Joint resolution providing for the designation of the third week of July as ""Captive Nations Week""
PL 86-90 (S.J.Res.111), enacted 07/17/1959

212 
PUBLIC LAW 86-90-JULY 17, 1969 
[73 STAT. 
Public Law 86-90 
July 17, 1959 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
[s. J.Res. Ill] 
Providing for the designation of the third week of July as "Captive Nations 
Week". 
Whereas the greatness of the United States is in large part attribut-
able to its having been able, through the democratic process, to 
achieve a harmonious national unity of its people, even though they 
stem from the most diverse of racial, religious, and ethnic back-
grounds; and 
Whereas this harmonious unification of the diverse elements of our 
free society has led the people of the United States to possess a 
warm understanding and sympathy for the aspirations of peoples 
everyw^here and to recognize the natural interdependency of the 
peoples and nations of the world; and 
Whereas the enslavement of a substantial part of the world's popula-
tion by Communist imperialism makes a mockery of the idea of 
peaceful coexistence between nations and constitutes a detriment 
to the natural bonds of understanding between the people of the 
United States and other peoples; and 
Whereas since 1918 the imperialistic and aggressive policies of Russian 
communism have resulted in the creation of a vast empire which 
poses a dire threat to the security of the United States and of all 
the free peoples of the w^orld; and 
Whereas the imperialistic policies of Communist Russia have led,, 
through direct and indirect aggression, to the subjugation of the 
national independence of Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Ukraine, 
Czechoslovakia, Latvia, Estonia, White Ruthenia, Rumania, East 
Germany, 
Bulgaria, 
mainland 
China, 
Armenia, 
Azerbaijan, 
Georgia, North Korea, Albania, Idel-Ural, Tibet, Cossackia, Turke-
stan, North Viet-Nam, and others; and 
Whereas these submerged nations look to the United States, as the 
citadel of human freedom, for leadership in bringing about their 
liberation and independence and in restoring to them the enjoyment 
of their Christian, Jewish, Moslem, Buddhist, or other religious 
freedoms, and of their individual liberties; and 
Whereas it is vital to the national security of the United States that 
the desire for liberty and independence on the part of the peoples of 
these conquered nations should be steadfastly kept alive; and 
Whereas the desire for liberty and independence by the overwhelming 
majority of the people of these submerged nations constitutes a 
powerful deterrent to w^ar and one of the best hopes for a just and 
lasting peace; and 
Whereas it is fitting that we clearly manifest to such peoples through 
an appropriate and official means the historic fact that the people 
of the United States share with them their aspirations for the recov-
ery of their freedom and independence: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate arid House of Representatives 
of the United 
we^k"*^^* Nations States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the 
United States is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation des-
ignating the third week in July 1959 as "Captive Nations Week" and 
inviting the people of the United States to observe such week with 
appropriate ceremonies and activities. 
The President is further 
authorized and requested to issue a similar proclamation each year 
until such time as freedom and independence shall have been achieved 
for all the captive nations of the world. 
Approved July 17, 1959.