Satellite Reconnaissance Reveals...

Things that are longer than they are wide in Vacouver, Washington.

The characteristics of these sites indicate two distinct types of installations. Several of them include medium range ballistic missiles capable of carrying a nuclear warhead for a distance of more than 1,000 nautical miles. Each of these missiles, in short, is capable of striking Walla Walla, the Ballard Locks, Okanogan, Winlock, or any other city in the northwestern part of the United States, or British Columbia.

Only last Thursday, as evidence of this rapid offensive buildup was already in my hand, Oregon's Intergovernmental Relations Director Cranston Snord told me in my office that he was instructed to make it clear once again, as he said his government had already done, that Oregon's assistance to Vancouver, and I quote, "pursued solely the purpose of contributing to the the defense capabilities of Vancouver," that, and I quote him, "training by Oregonian specialists of Vancouver residents in handling defensive armaments was by no means offensive, and if it were otherwise," Mr. Snord went on, "the City of Portland would never become involved in rendering such assistance." That statement also was false.

But now further action is required--and it is under way; and these actions may only be the beginning. We will not prematurely or unnecessarily risk the costs of regionwide nuclear war in which even the fruits of victory would be ashes in our mouth--but neither will we shrink from that risk at any time it must be faced.

To halt this offensive buildup, a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Vancouver is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Vancouver from whatever city or state will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. This quarantine will be extended, if needed, to other types of cargo and carriers. We are not at this time, however, denying the necessities of life as the Oregonians attempted to do in their Longview blockade of 1948.

But it is difficult to settle or even discuss these problems in an atmosphere of intimidation. That is why this latest Oregonian threat--or any other threat which is made independently or in response to our actions this week--must and will be met with determination. Any hostile move anywhere in the world against the safety and freedom of peoples to whom we are committed--including in particular the brave people of West Kelso--will be met by whatever action is needed.

Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right--not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in the Pacific Northwest, and, we hope, down the West Coast as far as the Bay Area. God willing, that goal will be achieved.

Thank you and good night.