I wish to thank the gentlewoman for cosponsoring this special order and also to thank all of the others who have expressed a desire to join us here and who have already done so much on this matter. This response makes a critical point about why we are here today. We know that the only way to gain concessions from the Soviets. including in the area of human rights and immigration is to keep the pressure on. to keep the spotlight of public opinion focused on their actions rather than succumbing to the siren song of their words. This week the Soviets have announced minor increases in immigration levels. True. they are a great improvement. but that is only because they started from such a low level to begin with. From the historical perspective of 4.000 Jewish immigrants per month. last months great increase to 400. which is onetenth of the earlier level. is clearly no more than cosmetic. The point is this: We only gain ground in the struggle for human rights by constantly pushing. We would not have seen the release of dissidents like Anatoly Schransky or the improved treatment of Andrei Sakarov or the immigration of 400 Jews last month without events like this. Where. in our free country we are allowed to assemble and to speak out and to gain publicity in our free press for the cause of freedom. and that is why we are here today. We do not suppose for a moment that last months immigration of Jewish immigrants presage a flood of immigration from the Soviet Union. Without events like this. I am sure most of us doubt that even a level of 400 could long be sustained.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants