57. Editorial Note
The United States resumed the bombing of North Vietnam on January 31, 1966, following a 37-day pause which began on December 24, 1965. President Johnsonʼs statement announcing the resumption of air strikes was broadcast over radio and television from the White House Theater at 10 a.m. on January 31. For text, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Lyndon B. Johnson, 1966, Book I, pages 115–116. Later the same morning Secretary Rusk made a statement on the resumption of the bombing and held a news conference. For text, see Department of State Bulletin, February 14, 1966, pages 223–229.
On February 3 the North Vietnamese Foreign Ministry released a long memorandum in which it attacked Washingtonʼs “sham” peace negotiations during the bombing pause and defended the DRVʼs refusal to respond to U.S. overtures. (Department of State, Central Files, POL 27 VIET S) In an analysis of the memorandum prepared for Secretary Rusk on February 5, Thomas Hughes noted that it contained “Hanoiʼs most official and definitive rejoinder to the US 14 Points to date.” (Intelligence Note 71; ibid., EA/ACA-Vietnam Negotiations Files: Lot 69 D 277, Communist Positions and Initiatives—North Vietnam)