Oppression is not new to Lithuania. because of the countrys particularly vulnerable position on the Baltic. threats from the Teutonic peoples on the West and Russia on the East have been frequent. In addition. during the last three decades. Lithuania has lost more than onefourth of her population through the continued Soviet program of deportation and resettlement. Still. the memory that remains foremost in the minds of the American public as a classic example of discrimination and suppression of national rights by the Soviet Union is the defection attempt of Simas Kudirka. This incident constituted a tragedy for both the individual seaman and for the United States because it was in direct contradiction to our tradition of granting political asylum to the downtrodden of the world. Fortunately. since the President ordered an investigation and reiterated U.S. maintenance of its asylum policy. the State Department has issued improved instructions to all concerned agencies dealing with such cases. Hopefully. this action will preclude incidents of this kind in the future. Finally. in view of our own cherished tradition of liberty and of the many historical. cultural. and familial ties existing between the Baltic and American peoples. it is entirely appropriate that special congressional attention be focused on the plight of Lithuania today.
Keywords matched
asylum policy deportation