Remarks to the American Field Service Students.

Mr. Howe, distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, students, and friends:

Since you are students and I am a former teacher, I would like to ask a few questions and have "a show of hands."

First of all, how many of you are from this hemisphere--North or South America?

How many from Canada? Europe? Africa? Asia? Australia and New Zealand?

Well, whatever your native land, we are very happy to have you here this afternoon. Your visit gives us an opportunity to thank you for enriching our country with your presence. We hope that you have learned something from us, as we know we have learned from you.

There are nearly 3 billion people on this planet. Most of them live and die without ever leaving the small community where they are born. Most of them never have much opportunity to contribute to the understanding among the nations of the world.

But you are among the tiny minority who have had the opportunity to do that. You are among the few who have earned the ability to interpret one nation to another, one people to another.

You probably have been surprised many times during the past year to learn how uninformed people are about your own homeland. You have been able, I think, to eliminate misunderstanding and prejudice, to enlighten your friends in America about your own people and about the place where you live.

When you return home, you will encounter misunderstandings about us, misunderstandings about this land--misunderstandings which you will be able to clear up.

This is what makes you so valuable to the entire world at this critical period in history. Because after this year abroad, you are still a citizen of your own land. But, in addition, you are more than that--you are now a citizen of the world.

There are 3,000 of you here today, I am told, so there are at least 3,000 attitudes and memories reflected from your stay in the United States.

There is one memory that I hope all of you will share. I believe you have seen that Americans are basically an optimistic people, anxious to help solve even the impossible problems.

This optimistic faith is the source of America's volunteer spirit--the spirit that sends young men and women into the slums to fight against poverty and injustice, the spirit that sends others to foreign lands as members of the Peace Corps.

Five months ago I sent a message to the Congress on international health and education. In that message I said: "Only when people know about--and care about-each other will nations learn to live together in harmony." We have volunteered some of America's wealth and some of our energy to that great purpose--to add a world dimension to the task of improving the health and the education of mankind.

So here is another opportunity to volunteer for another great adventure--to help free people from the slavery of ignorance and the burden of disease.

These must be the goals of all men: to bring new hope and opportunity to the world, to encourage understanding, to constantly search and seek peace.

In this country we have the people-to-people program. It is working well. Now I see in your faces the potential for a youth-to-youth program, a means to enlarge your service to others, a means to work as volunteers for peace among men.

So let every nation and every generation-and especially your young hearts and your young minds--volunteer with us in building a more just and a more humane world.

When countries speak of sending volunteers into other lands, let them be sent to the real battlefields--the battlefields of poverty, ignorance, disease, and suffering. Let them come bearing hope and not arms.

Let them cross the frontiers in the bright light of day and not down jungle trails in the dark of night.

Let them volunteer to enlarge the lives of their neighbors, not to take the lives of anyone.

This is the kind of volunteers that Americans understand. It is the only kind that the world needs or wants.

And I promise you that wherever such a volunteer may walk, he will find an American among the first to give him welcome and to take his hand and join him in his work for peace.

I have been assured that you are future leaders of your countries. There are here this afternoon future lawmakers, future first ladies, future prime ministers.

In that case, you no doubt will be returning occasionally to the White House here in Washington. I will not say goodby to you this afternoon; I will just leave you simply with my hope that the world will be a happier and a more peaceful place because of your visit here, because of what you have learned and what you have taught, because of the efforts that you will spend in the days ahead.

Mrs. Johnson and Lynda Bird and I are delighted to welcome you and we hope to enjoy your companionship for some more of the afternoon.

Thank you.