CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - FOREIGN AID AND HUMAN RIGHTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00957A000100040003-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2005
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 25, 1974
• Content Type: OPEN

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September 2.5, 1974 CONGRESSIONAL J ECORD -- Extensions of Remarks E 6083
~Xt'`T' 1rTC f'ti 7C n17 RTM`ARWC
FOREIGN AID AND HUMAN RIGHTS
HON. DONALD M. ERASER
OF MINNESOTA
Tuesday, September 24, 1974
Mr. ERASER, Mr. Speaker, Friday,
September 20, 1974, I delivered to the
Secretary of State a letter signed by 104
Members of Congress. In our letter we
stated that our support for foreign aid
legislation in the future will be influenced
by the extent to which U.S. foreign policy
shows more concern for human rights in
recipient countries.
Mr, Speaker, I want to place in today's
I EQoRD the complete text of our letter,
the list of those who agreed to send the
letter, and a news release issued by my
office about this matter.
Secretary o/? State, Department of State,
Washington, D.C.
DEAR MR. SECRETARY: The undersigned have
supported legislation in recent years provid-
ing economic and military assistance to other
natipns. We are troubled, however, about
continued American assistance to .a number
'of foreign governments which are increas-
ingly indifferent to internationally recog-
nized human, rights and deal with their own
people in an increasingly oppressive manner.
We recognize that a large number of coun-
tries are ruled by governments which "restrict
the full observance of political rights as we
know them, including one party and aiuthori-
tarian states. It may not be realistic to expect
strict observance of political, civil and other
human rights by these governments while
their political systems are still evolving.
Nevertheless, even within such countries, the
observance of certain fundamental human
rights is practicable, including freedom from
torture, arbitrary arrest and detention, and
arbitrary curtailment of existing political
In the absence of extraordinary circum-
stances, we do not believe that long-term
U.S. foreign policy interests are served by
- maintaining supportive relationships with
oppressive governments, especially in the
military field, since military power is directly
associated with the exercise of governmental
control over the civilian population.
Upless U.S. foreign aid policies-especl-
ally military assistance policies-more ac-
curately reflect the traditional commitment
of the American people to promote human
rights, we will find it increasingly difficult
to justify support for foreign aid legisla-
tion to our Constituents. We cannot, in good
conscience, associate ouxrselves with policies
which lack active concern about 'the the fate of
people living under oppressive governments.
While it mapy be beyond our power to alle-
viate the plight of those people, we can re-
fuse to be identified with their oppressors.
$lncerely
James Abourezk of South Dakota, Bella S.
Abzug of New York, Brocli Adams of Wash-
ington, Joseph P. AddCbbo of New York,
Glenn M Ai4derson of California, Thomas L.
Ashley of Ohio, Les Aspire of Wisconsin, Her-
' lnaIT?Eadilt9 of New York, William A. Barrett
of Pensylvania, Alphonzo Bell of California,
i3o er'gland of Minnesota, Edward G. Bias-
ter Jr of Pennsylvania, Jonathan B. Bing-
byxlol7w'`ork, John A. Blatnik of Minne-
SttR Edward P. Boland of Massachusetts,
John ra4ei ins of Indiana.
George E. B -,wn, Jr. of California, Yvonne
Braithwaite arke of California, John L.
Burton of Cal--+ornia, Phillip Burton of Cali-
fornia, Charles J. Carney of Ohio, William S.
Cohen of Mal e, John. Conyers, Jr. of Mich-
igan, dames ", Corman of California, Alan
Cranston of California, John Dellenback of
Oregon. RonC1 V. Dellums of California,
Charles C. DI: s, Jr. of Michigan, Robert F.
Drinan of Me sachusetts, Don Edwards of
California, ,JC iua Eilberg of Pennsylvania,
Dante B. Fascfril of Florida, William D. Ford
of Michigan.
