JFK Speaks on Taiwan Strait, Prayer in Schools

The situation in the area of the Taiwan  Strait is a matter of serious concern to this government. Very large movements of  Chinese Communist forces into this area have taken place. The purpose of these  moves is not clear. It seems important in these circumstances that the position of the  United States Government be clearly understood. Our basic position has always been that  we are opposed to the use of force in this area. In the earlier years, President  Eisenhower made repeated efforts to secure the agreement of Communist China to  the mutual renunciation of the use of force in the Taiwan area, and our  support for this policy continues. One possibility is that there might be  aggressive action against the offshore islands of Matsu and Quemoy. In that  event, the policy of this country will be that established seven years ago under  the Formosa Resolution. The United States will take the action necessary to assure  the defense of Formosa and the Pescadores. The Supreme Court has made its  judgment, and a good many people obviously will disagree with it. Others  will agree with it. But I think that it is important for us if we are going to  maintain our Constitutional principle that we support the Supreme Court decisions  even when we may not agree with them. In addition, we have in this case a very easy  remedy, and that is to pray ourselves and I would think that it would be a welcome  reminder to every American family that we can pray a good deal more at home, we  can attend our churches with a good deal more fidelity, and we can make the true  meaning of prayer much more important in the lives of all of our children.  That power is very much open to us. I would hope that as a result of  this decision that all American parents will intensify their efforts at  home, and the rest of us will support the Constitution and the responsibility  of the Supreme Court in interpreting it, which is theirs, and given to them by  the Supreme Court--, by the Constitution.