Florida
State Senate where he served for 8
years. In that role, he sponsored various
measured aims at reducing taxes, over-
hauling the Florida school code and im-
proving the State's public educational
system, increasing teacher salaries, and
setting up retirement benefits. He also
wrote and sponsored legislation to cre-
ate the citrus commission, and legisla-
tion for old age assistance, workman's
compensation, and unemployment in-
surance, He also sponsored the soil con-
servation districts act, the cooperative
market act, and the fair trade act. He
was a leader in the fight to abolish the
State poll tax.
Senator HOLLAND was elected Gover-
nor of Florida in 1940 and served from
January 1941 to January 1945, his term
roughly covering the World War II pe-
riod.
He was appointed to the Senate to fill
the unexpired term of the late Senator
Charles Andrews in September 1946 and
was elected to the U.S. Senate for the
first time in X 'ov niber 1946. He was re-
elected in 1952, 1958, and 1964.
During his 'almost 25 years in the U.S.
senate, Senator HOLLAND had missed
only a tiny fraction of the thousands of
record votes---and those for the most
part occurred when he was excused from
the Senate to be away from Washing-
ton on official business.
The Senator serves on three important
standing committees: Agriculture and
Forestry, Appropriations and Aeronau-
tical and Space Sciences Committee.
There are simply too many legislative
accomplishments we could speak of con-
cerning Senator HOLLAND in my allotted
time. But, I will mention a few areas
only :
Senator HOLLAND fought the poll tax
throughout his distinguished career. He
first introduced a constitutional amend-
ment to prohibit it in Federal elections in
:949 and reintroduced it in succeeding
Congresses. In 1962, finally, it was ap-
proved by Congress and sent to the
States. In 1964, it was ratified by the req-
uisite number of States and became the
24th amendment to our Constitution.
The Tidelands Act which restored to
the States the property rights in sub-
merged coastal belts lying within the
State's boundaries. Senator HOLLAND per-
sonally argued the constitutionality of
the Tidelands Act before the Supreme
Court in 1959.
Senator HOLLAND is, as we know, the
father of our uniquely beautiful Ever-
glades National Park. It was his fore-
sight as Governor of Florida which pre-
served it; it was he who sponsored the
Federal legislation, which made it a, na-
iional park and fixed its boundaries.
Senator HOLLAND took a leadership role
in the central and southern Florida flood
control project, and in many other rivers
and harbors projects which have proven
to be of enormous 'benefit both to Florida
and to the Nation.
Senator HOLLAND played a large role in
the Highway Act of 1956 which started
our interstate highway program.
As my colleagues know, I could go on
and on with a recitation of accomplish-
ments, but our time is short and I know
my colleagues wish to speak also.
But let me say 'this :
Mr. President, my prayer is that the
Senate of the United States will, in the
years ahead, be graced by the presence
of other patriots and statesmen of the
caliber of SPESSARD HOLLAND.
Senator HOLLAND's long and honor-
able service to the Nation and to the
State of Florida can never be forgotten.
For almost 25 years, he has giver. this
Chamber the ben4flt of his wisdom, his
experience, and his mature judgment.
The Senate is infinitely richer because
of his presence.
In many ways, the distinguished senior
Senator from Florida is the embodiment
of an ideal--the personification of the
qualities which the American people hope
to find in their own Senator : dignity, cer-
tainty, and courtesy, but also-scrupulous
integrity; perception of the broad issues
and at the same time attention to detail;
diligence and the mattery of public is-
sues-that is the product of long hours
of preparation; independence and the
willingness to speak his mind, regardless
of which of our great political parties
controls the White House: firmness of
matters of principle nnd, at the same
time, gentleness and respect for the
honest opinions which are different from
his own. There is not a Member of the
Senate now who does not respect and
esteem SPESSARD HOLL;,ND. And, Senator
HOLLAND has earned that respect, by the
example he has set and by the manner
in which he has conducted himself.
We cannot hope to summarize in a
few moments SPESSARD HOLLAND'S record
of service and accomplishments in the
U.S. Senate, or as Governor of Florida
before that.
We can, however, mention a few of the
qualities which have uistinguished the
Senator during his long and honorable
legislature career:
He is a man of honor and integrity.
He Is a man of principle, whose word
is his bond.