Edwin. B. F "wythe of New Jersey, Donald
M. Fraser of Minnesota. Bill :Frenzel of Min-
nesota, Sam C i ?bons of Florida, Gilbert Gude
of Maryland, !!.ee H. Hamilton of Indiana,
Michael Harrington of Massachusetts, Philip
A. Hart of MR ,igan, Augustus F. Hawkins of
California, M, rgaret M. Heckler of Massa-
chusetts, Hei-ry Helstoski of New Jersey,
Elizabeth Itof-.man of New York, Frank Hor-
ton of New T -'rk, James J. Howard of New
Jersey, Harold P. Hughes of ]own, Robert W.
Kastenmeier Wisconsin, Edward M. Ken-
nedy of Mass. chusetts, Edward I. Koch of
New York, R, inert L. Leggett of California,
Mike McCorme k of Washington, George Mc-
Govern of Sol.'.h Dakota, Stewart B. McKin-
ney of Connec' out.
Richard W. Mallory of Vermont, Spark M.
Matsunaga of '[awafi, Lloyd :deeds of Wash-
ington, Ralph IT. Metcalfe of Illinois, Edward
Mezvinsky of Iowa, Patsy T. Mink of Ha-
waii, Parren .i. Mitchell of Maryland, Joe
Moakley of I: ssachusetts, Walter F. Mon-
dale of Minn ota, William S. Moorhead of
Pennsylvania, ^'rank E. Moss of Utah, John
E. Moss of California, Morgan F. Murphy of
Illinois, Lucie:? N. Nedzl of Michigan, Robert
-N. C. Nix of Pennsylvania, David R. Obey of
Wisconsin, J?, ales G. O'Har s of Michigan,
Bertram L. l'odell of New York, William
Proxmire of Wisconsin, Charles B. Rangel of
New York, T,omas M. Rees of California,
Ogden R. R.eic: )f New York.
Henry S. Reuss of Wisconsin, Donald W.
Riegle, Jr. of Michigan, Howard W. Robison
of New York, Peter W. Rod:.no, Jr. of New
Jersey, Rober` A. Roe of New Jersey, Benja-
min S. Rosen i.]nal of New York, Edward R.
Roybal of Ca ifornia, Leo J. Ryan of Cali-
fornia, Paul ft Sarbanes of Maryland, Pa-
tricia Schroed, r of Colorado, B. F. Sisk of
California, Fo.u'tney H. (Pete) Stark of Cali-
fornia, Louis `':okes of Ohio, Leonor K. (Mrs.
John B.) Sulli,an of-Missouri.
Frank Tlion,ilson, Jr. of New Jersey, Robert
0. Tiernan of irhode Island, John V. Tunny
of California, Morris K. Udall of Arizona,
Charles A. Vac,ik of Ohio, Jerome R. Waldie
of California, Charles W. Whalen, Jr. of
Ohio, Harriso A. Williams, Jr. of New Jer-
sey, Charles V neon of Texas, Charles H. Wil-
son of California, Lester L. Wolff of New
York, Antoni, Borla. Won Pat of the Terri-
tory of Guam Andrew Young of Georgia.
ERASER TIES LUMEN RICH::s TO FOREIGN
AID SUPPORT
Representat i e Donald M. Fraser, Demo-
crat of Minna uta, and 104 other members of
Congress have notified Secretary of State
Henry Kissini' r that their support for for-
eign aid legisl :,Lion in the future will be in-
fluenced by ti '? extent, to which U.S. foreign
policy shows r _ore concern for human rights
in recipient cicintries. The message was con-
veyed in a le? I er to Kissinger.
The signat,'tea have been supporters of
foreign aid le' elation heretofore. The letter
criticizes U.S aid policies which have had
the effect of" 'maintaining supportive rela-
tionships wilt oppressive governments," and
points especially to military assistance to
such governments because "military power
is directly associated with the exercise of
governmental control over the civilian popu-
lation."
