If the Helsinki final act had been in existence in 1940. 1941. and 1942. our actions would have been clearly in violation of that act. It seems to me very appropriate that America stand up at whatever time. it is never too late. never too late to redress a wrong. It is never too late to attempt in some small way. however inadequate it may be. to compensate for that wrong. so I believe that when I as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission go. as I have gone over the last few months to Bulgaria and talked to the Bulgarians about how they are treating the Turkish minority in Bulgaria. about how they have forcibly tried to have them change their names. and in fact have succeeded. or when I go to Romania and talk to them about treating the Hungarian minority in Transylvania. or when I go to the Soviet Union and talk to them about allowing Jews to emigrate. allowing them to practice their cultural and religious background and heritage. that I will come from a country that says. "Yes. we are not perfect." We understand that. but we are prepared to stand up and say we have made mistakes and we want to make good to the extent we can. Financially we cannot make these people whole. but we can say we recognize the wrong it committed. We are sorry for that wrong. and because the gentleman from California and the gentleman from Georgia. poles apart on many issues. but in agreement on this very fundamental issue. that in America we believe that where there is a legal wrong and where there is damage. there ought to be compensation.
Keywords matched
emigrate