78-01-A7

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Human Rights III

Transcript In signing the Helsinki pact we gave the Russians something they've wanted for 35 years. In effect, we recognized the Soviet Union's right to hold captive the Eastern and Central European nations they have ruled since World War II. We signed the pact apparently because of one clause which had to do with human rights. Those making the decision to sign claimed the Soviet Union by its signature had agreed to let people have some (if not all) of the rights the rest of us take for granted. They are (for example) supposed to be able to leave the Soviet Union and the captive nations if they choose. But the Russians make promises; they don't keep them. For more than three decades now we've referred to the Iron Curtain countries as the captive nations. Each year we have proclaimed a Captive Nations week to remind the world and ourselves that the Soviet Union holds millions of people in bondage. This year as Captive Nations week drew near, there was no proclamation from the White House--only silence. Then Americans of Central and Eastern origin brought pressure to bear and a weak, meaningless Presidential message was released. It pleased no one but the Russians. The U.N. Human Rights commission in Geneva faced an American motion calling on the U.N. to question the Soviet Union about implementation of the human rights clause of the U.N. Charter. But then our chief delegate withdrew the motion before it could be brought to a vote. Now comes an act of symbolism which has shocked every American of Captive Nation descent and those of Hungarian descent particularly. I'm talking about the Crown of St. Stephen. It was first used in the coronation of Hungary's King Stephen (now Saint Stephen) by the Pope nearly a thousand years ago. It has come to have an aura of mysticism about it with both religious and nationalistic significance to the people of Hungary. Most significant, it is symbolic of the legitimacy of Hungarian government. At the end of World War II we liberated Hungary from the Nazi's but under the deal made at Tehran turned it over to the Russians. Our departing forces were asked to take the Crown of St. Stephen to keep the Russians from getting it and hold it in trust until Hungary was once again free. For more than 34 years it has been kept in the vaults at Ft. Knox. Now the White House has declared this crown which confers legitimacy and the blessings of Heaven upon Hungarian government to be the rightful property of the Godless, Communist rulers of that captive land. At Tehran we sold a freedom not ours to sell. Now we give legitimacy not ours to give to an illegitimate government. Are we really serious about human rights? This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 78-01-A7 Production Date 01/09/1978 Book/Page RihoH-152 Audio Youtube? No
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