Speech #930063650

President Nixon has an obligation to assure not only himself. but the people of the United States that the Soviets are genuinely changing their policy toward the Jews. The President is well aware of the sense of the Congress on this issue. Sizable majorities of both Houses have joined in cosponsorship of the "Freedom of Emigration Act." and we are committed to its passage. It is unconscionable for a government to deny its citizens their basic rights. particularly the right to freely emigrate. There can be no reason for denying Soviet Jews the right to emigrate other than to carry out a program of cultural genocide and official antiSemitism. These are strong words. but how else is one to explain Soviet attitudes toward Jews seeking permission to emigrate? Living in Russia. they are not allowed to freely practice their religion. Should they try to do so. or try to leave for a country where they may do so freely. they suffer all manner of torments. from loss of their jobs and liability to arrest for "parasitism." to total social ostracism. and even to arrest and deportation to camps in Siberia. The Russians deny time and again that there is no "Jewish problem" in the Soviet Union. They cite time and again the fact that there is no law on the books in Russia that prevents anyone from leaving the country. as long as the departure is "justified." But they go to the greatest lengths imaginable to find reasons why no justification can be found. Until recently. knowledge of "military secrets" was the excuse used to keep entire families from emigrating when only one member of the family had been In the armed services. and at an extremely low rank. at that. Now. the excuse given for denying exit visas to intellectuals. scientists. and Jewish activists is that they have skills which are needed by the state. and that they are too highly qualified to be permitted to leave. This is the excuse given to those who have lost their jobs because they sought permission to emigrate. If they are too highly skilled to leave. then why are they so easily dispensable from their work? Mr.