HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 4700. .. ,, .. · ••• ' .. ORIG~NAL ' ...
RESOLUTION NO. 4100
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
U~GING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BACH MAI HOSPITAL FUND.
SUPPORTING PEACEFUL PEACE· DEMONSTRATIONS, AND URGING
CONGRESSIONAL ENACTMENT Qi:;' SENATE BILL 48, "THE VIET
NAM DISENGAGEMENT ACT OF 1973"
WHEREAS, Richar" M. Nixon. President of the United States of America, ordered and
directed two weeks of systematic B-S2 bombing raids on the City of Hanoi, Nortl!_ Viet Nam.
as a matter of official United StJttes governmental policy witho•1t the prior adviee and consent
of our elected representatives in the United States Senate and House of Representatives; and
WHEREAS, our President's disregard of the Congress and, accordingly, the American people,
threatens the very. principle and future of representative government; ard
WHEREAS, the American taxpayers provide the financial support for the war, the bombings .•
and the ensuing enormous loss of United States military hardware; ?!1d
WHEREAS, indiscriminate saturation bombing by our aircraft and their crews devastated
military and civilian targets alike, including the Bach Mai hospital; and
WHEREAS, the bombings caused extensive civilian casualties and addea · 98 airmen as either
killed, missing, or captured to the already grotesque Viet Nam War casualty figures; a;...-._·
WHEREAS. this overwhelming use . rf. force was primarily designed to extract diplomatic
concessions from a recalcitrant foe rather than to achieve military superiority; and
WHEREAS, terroristic aerial bombardments of population centers have been oondemned by
people and governments throupout the world since the inception of this insidious and strategically
unwise concept early in World War II; and
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Palo Alto and a· large majority of the citizens in
this areat nation desire an immediate cessation of the war and the simultaneous release of all
prisoners of war with an accounting for those semcemen missing in action; and
WHEREAS. the "Medical Aid for lndo-China, Bach Mai Hospital Fund" bas been created
in order to !cquire the funds necessary for repJacinl the hospital an~ medical facilities at Bach
Mai; and
WHEREAS, on Jantiuy 8 1 1973, the Ceuncil of the City of Palo Alto directed its staff
to draft this resolution supporting peaceful peace demonstratio~s scheduled for January 20, 1973,
and wishes to support any future similar peaceful peace demons:rations; · an'd -
WHEREAS, the Council of the Qty of Palo Alto ar4ently believes that the funding of ~e
war and its bombiqs must be tenninat :'by Consresa no later than February .28, 1973, unless
a negotiated peace 5ettlement is reached befon that date; and
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WHEREAS, the Council or the City of Palo Alto finds that the continuation of the war
hu major neptive impact on the citizens and residents of Palo Alto along with substantial ~
to the ability of local IDYernment to respond to the will of the community and effectively
and efficiently allocate its time and resources to pressing local problems; and
WHEREAS, on January 4, 1973, Senator Brooke-and Senator Cranston introduced Senate
Bill 48 (S 48), "1be Vld Nam Disengagement Act of 1973," Vthich is before the Senate Forefgn
Relations Committee and provides for the tenninatioa1 of all Viet Nam war funding 60 days
after its enactment, except fundina related to the withdrawal of all United States ground, naval,
and air forces from Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos, providing that all United States prisoners
of war and men missing in action are released or accounted for during that period.
NOW, lllEREFORE. the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows:
SECI'ION 1. The Council of the City of Palo Alto hereby urges each· and every citizen
to send oontn'butions to the Medical Aid for lndo-China, Bach Mai Hospital Fund, Attention:
John Phillip Gerbode, Treasurer; 857 Mon,omery Street, San Francisco, California 94133.
SECTION 2. The Counc'.J of the City of Palo Alto hereby endorses and expresses its support
for t1iOSe peaceful peace demonstrations in Palo Alto scheduled for January 20, 1973, and any
future peaceful peace demonstrations _in the City.
SECI'ION 3. The Council of the Qty of hlo Alto hereby enth~ supports Senate
Bill 48 (S 48), "The Va Nam Disensagement Act of 1973," and most vigorously Uf8CS the
Coqress to enact thi, vital legislation and tilereby exert its oonstitutional power, right, and duty
to authorize and control . appropriations and United States war policy. and thus ~ the
unconstitutional and unbridl~ conduct iecently exlu1>ited by CUef Executives in these tradi~nal
leaislattve rie1c1s.
SECTION 4. 'Ibe City Clerk of. Palo Alto ii hereby authorized and directed to send a
copy of this resolution to Senator Mmllfldd, Senate ~ Leader; Senator Scott, Senate
}bority Lader; Conlleaanan Albert. Speaker of the House of lleps:eaCntatives; Coicaessman Ford,
Home Mnority Leader, Senator FuJbrisht. ClaUman of the Senate Forelp Relations Committee;
Senator Brooke; Senator Cramton; Senator Tunney; eougrc AND .llc:Cbby;. and CoJ:lllnSIDan
Gubler.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: January lZ, 1973
AYES: Comstock, Henderson, Pearson, Rosenbaum, Seman
NOES: Beahrs, Berwald, Clark, Norton·
ABSENT: None