[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         TIME FOR A REVIEW OF UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD CUBA

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, this morning the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee held a hearing on United States policy toward Cuba. I believe 
a serious review of United States policy toward Cuba is long overdue 
and I hope today's hearing will serve as a starting point for that 
process. I have traveled to Cuba three times since the revolution, 
meeting with President Castro and other high-level officials, 
dissidents, political prisoners, and members of the religious 
community. I have been frustrated by the Cuban Government's failure to 
implement political reforms and demonstrate respect for human rights. I 
believe current policy, however, is counterproductive to promoting a 
peaceful transition to democracy and improving human rights.
  A recent CIA report warned President Clinton could face a major 
crisis in Cuba. Serious instability 90 miles away, could lead to a mass 
exodus of refugees--far more than we saw in August--and spur demands 
for a United States military intervention. I think we are heading along 
a dangerous path and I urge the Clinton administration to reassess its 
approach.
  I am deeply troubled by the Clinton administration's recent 
tightening of sanctions and its unwillingness to enter into broad talks 
with the Cuban Government. I was pleased, however, that the United 
States took one small step in the right direction by finally reaching 
an agreement this week to expand telecommunications between our 
countries.
  It is my view that the embargo hurts more than it helps. We should 
move toward lifting an embargo which provides the regime with a 
convenient scapegoat for its economic woes and a rallying point for 
Cuban nationalism. Rather than isolating the island, we should be 
expanding contact with the Cuban people. By flooding the island with 
people, ideas and information, we will better undermine the Castro 
regime.
  The approach I outlined has bipartisan support and I would point out 
that previous administrations, Democratic and Republican, have 
understood that it is in the United States interest to normalize 
relations with Cuba. Pierre Salinger recently wrote in the Washington 
Post August 28, 1994 that President Kennedy, who imposed the embargo, 
realized he made a mistake. Five days before his death, Kennedy sent a 
note to Castro calling for negotiations to normalize relations. In his 
posthumously published book ``Beyond Peace,'' former President Nixon 
wrote that we should have an open door policy toward Cuba, dropping the 
embargo and opening the way to trade, investment and economic 
interaction. Officials who served in the Reagan and Bush 
administrations have likewise criticized the embargo calling for a 
change in policy as has the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, 
the New York Times, USA Today, the Economist, the Journal of Commerce, 
the Chicago tribune and U.S. News and World Report.
  We heard testimony today from several Members of Congress who have a 
keen interest in Cuba, including Senator Mack. We also heard from two 
former government officials, William D. Rogers, who served as Assistant 
Secretary for Inter-American Affairs under the Ford administration and 
Wayne Smith, who as a foreign service officer, served as Chief of the 
U.S. Interests Section in Havana during the Carter administration and 
the beginning of the Reagan administration. It was of particular 
interest to hear the lessons they learned from their experience in 
dealing with Cuba and their recommendations for where our policy ought 
to be headed.
  Secretary Rogers noted that the original reasons for our policy have 
evaporated. He believes the embargo is counterproductive and should be 
dismantled and he called for opening diplomatic communication. He 
emphasized that we must learn from the fall of communism in the Eastern 
bloc noting that Eastern Europe collapsed not because we blocked 
communication but because we kept those lines open. As he so eloquently 
stated, Communist regimes can end with a wimper rather than a bang, and 
the United States is contributing to a hard landing rather than a soft 
one. He warned that our current policy is increasing the likelihood of 
violence and having a polarizing effect in Cuba.
  Dr. Smith noted that United States policy is all stick and no carrot 
and urged the United States to respond to positive steps, including 
Cuba's cooperation on stopping the refugee flow, its initiation to the 
UN Human Rights Commissioner to visit Cuba, the opening up of the 
agricultural sector to the private sector, its expansion of freedom of 
religion and its dialog with some members of the Cuban American 
community. Contrary to some Members of Congress who believe the embargo 
should be expanded internationally, he pointed out that the 
international community is adamately opposed to the United States 
embago and that the United Nations condemned the embargo by a vote of 
88 to 4. He believes the embargo should be lifted lock, stock and 
barrel. If that is not politically possible, he called for lifting the 
ban on remittances, abolishing travel restrictions, ending the ban on 
the sale of food and medicines, and closing TV Marti.
  Our colleague Senator Simon pointed out that our policy is more 
national passion than national interest. He urged the lifting of the 
travel ban, which he believes is unconstitutional and plays into the 
hands of the Cuban regime, and the embargo on the sale of food and 
medicine.
  Mr. President, I hope my colleagues will join me in taking a hard 
look at United States policy toward Cuba and support a policy that will 
promote a peaceful transition to democracy in Cuba.

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