Speech #920287571

I do not see how we can divorce our plans for increased trade with the Soviet Union from the cynical "trade" the Soviet Union now proposes to the world"Give us your hard currency. and the Soviet Jews with educations will go free." When our country. after a long period of strict limitations on trade with the Soviet Union. lifts those limitations. it is not purely for economic reasons. We want to trade with the Soviet Union so as to foster a better overall series of relationships with that country and its people. How then can we consider expanding these trade relationships at a time when the Soviet Union is. before our very eyes. holding thousands of Jews in bondage when all they want to do is emigrate in peace? Mr. President. we must make it abundantly clear to the Soviet Union that we condemn what it is doing to its Jewish citizens and that we are prepared to back up our words by holding back on trade concessions to the Soviet Union until this policy is revoked.