Speech #940116867

Mr. President. it is with a hopeful and optimistic attitude that I am supporting the granting of mostfavorednation status to Romania under the Trade Act of 1974. My support is solely based on the expectation that the Romanian Government will allow an increasing number of its citizens to emigrate in accordance with the provisions of the Trade Act. I am encouraged by recent trends in Romanian emigration figures. In June of this year 1.250 exit visas were approved by the Romanian Government. This class includes Romanians emigrating to the United States to join their families here. Romanian Jews emigrating to Israel. and Romanians of German descent emigrating to West Germany. Of these 1.250 visa application approvals. close to 400 were those of Romanian Jews seeking to go to Israel. To show you how this figure relates to actual departures. I have been informed that in May of this year only 50 Romanian Jews actually departed the country. whereas. in June. 211 actually departed. and this month there have been 343 Romanian Jews who have either arrived in Israel or have actually been booked on departing flights. These figures reflect a gradual increase in the number of Romanian Jews who actually depart Romania. I am extremely hopeful and. in fact. am voting to grant Romania mostfavorednations status. with the full expectation that there will be an increased emigration rate which will correspond to. and be consistent with. the number of Romanian Jews and other citizens who make application to emigrate. While the increased number of departures. which I just reviewed. are encouraging. it is important that we view them in comparison to previous figures. Such a comparison clearly demonstrates that in the first 6 months of 1975 only 560 Romanian Jews have actually been allowed to emigrate. whereas. the total number of Romanian Jews emigrating in 1974--only last yearwas 3.700. and the total of Romanian Jews allowed to emigrate in 1964 was 26.000. Compared to these past figures. 300 to 400 per month is not much at all. but I am very hopeful that approval by the Senate of mostfavorednation status will be reflected in a greatly increased number of actual departures of Romanian citizens which will correspond to the number of exit visas applied for. So. in a nutshell. I am looking for results. not sophistry. because it will be necessary to see over 500 Romanian Jews leaving per month from this point on in 1975 just to equal the number of Jews who emigrated last year. And last years total is only oneeighth of those who emigrated in 1964. It is my understanding that the granting of mostfavorednation status to Romania would be in effect or the remainder of the waiver period under the Jackson amendment to the Trade Act of 1974that is. 11 more months. If we see actual results in those Romanian Jews and other citizens who are allowed to emigrate. a number of actual departures which is consistent with those making application to emigrate. then I will vote to extend mostfavorednation status for another year. However. my vote is based on trust. and if that trust is breached. it will be my view. and I hope the view of every member of this body. to react as responsible representatives of the American people and our way of life and vote to immediately end this trade status which we call "most favored nation.!