The Swiss jurist. Emer de Vattel. wrote in the 18th century: It is not to be supposed that a man has bound himself to the society of which he is a member in such a way as to be unable to leave the country when his . . . affairs require it and when he can absent himself without harm to the country. He also defended the right to emigrate in the following words: They may leave a society which seems to be undergoing a process of dissolution or recreation. and they have the right to withdraw elsewhereto sell their lands and to carry all their goods. First known acknowledgment in national law of the right to leave ones country is found in the Magna Carta A.D. 1215. Articles 41 and 42 of the historic document stated: All merchants safe and secure exit and to all others freedom to go out of the Kingdom and to return.... Surely in light of the recent agreements reached with the Soviet Union regarding space exploration. control of the environment. increased trade. and most importantly strategic arms limitations. an understanding can be reached regarding the right of peoples to freely emigrate and travel. In the past I have brought this matter to the attention of the Senate and I have written President Nixon and Secretary of State Rogers. asking for their thoughtful consideration of this most important problem. I have also written Soviet officials. including Soviet Party Leader Breshnev and Ambassador Dobrynin.
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emigrate