Mr. President. a week ago Tuesday. May 6. the day after I left on a trip to Cuba authorized by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. the minority leader took the Senate floor to attack legislation I had introduced relative to the South Vietnamese refugees. His statement was a flagrant distortion of my proposal. I said very clearly on the Senate floor on Monday. May 5. the day before the Senators attack. that on both humanitarian and practical grounds. many of the Vietnamese refugees would be better off returning voluntarily to their own country. But knowing that some political demagog or careless journalist might take my words out of context. I emphasized that I was not suggesting that any Vietnamese be sent home unless they so requested. Nevertheless. Mr. SCOTT came to the Senate floor the next day. and in a mighty display of indignation said that I had proposed that the refugees be "sent" home. He then added: Any governmental attempt to send them back would be a peoplekilling measure. Mr. President. assuming that he can understand plain English. the Senator knows that I never proposed that one single Vietnamese refugee be sent home who does not so request it. He must also know that the distinguished majority leader of the Senate has in effect endorsed my proposal by suggesting that funds be authorized to pay the transportation of refugees who wish to return to Vietnam. That is exactly what I have proposed. Why. then. does Senator SCOTT single me out for attack?
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