He is a scholar and man of wide learn-
ing and great understanding.
He is a patriot, and a man of great
strength.
At the same time, he is gentle and
compassionate.
First, last, and always, Senator HoL-
LAND is a gentleman.
And now, rich in 'honors, in friend-
ships, in the esteem of his colleagues.
Senator HOLLAND is leaving Washington.
Our State and our Nation are richer,
sir, because you have chosen to serve
them. We are now, and we always will
be, in your debt,
Your colleagues thank you for your
service to Florida and to our country; we
wish for you, Senator HOLLAND, and for
your wonderful lady, Ivlary, good health,
and God's blessing for a wonderful re-
tirement.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con-
sent to have printed iri the RECORD cer-
tain newspaper editorials and articles.
Mr. GURNEY. Mr. President, I ask
unanimous consent that the RECORD be
kept open until the adjournment of this
Congress for the inclusion of written
statements by our colleagues who are not
present at this moment and who may
wish to file at a later day.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. GURNEY. Mr. President, I further
ask unanimous consent that our tributes
to Senator HOLLAND on this occasion be
collected and suitably bound and in-
scribed for presentation to our beloved
colleague.
The PRESIDING OFFICER.. Without
objection, it is so ordered.
There being no objection, the material
was ordered to be printed in the RECORD,
as follows:
[From the Orlando (Fla.) Sentinel,
Nov. 14, 19691
SENATOR SPESSARD HOLL:?:NI) HAS EARNED THE
GRATITUDE OF EVERY FLORIDIAN
Whatever their party. Floridians have rea-
son to be grateful to retiring U.B. Sen. Spes-
sard L. 'Holland for his long, faithful and
distinguished service to his state and the
nation.
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LAIRD,'O CONSULT
ABRAIS ON TROOPS
To Visit Saigon Next Month
-May Speed Withdrawal
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15-
Secretary of Defense Melvin R.
Laird announced today that he
would visit South Vietnam
early next month to confer
with', Gen. Creighton W.
Abrams, the American, field
commander, on the prospect
for troop reductions.
A well placed Pentagon offi-
cial explained later that the
principal purpose of the trip
would be to determine whether
United States withdrawals
could safely be stepped up by
some "thousands" over the
first hialf, of next year.
Under a plan announced by
President Nixon last spring, the
number of United States troops
in Vietnam is scheduled to drop
to 284000men by May 1. The
current number is 343,700.
Penitagon sources said Mr.
Laird wanted to discuss with.
General Abrams whether this
withdrawal goal could be in-
creased before making a rec-
ommendation to the President.
Disclabns Policy Change
In a Pentagon news confer-
ence; Mr. Laird also makes
these points:
9"There has been no basic
change of::policy",regarding the
.bombing .of North Vietnam
from that of the previous Ad-
!Plans=have been completed,
with details to be announced,
within a Week, for the destruc-
tion of biological weapons. Pres-
9The pentagon consulted
ith the Central Intelligence
agency oh, a continuing basis
last May on plans for the
aid' on "the prisoner of war
camp at Sontay in North Viet-
am and that agency did not
uggest ;lily had evidence there,
ere no ;americans at Sontay.
Mr, Laird said that on Jan.
5, 'accompanied by Adm. Thom-(
as H. Moorer, Chairman of the+
Joint Chiefs, of Staff, he!
planned to leave for Paris on
the first leg of a trip that
wuld take. hop to Thailand
and South Vietnam.
In Paris, he said, he will talk
with the American delegation
to the Vietnam peace talks.
He said the purpose of the
visit to Vietnam, his first since'
last March, would be to "assess
the progress of the Vietnamiza
tioh program; to assess the
military situation in Southeast
Asia; to assess the military
assistance programs; and also
to confer with General Abrams
on.:what lies ahead as far as
further troop reductions, and
an `ion-the-ground assessment of
the' military situation in South-
east Asia."
Mr. Laird declined to specu-
late on the pace or extent of
future withdrawals, but he said:
"There is nothing developing
militarily that would cause us
not to meet or beat the May 1
troop announceme t."
Pentagon sources said there
were at least two ways in
which larger withdrawals might
be handled. This could be done
either by establishing a higher
goal for May 1, they say, or by
announcing a new timetable to
extend through June 30.
