This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas 
http://dolearchives.ku.edu

REMARKS OF HONORABLE BOB DOLE 
"APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE" 
CONSTITUTION HALL, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
MAY 1, 1970

IN ANCIENT GREECE, A PHILOSOPHER WAS ONCE ASKED, "WHEN WILL JUSTICE COME TO ATHENS?"

HE REPLIED, "JUSTICE WILL NEVER COME TO ATHENS UNTIL THOSE WHO ARE NOT INJURED START TO BECOME AS INDIGNANT AS THOSE WHO ARE INJURED." TODAY WE SAY THAT INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE WILL NEVER COME TO SOUTHEAST ASIA UNLESS WE WHO DO NOT HAVE LOVED ONES MISSING OR LISTED AS PRISONERS OF WAR START TO BECOME AS INDIGNANT AS THOSE WHO DO.

SO WE HAVE ASSEMBLED TONIGHT TO REPRESENT AMERICAN INDIGNATION AT THE MORAL AND LEGAL ENORMITY OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND VIET CONG CRUELTY. AND WE CALL UPON OTHER NATIONS TO REGISTER THEIR ACTIVE PRO- TEST, TOO. FOR TODAY IS LAW DAY ---- A TIME WHEN WE HONOR OUR BELIEF IN THE RULE OF LAW. A TIME WHEN WE HONOR THE COMMON LAW HERE IN AMERICA AND ALSO THE LAW OF NATIONS IN THE WORLD. TREATIES AND CONVENTIONS ARE PRIMARY SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW. AND THE GENEVA CONVENTION

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This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas 
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
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OF 1949 DEFINES THE PROPER TREATMENT FOR PRISONERS OF WAR. BUT, THE NORTH VIETNAMESE AND NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT ARE CALLOUSLY VIOLATING THIS INTERNATIONAL LAW. THEY ARE MOCKING THE TREATY WHICH THEY AND 123 OTHER NATIONS SIGNED. THEY REFUSE TO IDENTIFY ALL AMERICAN PRISONERS OF WAR. THEY REFUSE PRISONERS THE RIGHT TO EXCHANGE MAIL WITH THEIR FAMILIES. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE PRISONERS PROPER FOOD. THEY REFUSE TO GIVE MINIMAL MEDICAL TREATMENT AND TO REPATRIATE THE SERIOUSLY ILL AND WOUNDED.

BUT THIS IS MORE THAN A LEGAL CAUSE; IT IS THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY. IT IS NOT MERELY THE RIGHTS OF AMERICA, BUT THE RIGHTS OF MANKIND. FOR, EVERY MAN WHO IS UNIDENTIFIED HAS A WIFE, A CHILD, OR A PARENT FRANTICALLY CONCERNED WITH HIS FATE. EVERY MAN WHO IS DENIED THE CHANCE TO WRITE A LETTER HAS A DESPAIRING FAMILY. EVERY MAN WHO IS DENIED PROPER MEDICAL CARE HAS A POTENTIAL WIDOW OR ORPHAN. WE SENSE THE ANGUISH OF THESE FAMILIES IN THE REPETITION OF THE WIVES' QUESTION TO THE NORTH VIETNAMESE IN PARIS, "AM I A WIFE OR A WIDOW?"

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This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas 
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
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HUMANITARIANS, EVEN IN COMMUNIST-RUN COUNTRIES MUST SYMPATHIZE WITH THESE FAMILIES. BUT AMERICANS MUST DO MORE THAN SYMPATHIZE ---- WE MUST ORGANIZE TO DEMONSTRATE CONTINUING AMERICAN CONCERN FOR CAP- TURED AND MISSING AMERICAN SERVICEMEN. WE MUST MOBILIZE THE COURT OF WORLD OPINION AGAINST THESE ATROCITIES. AS PATRIOTS, WE OWE THESE 1500 SOLDIERS OUR HANDS AS WELL AS OUR HEARTS. WE SHALL MORE THAN HEARKEN TO THEIR NEEDS. WE SHALL ANSWER THEM. WE SHALL ACT.

DANIEL WEBSTER ONCE WROTE, "HEROES ARE THE COMMON PROPERTY OF ALL THE NATION." TONIGHT THOSE OF US HERE CLAIM THESE BRAVE MEN FOR ALL AMERICA. AS THEY HAVE SHOWN THEIR DEVOTION, LET US SHOW OUR RESOLUTION. AS THEY STOOD READY TO GIVE THEIR LIVES AND SECURITY IN SUPPORT OF US, THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS TO STAND READY TO GIVE OUR VOICE AND PETITION TO SUPPORT THEM. AS THEY HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, LET US KEEP THE FAITH.

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This document is from the collections at the Dole Archives, University of Kansas 
http://dolearchives.ku.edu
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LET US SEE TO IT THAT THROUGH OUR INDIGNATION AND OUR VOICES THAT INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE DOES COME TO SOUTHEAST ASIA.

IN THE WORDS OF A NEWSPAPER EDITOR WHO MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE ABUSES AGAINST HUMANITY OF SLAVERY:
WE ARE IN EARNEST 
WE WILL NOT EXCUSE 
WE WILL NOT EQUIVOCATE 
WE WILL NOT RETREAT A SINGLE INCH, AND 
WE SHALL BE HEARD

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