Speech #890294371

Then we were in the strongest possible position to negotiate and to insist upon a first preference treatment for Americans. But the chance was missedthe opportunity allowed to go by. On September 19. the House passed H.R. 15183 which would permit the Cuban refugees in this country to apply for adjustment of status to that of permanent residents. I informed the House at that time of my grave misgivings with respect to the legislation and its possible effect upon the diplomatic position of this country visavis the Castro regime. Only after receiving the strongest assurances from the State Department and the Attorney General that the bill should not and would not be interpreted by the world as any weakening of our resolve to see Cuba restored to the ranks of free nations did I support the bill. This Congress has spoken firmly in our desire to help the displaced Cuban refugees. Should we not now demand consideration for U.S. citizens held in Cuba? Castro is cooperating in the release of Cuban refugees only because it is to his advantage to rid his regime of oppositionto purge Cuba of malcontents and all who oppose his dictatorship and release of economic plressures. Let us stop playing into his hands. I call upon the President to stop the Cuban airlift until every single American citizen is released from the dungeons of Cuba and returned to breathe the free air of the United States.