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Resolution Number: 1991-D143
Title: Commend Actions to End Economic and Diplomatic Isolation of Vietnam
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church commend the President of the United States for actions over the recent past that suggest ending the understandable and long-held refusal to establish any economic or diplomatic relations with Vietnam, in particular:

  1. meetings between our Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
  2. granting of export permits for certain selected medical supplies, including humanitarian action of allowing significant amounts of prosthetic aids to be sent;
  3. agreements allowing the children of U.S. Servicemen to leave Vietnam;

and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention, while noting the past and current repressive practices and violations of human rights by the Vietnamese government, register its conviction that full, unconditional diplomatic relations, if not possible now, can still be fostered through many different levels of economic, cultural, diplomatic, and political contact, as bilateral conversation, negotiation, and action go forward on matters that divide and separate our two countries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention record its conviction that the U.S. trade embargo, so long enforced, should now be lifted; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the General Convention be requested to send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, to the Council of State of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to Episcopalians and other appropriate Members of Congress, to the Anglican Observer to the United Nations, and to the appropriate program units of the Episcopal Church Center.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Phoenix, 1991 (New York: General Convention, 1992), p. 378.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on National and International Problems

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D143)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 70th General Convention of the Episcopal Church commend the President of the United States for actions over the recent past that suggest ending the understandable and long-held refusal to establish and rejection of any economic or diplomatic relations with Vietnam, in particular:

  1. meetings between our Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
  2. granting of export permits for certain selected medical supplies, including humanitarian action of allowing significant amounts of prosthetic aids to be sent;
  3. agreements allowing the children of U.S. Servicemen to leave Vietnam; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention, while noting the past and current repressive practices and violations of human rights by the Vietnamese government, register its conviction that full, unconditional diplomatic relations, if not possible now, can still be fostered through many different levels of economic, cultural, diplomatic, and political contact, as bilateral conversation, negotiation, and action go forward on matters that divide and separate our two countries; and be it further

Resolved, That the Convention record its conviction that the U.S. trade embargo, so long enforced, should now be lifted; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the General Convention be requested to send copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of State, to the Council of State of the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to Episcopalians and other appropriate Members of Congress, to the Anglican Observer to the United Nations, and to the appropriate program units of the Episcopal Church Center.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

In the first Resolved, line 4, delete the words "and rejection of."

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #217)

House of Bishops

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #55 on House of Deputies Message #217 on Resolution D143a (Ending Economic and Diplomatic Isolation of Vietnam) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #356)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, July 20.

Abstract:   The 70th General Convention commends the President for actions that might lead to discussions on relations with Vietnam. It is convinced that full diplomatic relations can be fostered and recommends that the U.S. trade embargo be lifted.