2
Turning to the specific question of establishing rela-
tions with Vietnam, the Administration's policy was influenced
by several considerations.
With a population exceeding
50 million, Vietnam is the third most populous communist
nation, and maintains one of the world's largest military
As recent events in Southeast Asia have
establishments.
graphically demonstrated, Vietnamese actions toward other
nations in the region, peaceful of otherwise, are of concern
to U.S. policy and inevitably affect our relations with other
Asian countries. We therefore wanted to be in the best
possible position to communicate with the Vietnamese and, if
possible, exert a positive influence on their policies and
actions. In addition, we wanted to be in the best possible
position to influence the Vietnamese on, providing an accounting of our MIA's, on allowing family reunification to move forward,
on resolving the refugee situation and on moving toward the
observance of internationally accepted human rights. There
is also the possibility of trade and opening the way for
American business to compete.
i
!
Against this background and following a report on the
MIA situation from the Woodcock Commission which visited
Vietnam in March 1977, President Carter announced that the
United States was prepared to enter into negotiations with
the Vietnamese aimed at establishing diplomatic relations
between our two countries. Accordingly, and as the Sub-
committee is aware, a U.S. delegation, which I led, met with
K