If the new timetable is se-
lected, one ranking source said,
the total withdrawal likely',
would be greater than simply!
continuing the force reductions!
at the previous average about
12,000 men a month.
!Sources said that General
Abrams would prefer to keep',
Withdrawals low over the next!
few months of dry weather to.
see' whether the North Viet-
narrlese attempt a major offen-1
1960, the the United . States
would never use germ -weapons
and pledged the destruction of
our : germ warfare stockpile at
Pine Bluff, Ark. Sources report
that agents stockpiled include
tulatemia,,Q fever, anthrax and!
Venezuelan, uine ;encephalitis.
The stocks also reportedly in-
clude 45,00 bullets and darts
cont`.ainin botulinum toxin.
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THE EVENING STAR DATE) f,-'*-L'1V PAGE
Laird Says Troops Stay
Until POWs Are Free
I Defense Secretary Melvin R.
Laird, re-emphasizing the ad-
ministration's concern over the
future of prisoners of war hel
!by North Vietnam, said toda
that "until the prisoners are re
leased, there will be no total an
combat operations in Vietnam
forces in South Vietnam."
Laird told a Pentagon pres
conference: "We are going to
maintain a U.S. presence until a'
satisfactory solution can be ne-
gotiated for the POW problem."
Administration officials have,
in the past, referred to the
probability of a residual level of
troop strength in the area of
50,000-60,000 men after this coun-
try has concluded its active
combat operationsi n Vietnam.
Touching on a variety of other
issues, Laird told newsmen:
? He and Admiral Thoma
Moorer, chairman of the Join
Chiefs of Staff, will leave Jan.
for a meeting with U.S. negotia
tors at the peace talks in Paris
then proceed to Thailand an
South Vietnam for additions
Gen. Creighton Obrams, com-
mander of U.S. forces in. Viet-
,gam, on future troop reductions.
The secretary was questioned
closely about reported discrep-
ancies between accounts of the
degree of consultation between
the Pentagon and CIA during
the planning and execution of
the Son Tay raid.
"I drew on all elements of
our intelligence community,"
Laird said. Seeking to end spec-
ulation that Helms had been in-
formed in the early stages of
he planning but not immediate-
ly prior to the raid, Laird said
he and Helms sat together in
the Defense secretary's, Penta-
gon office and awaited first
reports of developments as the
rescue helicopters took off and
as the raid was carried out.
Chairman J. William Ful-
bright of the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee last week
charged that Helms was not
consulted about the Son Tay
raid.
discussions on the future of the
war.
? The Defense Department will
soon announce a new program
for the disposal of biological and
toxic weapons. "We will only re-
tain a minimum defensive re-
search program in the biological
area," he said.
? Notwithstanding some reports
to the contrary, Richard Helms,
director of the Central Intelli-
gence Agency, was fully inform-
ed and consulted on all develop-
ments leading up to last month's
unsuccessful attempt to recover
American prisoners of war at
Son Tay in North Vietnam.
Laird said his forthcoming
trip was designed to assess the
Vietnamization .,program, the
military situation, and the. mili-
tary assistance program in
South Vietnam. In addition, he
said he planned to confer with
to
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December 15, 1970 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE S 2022 7
tion (b) shall be effective after June- 3.0,
1971. r
(2) In the case of funds appropriated to
carry out programs under the LibraryS-erv-
r
ices and Construction Act for the fiscal 1-e-_
ending June 30, 1971, each State Is autoi-
ized, in accordance with regulations of the
Commissioner of Education, to use a portion
of its allotment for the development of such
plans as may be required by such Act, as
arilended by subsection (b).
AMENDMENTS TO THE AfVLT EDUCATION ACT
iSr:c. 3. (a) Effective on and after Juiyy "1,
1969, section 305(a) of the Adult Education
Act Is amended-
(1) by striking out in the first sentence
"any fiscal year" and inserting in lieu there-
of "the fiscal year ending June 30, 1972, and
for any succeeding fiscal year"; and
(2) by Inserting at the end thereof the
following new sentence: "From the sums
available for purposes of section 304(b) for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and the
succeeding fiscal. year, the Commissioner
shall make allotments in accordance with
section 305(a) of the Adult Education Act of
1966 as in effect on June 30, 1969."
