Glassboro Summit Conference
Glassboro Summit Conference | |
---|---|
Lyndon Johnson | |
Follows | Vienna summit (1961) |
Precedes | Moscow Summit (1972) |
The Glassboro Summit Conference, usually just called the Glassboro Summit, was the 23–25 June 1967 meeting of the heads of government of the United States and the
Background
With the United States gradually losing ground in the Vietnam War, the administration was looking for other solutions to the conflict.
On 5 June 1967 the
To The White House
To President Lyndon B. Johnson
Dear Mr. President:
The events of the last days have forced me to express to you with all frankness our view. As the situation shows, the resolutions of the Security Council are invalid. Israel has completely ignored them. As you can understand, after the many attempts taken in this direction and the resolutions of the Security Council concerning the termination of aggression on the part of Israel in the Near East - - these attempts have proved ineffective.
A very crucial moment has now arrived which forces us, if military actions are not stopped in the next few hours, to adopt an independent decision. We are ready to do this. However, these actions may bring us into a clash, which will lead to a grave catastrophe. Obviously in the world there are powers to whom this would be advantageous.
We purpose that you demand from Israel that it unconditionally cease military action in the next few hours. On our part, we will do the same. We purpose to warn Israel that, if this is not fulfilled, necessary actions will be taken, including military.
Please give me your views.
A. Kosygin[2]
Several days later the
The Soviet
Kosygin had agreed to address the United Nations and as such, wished to conduct the summit in New York. Johnson, wary of encountering protesters against the war in Vietnam, preferred to meet in Washington, D.C. Roughly equidistant, Hollybush, the residence of the President of Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) in Glassboro, New Jersey was selected as a compromise.
The summit
Vietnam War
In their first meeting held on 23 June 1967 there were only four people present,
Johnson was worried of North Vietnamese betrayal, saying he would be "crucified" politically in the United States if the North Vietnamese decided to send their troops into South Vietnam if and when the United States stopped bombing them. Kosygin said, relieving Johnson of his worries, that a North Vietnamese delegation could meet anywhere in the world to discuss a peace settlement with the Americans.[6]
The Spirit of Glassboro
The two world leaders met for three days, from June 23 to June 25, 1967, at Hollybush Mansion, home of the college president. Although Johnson and Kosygin failed to reach agreement on limiting anti-ballistic missile systems, the generally amicable atmosphere of the summit was referred to as the "Spirit of Glassboro".
See also
- List of Soviet Union–United States summits (1943 to 1991)
References
- Notes
- ^ Gibbons 1995, p. 718.
- ^ "Translation" (PDF). LBJ Library. June 10, 1967. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
- ^ Gibbons 1995, p. 719.
- ISBN 978-0-582-42398-5.
- ^ Gibbons 1995, p. 721.
- ^ Gibbons 1995, p. 722.
- Bibliography
- ISBN 0-691-00635-0.