I am sure that it is not in the longrange interests of the Jews who remain in Russia for either the language in this bill or the language in the Vanik amendment to pass. I would make the simple prediction that Soviet Jews. if the language in this bill or the language in the Vanik amendment passes. will be worse off than they are today for one very simple reason. I think one can imagine how far any of us would get if we stood on the floor of this House and said: "Well. the Russians say that we have to change our emigration policies or they are not going to do this or that with us. or they will not deal with us correctly on the Middle East." I think the Members know how far each one of us would get if we said: "Well. fellows. since Brezhnev says that is what we ought to do. that is what we had better do." I submit to the Members that Mr. Brezhnev. although his political system is quite different from ours. is in precisely the same position as a politician. I do not believe he can go to his Politburo and say: "Well. fellows. because the American Congress dictates we have 4o change our emigration policy or they will not trade with us. we had better change our emigration policy." They are not going to do it. It is going to be more difficult for Russian politicians in positions of leadership to change Russian emigration policy as far as Soviet Jewry is concerned if we pass the language in this bill. or if we pass the Vanik amendment. than if we do nothing at all. I would simply say that it is possible I think to draft language which could take care of this problem in a more sophisticated way and still provide Mr. Kissinger with the latitude he needs to negotiate with the Russians and provide at the same time for some assistance to Soviet Jewry. but I do not believe this language does it. and obviously under this rule we have no chance of changing that language.
Keywords matched
emigration