Date: 1981-11-12
Speaker: ROBERT C. BYRD (democrat)
Chamber: S

Mr. President. I ilad a letter delivered to the President at midday today requesting his views on my amenidment to impose all acrosstheboard ban on the Soviet Union in the event tile Soviets or their allies invaded Polanid. I received a copy of the letter that was delivered to the distinguished majority leader tilis afternoon outlining the State Department opposition to my amendmenlt. Sincee I have not yet receive d a response to my letter. I take It that Secretary Haigs letter is the position of the administration. I only reiterate what I stated already. Senators PERCY and HEINZ both deplore the fazt that my amendment would require unilateral action against the ESoviets. Well. Mr. President. I take it that Mr. Haig had considered such unilateral aCtion when on April 25 of this year he made the unequivocal public statement which was reported in the April 27 Washington Post. In which the Secretary stated unequivocally that the adiniistration would impose not Only a new grain embargo but an acrosstheboard ban oin trade with the Soviets should they invade Poland. He did not say anything about unilateral action. He just said that there will be an across -the -board ban on trade with the Soviet Union in the event they invade. period. No ifs. ands. or buts about It. So I took him at his word. Senator PERCY said: We have discussed this matter in detail with our allies. Well. we should have discussed It in detail with our allies because the prospect of the Soviet invasion of Poland has been imminent for many weeks and months. I hope we have discussed this with our allies. I hopie that in discussions with our allies we have mode it plain to them what the Secretary of State made preeminently clear to all the world when on April 25 he said that the administr ation would impose not only a new grain embargo but an acrosstheboard ban on trade with the Soviets should they Invade Poland. I took him at his word. My amendment simply seeks to put the Congress. the Imprimatur of the Congress. in back of thec Secretarys word which he stated publicly in April. Now we find those on the other side saying. "We would be acting unilaterally if we did that. We should discuss this with our amles." Presumably Mr. Haig already made that plain. Hle did not have any doubts as to what this country would do if the Soviets Invaded. Hle said we would impose an acrosstheboard ban. Now when it comes down to the Congress putting Its stamp of approval and stating its support for that position. then we hear from the Secretary and we hear from Senators that. "We must not do that because we would be acting unilaterally." The distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania is now going to offcr a substitute. Let us take a look at It. It is the sense of the Senate that a suspension or or restriction of all exports from the United States Zo the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics shall be Imposed in concert with our allies it the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Its allies engages in direct military action against Poland. including but not limited to an Invasion. By putting in "in concert with our allies." it seems we are not tying our allies hands but our Presidents htaiid-. Suppose our allies did not want to act in concert with us? Are we gling to back away fromn imposing such a ban on trade against the Soviets? Why tie our own hands by that language? We are not tying the Presidents hands ill my language. I am givinlg him 30 days In whlich to certify to the Congress that it would not bo in the national Interest. the national security Interests or the national foreign policy Interest. to impose such a ban. So the flexibility is given to the President In my amendment and we have ample timle In which to consult with our allies If we have not already done it. And If we have not already consulted with them. why have we not? The threat has been there for weeks and mnonths. Mr. Haig surely must have consulted with our allies when he said without any equivocation. without any question. Indubitably clear. in his statement: We will Impose an acrosstheboard baa on trade with the Soviets If they Invade Poland. I simply want to put it in stone. to say that Congress will support that. I hope my colleagues will support my amendment. In order to do that. of course. they would have to vote down the substitute by Mr. HEINZ. my distinguished friend from Pennsylvania.