Mr. President. recent reports out of the Soviet Union bring us the alarming news that the drop in emigration of Soviet Jews which began shortly after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan last December has accelerated sharply. The number of Soviet Jews granted their emigration rights fell from last years monthly average of more than 4.000 to 3.049 in March. 1.976 In May. 1.205 in July. and just 770 last month. This sharp curtailment of emigration rights has been accompanied by a new clampdown on emigration activists by Soviet authorities. And officially sanctioned antiSemitic campaigns are on the rise once again within the Soviet Union. I believe it is Incumbent upon the United States to protest vigorously the cutback in emigration perpetrated by Soviet authorities. Therefore. I have recently called upon my Senate colleagues to join In a letter to President Carter raising our voices in protest and asking for an official U.S. condemnation of recent Soviet emigration practices. I believe it is especially important to press this issue at the upcoming Madrid conference to review the compliance with the Helsinki accords which include important commitments from the Soviet Government regarding its respect for emigration rights. The agenda for this November conference will be set up in meetings which will begin in Madrid tomorrow. It is crucial that the United States press the emigration issue forcefully. both at the preparatory meetings and in the November sessions as well. I am today submitting for the RECORD the full text of the recent letter to President Carter. cosigned by 57 Members of this body. which requests such a vigorous U.S. position. It is as follows:
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emigration