Today is time of celebration and of sorrow.
We celebrate the emergence into democracy
of the oldest and most populous land in all the world - but we mourn its
captivity at the hands of Chinese imperialism.
We delight in the long friendship which has
endured between the peoples of China and America. They share in common
a desire for freedom, a respect for law, and the character of industry
without which great nations cannot be built.
We deeply regret the policies and actions
of the Government of Communist China which have interrupted the generations
of friendship between our countries, and we reaffirm our resolve that the
evil tyranny which enslaves 600 million people in China must, like tyrannies
everywhere, be replaced by free government.
The good faith of the United States is pledged
to the defense of Formosa, and to the restoration of democracy in China
To all of our citizens of Chinese ancestry,
I say: "Long life and prosperity on this 49th anniversary of the independence
day of the Chinese Republic!"