Speech #980052965

The resolution before us deplores the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to recognize the sovereignty of the Baltic Republics. And it deplores the refusal of the U.S.S.R. to yield to the Republics rightful demands for independence from foreign domination and oppression. This resolution commemorates the 14th day of June as the anniversary of the mass deportation of Baltic peoples from their homelands in 1941. It was in the year before that1940that the U.S.S.R. illegally occupied the Baltic Republics. And since that time. the U.S.S.R. has systematically removed the Baltic people from their homelands by deporting them to Siberia. causing masses of other people to relocate in the Republics. Today is an infamous day in Baltic States history. Yesterday. the New York Times reported that a 6weekold Soviet antiZionist Committee had been formed which contends that Soviet Jewry immigration has virtually ceased. purportedly because those who wanted to leave have already left. Mr. Speaker. there is a correlation between that committees allegations in Moscow and the work of our House Post Office Subcommittee on Investigations. in which we have been looking into the matter of Soviet interference with U.S. mail to Iron Curtain countries. We have found that there has been substantial interference. which we believe is an attempt to cut off the lifeline of those Soviet citizens wishing to emigrate to the United States and elsewhere. In our recent investigation of Soviet interference. we have accumulated over 200 documents thus far. Onethird of those documents pertain to the Baltic States of Lithuania.