Mr. President. the decision before the Senate today should be seen as one of historic proportions. The sections of this bill dealing with emigrationand the agreements behind themrepresent a landmark in the affirmation of certain universal human rights. We have an obvious economic interest in extending the realm of free world trade. as this trade legislation provides. But if we are to sustain a posture of moral leadership in the world. then economic concerns cannot impair our attention to the most fundamental rights of humanity. That. I take it. is the underlying premise of this decision. The history of this emigration language demonstrates a broad Senate determination that it shall be respected. In my view. the new waiver provision involves a change of procedure. but not of substance. Throughout the first 18 months. and every successive 18month period. each interested party should be on notice that those of us who have been involved with this issue will be watching its operation with unrelenting care. In the case of the Soviet Union. the record since the exchange of letters between Secretary Kissinger and Senator JACKSON has not been promising. There is substantial evidence of harassment of citizens who wish to emigratenumerous cases of obstacles imaginatively designed to hide the truth to the outside world. A case of draft evasion. of criminal activity. or of an economic crime under Soviet law could well be no more than a procedure to thwart the will of someone who wants no more than to leave. Once this law goes into effect. and if mostfavorednation status is granted to the Soviet Union through the waiver provision.
Keywords matched
emigration emigrationand emigratenumerous