The letter implies a threat to reconsider
support for future aid bills by saying, "un-
less U.S. foreign aid policies-especially
military assistance policies-more accurately
reflect the traditional commitment of the
American people to promote human rights,
we will find it increasingly difficult to justi-
fy support for foreign aid legislation to our
constituents. We cannot, in good conscience,
associate ourselves with policies which lack
active concern about the fate of people liv-
ing under oppressive governments. While it
may be beyond our power to alleviate the
plight of those people, we can refuse to be
identified with their oppressors."
The message to Kissinger acknowledged
that strict observance of traditional political,
civil and other human rights might not be
realistic to expect in certain developing
countries whose political processes are still at
an early stage of evolution. However, "even
within such countries, the observance of,
certain fundamental human rights is prac-
ticable, including freedom from torture,
arbitrary arrest and detention, and arbitrary
curtailment of existing political rights."
Specific examples of oppressive govern-
ments whose military aid he thought should
be cut by the United States, Fraser said, are
Chile under the military junta, and South
Korea under President Park Chung Hee. He
added:
"U.S. foreign. policy interests are not
served-and in fact are seriously damaged-
by ignoring the cruel acts of repression which
these governments commit against their own
people. U.S. military assistance to these gov-
ernments betrays both the American people
and the people of those countries."
Fraser also noted that the Foreign Military
Sales Act already contains a provision against
supportive relations with repressive govern-
ments except in the most extraordinary cir-
cumstances involving U.S. national security.
The Congressman said:
"Our government has not heeded the ex-
pressed will of Congress in this Act."
Fraser, chairman of the House Subcom-
mittee on International Organizations and
Movements, has held more than 20 hearings
during the past year on human rights and
U.S. foreign policy. His subcommittee pub-
lished a report last March containing 29 rec-
ommendations for upgrading the human
IN THE HO E OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, eptember 24, 1974
including five Federal pe
robbed the bank. But he knew before
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 E 6084
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teats
con ti
RECORD - Extensions of Remar,4 s September 25, 1974
the cl' was even committed that he
would rec e a light sentence.
For the floprmation and edification of
my colleag I submit Mike Royko's
column from August 27 edition of
the Philadel Bulletin for the
(By Mi Royko)
roaded or framed. If tl weren't framed,
society made them do Lever they did.
And, in any case, the jus was too harsh
So I couldn't believe my when I rt.-
cently got it letter from Ray d E. James,
who is a bank robber.
James isn't robbing banks the mo-
ment because he was caught and is doing
a stretch in a federal prison in ington
State.
Being in prison several times has g n him
a lot of time to think. So he wrote to that
be eventually is going to write a book our
system of criminal justice.
It should make remarkable reading a
gets around to it, because James thinks
reason we have a high crime rate. is th
judges are too easy on people such as himsel
"I suppose.- he wrote, "that I am the only
federal prisoner who is a conservative. Re-
publican bank robber. Needless to say, my
views aren't held in too high esteem by my
peers of the moment."
He offers his own sentence as an example
of judicial softness,
"The judge stated in sentencing me that
I was indeed 'a dangerous' offender, and
that be expected me to rob another bank at
the first opportunity.
"Then he sentenced me to eight years
out of a possible 20 years and inserted im-
mediate parole eligibility.
"This, although he knew I had previously
been confined 15 of the past 20 years for
13 felonies and four misdemeanors."
What would James have considered to be
a proper sentence for himself?
"Had I known that I would have received
a mandatory 25-year sentence for batik
robbery, without any opportunity to nego-
tiate a plea. there would have been no power
on earth strong enough to have forced ose
to rob the bank I robbed.
"I gambled and, really, I won. Please
don't get me wrong. Only a fool would con-
alder eight years in prison as a prize. B
compared to 20, or possibly 30 (which I fa
initially before entering plea bar?ain
it is indeed a blessing-however
"I have been in 58 institutions sin 943,
including five federal penitentiaries ow
many bank robbers and have lear some-
thing quite common about them, ey, like
myself, are failures. But many of em think
along parallel lines with me."
James says that too many evil judge;
are political hacks, who ge the bench
through clox;t.
"The courts are ruled b cipients of po
mer Springfield c y.)