(b) Section 312(b) of the Adult Educa-
tion Act is amended by inserting at the end
thereof the following new sentence: "For` the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1970, and the suc-
ceeding fiscal year, nothing in this subset
tion shall be construed to prohibit the use
of any amounts appropriated pursuant to
this Act to pay such costs, subject to such
limitations as the Commissioner may pre
scribe."
Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I recom-
mend that the Senate concur' in , the`
House Amendment to S. 3318. I do this
with a great deal of reluctance, because
some of the provisions in the House
amendment are unclear. However, the
pressure of adjournment is such that I
do: not w9.nt to risk killing the bill by
requiring a conference. Therefore, I
have, had consultations with the Chair-
man of the House Committee on Educa
-tion and Labor with respect to some of
the more confusing aspects of the House
The point with which I have the mos
,The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ques- own initiative and responsibility as, a
tion is on agreeing to the motion of the Senator, _conceriied-like most Americans
Senator from Rhode Island. for the fate of prisoners in the Southeast
The motion was agreed to. Asia war, that: Our side release unilat-
A message from the House of Repre-
sentatives, by Mr. Hackney, one of its
reading clerks, announced that the House
had agreed to the report of the commit-
tee of conference on the disagreeing votes
of the two Houses on the amendments
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 18515)
making appropriations for the Depart-
ments of Labor, and Health, Education,
and Welfare, and related agencies, for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1971, and
for other purposes; that the House re-
ceded from its disagreement to the
amendments of the Senate numbered 25
and 62 to the bill and concurred therein,
and that the House receded from its dis-
agreement to the amendments of the
Senate numbered 1, 8, 59, and 66 to the
bill, and concurred, therein, severally
with. an amendment, in which it re-
quested the concurrence of the Senate.
The message also announced that the
House had disagreed to the amendments
of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 6114) for
the relief of Elmer M. Grade; asked a
conference, with the Senate on the dis-
agreeing votes of the two Houses thereon,
and that Mr. CELLER, Mr. DoNoxuE, and
Mr. MCC'LLOCH were appointed man-
agers on the part of the House at the
conference.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
Mr. GRAVEL. Mr. President, I ask
unanimous consent to yield to the Sena-
tor from Michigan (Mr. GRIFFIN) with-
out losing my right to the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
objection, it is so ordered.
'`''S4 iur-406`4
A PROPOSAL FOR UNILATERAL POW
RELEASE
Mr. GRIFFIN. Mr. President, it was a
various State plans,"and the manner in
which they will be approved. Chairman
PERKINS agreed that the intent of the
House is that each State will submit
to the Commissioner a single document
each year which will contain a basic
State plan, a long-range program plan,
and an annual program plan for each
of the library programs in which it de-
sires to participate, and that if each of
those plans conforms' with the require-
ments of the law, the Commissioner will
approve the basic State plan for that
State. This intent is borne out by' para
graph 1 of section 6 c), which provides
that the Commissioner shall not ap-
prove any basic State plan for any fiscal
year unless he has made specific find-
ings as to the compliance of the Plan
'with the requirements of the act, and
ttIess he is '~atisiied that adequate pro-
eed zres will bye.ihcl tle~l, o insure liat>
the requirements of the act, will, be
carried out.
It is understood that the basic State
plan will include all the procedures, cri-
teria, and policies necessary to guar-
aatee th t 'e ,ch of , the plans are in
t tormi y with the law,
Mr. President, I move that the Senate
concur In the House amendment.
month. ago today that I conferred in
Paris with North Vietnam's Delegate
General to France, Mai Van Bo.
Among other proposals, I strongly
urged that, before Christmas, his gov-
ernment 'should release the sick and
wounded Americans who are held cap-
tive in North Vietnam. The Delegate
General, with whom I talked for more
than an hour, said he would pass my
proposals on to the Hanoi Government.
It is more in sadness than surprise
that r must now report, 10 days, before
Christmas, that there has been no re-
sponse from the North Vietnamese con-
cerning any of the proposals.
'My efforts have been only part of a
broad, determined crusade in this coun-
try, official and unofficial,'to persuade the
Communists to improve their treatment
of prisoners in Southeast Asia, to provide
a full accounting of missing men, and to
bring about the release of all prisoners by
both sides.
