four weeks ago, we counseled patience to our South vietnamese allies and im posed estraints on our own commanders In contrast to our policy the enemy in the past two weeks has stepped up his guerrilla actions, and he is concentrating his main forces in these sanctuaries that you see in this map, where they are building up to launch massive attacks on our forces and those of south vietnam North Vietnam in the last two weeks has stripped away all pretense of respecting the sovereignty or the neutrality of Cambodia. Thousands of their soldiers are invading the country from the sanctuaries. They are encircling the capital of Pnompenh Coming from these sanctuaries, as you see here, they had moved into Cambodia and are encircling the capita Cambod ia, as a result of this has sent out a call to the un ited sta tes to a number of other nations, for assistance. Because if this enemy effort succeeds, Cambodi would become a vast enemy staging area and a springboard for attacks on South Vietnam a long 600 miles of frontier: a ref uge where enemy troops could return from combat without fear of retaliation. North Vietnamese men and supplies could then e poured into that country jeopardizing not only the lives of our own men but the people of South Vietnam as well Now confronted with this situation we had three options: First, we can do nothing. Well the ultimate result of that course of action is clear after our next withdrawal of 150, 000 would be gravely threatene ng in Vietnam Unless we indulge in w ishf ul think ing the lives of Americans remaini et us go to the map again Here is South Vietnam. Here is North Vietnam north vietnam already occupies this part of Laos. If North vietnam also occupied this whole band in Cambodia or the entire country, it would mean that South vietnam was completely outf lanked and the forces of americans in this area as well as the south vie tnamese would be in an untenable military position Our second choice is to provide massive military assista nce to Cambodia itse If Now unfortunately, while we deeply sympathize with the plight of seven million Cambodians whose country has been invaded, massive amounts of military assistance could not be rapidly and effectively utilized by this small Cambodian Army against the immediate trap with other nations we shall do our best to provide the small arms and other equipment which the Cambodian Army of 40, 000 needs and can use for its def ense. But the aid we will provide will be limited for the purpose of enabling Cambod ia to defend its neutrality and not for the purpose of making it an active belligerent on one side or the othefour weeks ago, we counseled patience to our South Vietnamese allies and imposed restraints on our own commanders. In contrast to our policy the enemy in the past two weeks has stepped up his guerrilla actions, and he is concentrating his main forces in these sanctuaries that you see in this map, where they are building up to launch massive attacks on our forces and those of South Vietnam. North Vietnam in the last two weeks has stripped away all pretense of respecting the sovereignty or the neutrality of Cambodia. Thousands of their soldiers are invading the country f rom the sanctuaries. They are encircling the capital of Pnompenh. Coming f rom these sanctuaries, as you see here, they had moved into Cambodia and are encircling the capital. Cambodia, as a result of this, has sent out a call to the United States, to a number of other nations, for assistance. Because if this enemy ef fort succeeds, Cambodia would become a vast enemy staging area and a springboard for attacks on South Vietnam along 600 miles of frontier: a refuge where enemy troops could return f rom combat without fear of retaliation. North Vietnamese men and supplies could then be poured into that country, jeopardizing not only the lives of our own men but the people of South Vietnam as well. Now conf ronted with this situation we had three options: First, we can do nothing. Well the ultimate result of that course of action is clear. Unless we indulge in wishful thinking, the lives of Americans remaining in Vietnam af ter our next withdrawal of 150,000 would be gravely threatened. Let us go to the map again. Here is South Vietnam. Here is North Vietnam. North Vietnam already occupies this part of Laos. If North Vietnam also occupied this whole band in Cambodia, or the entire country, it would mean that South Vietnam was completely outflanked and the forces of Americans in this area as well as the South Vietnamese would be in an untenable military position. Our second choice is to provide massive military assistance to Cambodia itself . Now unfortunately, while we deeply sympathize with the plight of seven million Cambodians whose country has been invaded, massive amounts of military assistance could not be rapidly and ef fectively utilized by this small Cambodian Army against the immediate trap. With other nations we shall do our best to provide the small arms and other equipment which the Cambodian Army of 40,000 needs and can use for its defense. But the aid we will provide will be limited for the purpose of enabling Cambodia to defend its neutrality and not for the purpose of making it an active belligerent on one side or the other