Page:Ford, Kissinger, Congressmen, Eastern Europe Advocates - July 25, 1975(Gerald Ford Library)(1553184).pdf/3

 Mr. President, if you could issue a statement to the people behind the Iron Curtain it would be most important. Your remarks do this generally, however you do not address the people behind the Iron Curtain; what can be tell them through our press.

I think the countries that will be represented there are identified and the people who live in those countries will know that I have just read this statement.

But you don't address them specifically.

But you can take this statement that I have just read and quite properly you can interpret it.

Mr. President we are concerned about the dissidents in the Soviet Union. When you went to Vladivostok we asked you to raise the case of Valentyn Moroz, the Ukrainian who is imprisoned. I know you have discussed the question of Soviet Jewish emigrants, but we would like you to raise the cases of others. We would request and appreciate your bringing up the case of Moroz.

You have already done so, Mr. President.

Gentlemen, this is General Scowcroft of the National Security Council. As he says, we have done this and we will follow up.

Mr. President we are going to give the Soviets propaganda that they will use. Your fine statement will not get behind the Iron Curtain. You expect us to do this for you; maybe we will, but our efforts won't get through the Iron Curtain. Even if we do get this through, your going to Helsinki is a disappointment to us and we are Republicans. This is a setback over here.

Mr. President, the Polish National Alliance has prepared a memorandum supporting your attendance at Helsinki with reservations. If at the time of signing the Helsinki documents you could issue some kind of statement -- a conditional statement on the freedom of movement and the ultimate government of self-determination for all peoples -- it would be helpful. The gentleman [Dr. Pogany] is right, the people over here are upset. But we recognise that your not going would be a greater catastrophe. We need some kind of assurance. We are not alone. The press doesn't understand it. don't understand it. The writer said that seven Presidents have tried