Chapter VIII
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM AND THE UNITED STATES.
Article 21
The United States anticipates that this agreement will usher in an era of reconciliation with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam as with the peoples of Indochina. In pursuance of its traditional policy, the United States will contribute to healing the wounds of war and to post-war reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and throughout Indochina.
(My italics, Len Aldis)
Extracts from the message from the President of the United States to the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
(February 1, 1973)
The President wishes to inform the democratic republic of Vietnam of the principles which will govern United States participation in the post-war reconstruction of North Vietnam. As indicated in Article 21 of the Agreement On Ending The War and Restoring Peace In Vietnam signed in Paris on January 27, 1973, the United States undertakes this participation in accordance with its traditional polices. These principles are as follows.
1) The government of the United States of America will contribute to post-war reconstruction in North Vietnam without any political conditions.
2)Preliminary United States studies indicate that the appropriate programs for the United States contribution to post-war reconstruction will fall in the range of $3.25 billion of grant aid over five years. Other forms of aid will be agreed upon between the two parties. This estimate is subject to revision and to detailed discussion between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
To date, not one cent of the $3.25 billion has been paid.
(Len Aldis)
The war on Vietnam ended in 1975, but today, as you read this, Agent Orange is still claiming the lives of innocent Vietnamese.
A terrible legacy for any country to leave another.
The Lawsuit
After wide consultation it was decided that a lawsuit be undertaken against the American Chemical Companies that had manufactured and supplied the chemicals that included Agent Orange to the American forces for use in the Vietnam War. In January 2004 it was filed in the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York
