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GV President Giscard d'Estaing enters capital building and talks to speaker (2 shots)
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2.
CU President Giscard d'Estaing speaking
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"Detente is an open and sincere approach. It requires perseverance. It means also we must keep our eyes open It does not signify in the slightest degree that we are renouncing our system of values or our desire to spread our convictions and preserve our way of life. France will continue her action in the future, loyal to her commitments. She will continue to contribute to the effectiveness of the Atlantic Alliance of which she is a part".




Initials RH/2337 RH/GD/JB/2345


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This film is serviced with English speech by President Giscard d'Estaing. A transcript follows.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, on Tuesday (18 May) defended the policy of detente in a speech to the United States Congress in Washington D.C. He said that detente was a sincere and open approach, but he added caution by saying, "we must keep our eyes open".

In a 35 minute English language speech, President Giscard d'Estaing cautioned the Untied States against a return to isolationism and pledged that France was ready to make sacrifices in the defence of freedom. He also made it clear he would not abandon France's independence, as framed by the late General Charles de Gaulle.

The speech, which Giscard d'Estaing himself described as the high point of his visit, was interrupted eight times with applause as he emphasised that the U.S. and France were both striving for freedom and that their ideals were the same, although their approach might sometimes differ. President Giscard d'Estaing started a six-day visit to the U.S. as part of the bicentennial celebrations.