March 1, 1972
Page 6201
RADIO FREE EUROPE AND RADIO LIBERTY
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, for more than 20 years, millions of people in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union have had to rely on Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty for news of the political, economic, and social issues their governments chose not to disclose – news about their own countries and the outside world. It is regrettable that the people needed outside sources of news, but as long as this need has existed, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty have provided the vital function of trying to keep these people informed. For instance, much of the recent programing of Radio Liberty has been devoted to the struggle of Soviet Jews, especially their efforts to exercise the right to emigrate. This service is still needed.
During their existence, these stations have, at relatively modest costs, provided services whose value cannot be measured in monetary terms by the people who have depended on Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty for news. Now, Congress is faced with the responsibility of deciding the best method of control of the radios to eliminate or minimize undesirable governmental influence over the selection of the news and information to be broadcast. While Congress makes that decision, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty should not be permitted to die.
As an editorial in the Washington Post of June 26, 1971, stated:
The stations do not incite to revolution or preach anti-Communism; they say what is going on in East Europe. It would be an unpardonable breach of faith with the stations' millions of listeners to deny them their choice of radio fare.
The State Department has estimated an audience of approximately 30 million people for RFE alone. I hope we will not turn our backs on these people who are so desperately in need of news and information.