Furthermore. we dare not be intimidated. for to back down on this issue is to compromise our professed beliefs in the freedom of mankind. We must not let ourselves be modified by any token concessions that Secretary Shultz may win from the Russians now. in a moment when they are anxious to do almost anything to win their trade benefits. If we back down on this question now. and let the Freedom of Emigration Act lapse. what will happen once the trade bill becomes law and the Russians have what they want? I am firmly convinced that the repressions then visited upon the heads of the Jews in the Soviet Union will make current conditions pleasant by comparison. The Freedom of Emigration Act will make sure that. once rescinded. the education tax or similar repressive measures. will not be reimposed. In this one respect. we cannot afford to take the Russians at their word. It has been given and withdrawn too many times for me to feel that all will be well this time. In none of this do I. nor any other cosponsor of the Freedom of Emigration Act wish to detract from the efforts that the President and the State Department have engaged in on behalf of Soviet Jewry. Their assistance has been invaluable. and has resulted in many Jews being allowed to leave the Soviet Union who would otherwise not have done so. The purpose of the Freedom of Emigration Act. rather. is to give legislative support and sanction to the administrations very capable efforts. It is an additional clout. I do not think that the Freedom of Emigration Act is unacceptable as part of a trade agreement with the Soviets. So long as It is U.S. policy to support freedom of emigration for Soviet Jews. there can be nothing inconsistent about making an official legislative statement of such policy. The administration will not switch policies once it has its trade bill. This act will give support to the administration in its diplomatic pursuit of a solution to Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union. It is vital that those of you who have joined in cosponsoring the Freedom of Emigration Act remain as cosponsors. The stakes are too high to back down now.
Keywords matched
emigration Emigration