James also f that society should stop
wasting money ping softies in prison-tiro
white-collar c Inais--and instead concen-
trate its ape g on "treating and attempt-
ing to rehab to the violent 25 percent who
do need in ceration. of whom I am one."
And he nchides with this cheerful mes-
sage.
"Just member, you and I have to face
the u sable fact that I will join you in
1978- `habilitated or not . . willing or
not ... ready or not.
won in 19:,5 at the unpreceden
"This definitely ranks also
champion: hip," said the b
old Tiger superstar. "Anyt inmov
Ling chain sionship, there'
goes with it.
"But when you get hits,
anybody am say yo re just
had to wi :hstand Prassun
seasons, al id in j and every
that really mething.
"But," is ed, "nothing
winning ti:a d Series.'
I t was a ball that McNall
the first tell in the fourth
when
Use
"Atul tha! jo pe will have to adjust to the
l t,,,v In his ,oinmunity of this man he
deemed a 'dangerous' offender.
"P the way, how about sending me a sub-
scripuait to your paper. Gratis."
HON, ROBERT P. GRIFFIN
Wcdnesday. September 25, 1974
seasons with the
been a champion
n the mainstay of a
e so many important
that the
manner that marks him as
pion,
Mr. PiesidenI. I ask ullanirn
that an article from this ono;
There being no objection, the
i,000'rit lIrr
Bat aa.toss:.-A Kailoe ran retire in peace.
His all-out seit.,on-long quest for that elu-
for' a ateund-up double. avoiding the white
chalk ie,ul line 5y less than two feet.
Al .i o' singled during the course of the
Tiger i..e,.rrow a-4 deficit at the hands of the
peuiust:t conscious Baltimore Orioles, lifting
him pest the late Roberto Clemente and Into
l lilt plans on baseball's all-Ursa, hit parade.
with 3.000 to Iris credit.
And, as lie sat In the Clubhouse sipping
'.httif ,: i;l ss of champagne afterward, Ifaline
had to admit his latest milestone mf'hnt
even more to him than the batting title he
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rst hit it, Kaitne thought for sure
is going to curve foal.
prayer of thanks for letting me play all these
years and get all those hits." Kaline contin-
ued. "Once. I got this close I knew I'd get the
bit somet me, but I'm very glad to get it
here. I know I had a lot of friends and rela-
tives in ti.e stands and I would have bated
to disappc tut them.
"I'm pr..ud to have been able to get my
3,000th hi off McNally, too. I know he says
I've gotten a lot of hits off him, but he must
remember more of them than I do. He's a
real tough pitcher.
"I don" really remember much of any-
thing at Vie time of the pitch. I know it was
a fastbali ... It was up a little bit and fall-
ing off scene .. . I'm just happy it's finally
over. It awned like a big black cloud had been
lifted frost me as soon as I got it."
Kaline clso indicated he will continue to
play ever] game. so long as the Tigers are
opposing ,earns in contention.
Kaline, who signed with the Tigers right
out of h4 :h school and never spent a mo-
ment in tits minor leagues, thus became the
12th man n the major leagues to accumulate
to many as 3,000 hits.
And he is the first in the American
League since Eddie Collins reached that
mark on tune 5, 1923, nearly half-a-century
ago.
Roberto Clemente was the last player in
the National League to join the so-called
"club," cc llecting his 3,000th hit on Sept.
30, 1972, the final day of the season.
CAemeate, of course, was killed in that
tragic plane crash the following winter.
Kailne, who won 10 Gold Gloves and was
generally .'egarded as one of the finest field-
tug right:lelders too ever play the game,
was emplc yed exclusively as the Tigers' des-
ignated b tter this season in what was ad-
mittedly an effort to get the 120 hits he
needed to reach 3,000.
The retiring superstar will be honored
with a special day at Tiger Stadium next
The Or oles, who
first innir tg despite
unearned runs off rookibtt'lghthander Vern
Ruble in the fifth when LePlore let Patti
Blair's ro .nine inning-ending flyball drop
at his feat with Mark Belanger and Rich
Cc" gins o i base.