Mr. President, I believe the time has
come for our side to tale a giant step
toward resolution of this distressing pris-
oner of war problem. I propose; on my
erally at least 1,500 able-bodied. North
Vietnamese Army prisoners of war in
addition to all who may be sick and
wounded.
Of course, I do not advocate forced
repatriation. We should ask an impar-
tial international body, like the Interna-
tional Red Cross, to- interview the North
Vietnamese and determine which men
wish to return.
It would seem to make sense that pris-
oners held the longest should be released
first. And I suggest that the prisoners be
released well before Tet, the Vietnamese
New Year, which comes at the end of
January.
Such a dramatic, humanitarian ini-
tiative would create, worldwide, an ex-
pectation of response in kind by the
Communist side.
In recent weeks, events have focused
increasing attention on this anguishing
prisoner problem. As part. of his October
7 peace initiative, President Nixon pro-
posed the immediate and unconditional
release by both sides of all prisoners of
war.
On November 21, freedom-loving
people were heartened by the daring,
though unsuccessful, rescue mission di-
rected at the Son Tay prisoner of war
camp in North Vietnam.
Last week the United Nations General
Assembly adopted, by a large majority.
a resolution calling for compliance by all
parties with the Geneva Convention on
prisoners of war. In particular, the res-
olution'focused upon article 109 of the
convention which requires immediate
repatriation of all seriously sick or
wounded prisoners, and which also rec-
ommends repatriation or internment in
a neutral country of other prisoners of
war who have been held in captivity for
a long period of time.
Last Thursday in Paris, the United
-States and South Vietnam offered Hanoi
the opportunity to exchange some 8,200
North Vietnamese held in South Vietnam
for a far fewer number of United States,
South Vietnamese, and other free world
personnel. That offer was rebuffed.
At the Paris peace talks, our repre-
sentatives have continually pressed for
the release by both sides of the seriously
sick and wounded prisoners, as clearly
required by the convention.
But North Vietnam has cruelly re-
jected this and other proposals, revealing
an almost incredible indifference to the
fate of its own soldiers.
Notwithstanding Nord Vietnam's in-
transigence, the Government of South
Vietnam, to its great credit, _ has. pro-
ceeded with the ,unilateral repatriation
of sink, and wounded, North, Vietnamese
prisoners who have indicated a desire to
return to the N(zrth.
The most recent unilateral release was
in July 1970, when the South Vietnamese
Government returned 62 such sick and
wouridest, prisoners and, in the , process,
voluntarily gave up three boats because
North,Vietnarn IC.fgsgd to permit the In-
ternational Rec pro.
;or any other for-
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 Approved For Release 2000/09/14: CIA-RDP72-00337R000300050001-0
5 20228
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE Decemt ei- 15, 1970
sign personnel to accompany the prison - i gin on his statement and the initiative as are needed to focus world attention
ers on their brief trip to shore. he has shown on this whole question of on Hanoi's uncivilized inhumanity, and
Mr. President, the need to relieve the prisoners of war together with the very to counter any inters, itional political
plight of prisoners of war becomes more real efforts he has made in this direc- and economic support which might be
urgent with each passing day. There Lion and the knowledge he has acquired. remaining for the enemy.
were unQfficial reports last month that I would hope that a suggestion of this To do this, I suggest that the United
a number of Americans have died in cap- sort, which is a unilateral action by this States commence to implement, uni-
tivity 'in. North Vietnam. Even without country, would helii cut through some laterally if necessary, the provisions of
corroboration of such reports, it is pain- of the underbrush surrounding this section I, part IV, of the 1949 Geneva
fully obvious, considering the conditions thole problem. It is a very fine and Convention. This section imposes an
under which our men have been held for commendable idea. absolute obligation on the detaining
many years by the enemy, that some of Mr. GRIFFIN. Mr. President, I want power to release prisoners of war who are
them must be reaching the limits of hu- to thank the distinguished Senator from seriously sick or wounded and who wish
man ability to survive. Rhode Island who, himself, has made to return home as soon is they are fit to
Mr. President, de,>pite the uncoln- great contributions, many of them un- travel. Other sick and wounded prison-
promising attitude thus far exhibited by hrviled and unnoticed, in this area, lie ers, whose health would be benfited
the other side, I believe we must not be h