Speech #1010035513

Furthermore. it demands that the United Nations end its shameful silence on this tragic. tragic. and inexcusable repression of basic human rights. In 1980 the President exercised his authority. under the JacksonVannick provision of Public Law 93618. to grant China a waiver to the Trade Agreements Extension Act of 1951. denying all nonmarket countries mostfavorednation trading status with the United States. Although the JacksonVannick amendment permits the granting of this waiver if the country in question allows its citizens the right to emigrate. it also requires that the President ensure that our trade policies with totalitarian governments emphasize "the continued dedication of the United States to fundamental human rights." China. Mr. President. received its waiver not because of its specific immigration policies. but as a result of a section of the JacksonVannik legislation giving the President authority to confer mostfavorednation status. if such an action "would substantially promote the policy objectives of the statute. including the general proposition of human rights." It remains. clear. therefore. that at least the spirit. if not the letter. of existing law requires that the President consider a Communist nations broader human rights record in determining whether to grant preferential treatment. But aside from the legal authority. we have the moral obligation to promote ideals. as well as interests. in the execution of American foreign policy. If the President publicly states. as this concurrent resolution urges. that he will monitor Beijings progress in restoring civil liberties as part of the process for his deciding on a renewal of Chinas mostfavorednation status. the Communist leadership will get a clear and early signal of Americas intention not to apply the gentle rules of diplomacy to dictators who murder their own people. We have seen in the history of the JacksonVannik legislation that the pressure that it brought to bear upon the Soviet leadership did. over a period of years. finally contribute to the relaxation of immigration standards that allow its Soviet Jewry and other persecuted minorities to leave the Soviet Union to travel to the United States. to Israel. Moreover. I am convinced in my own mind it was part of the great public pressure that has led to whatever change seems to be occurring now in terms of a hopedfor democratization of the Soviet Union.