A POLITICAL STATEMENT (09/17/60)

A POLITICAL STATEMENT

Adapted at the Ninth All-American Mass Rally of the Ukrainian-American Youth Association held simultaneously in Chicago, Illinois, and Ellenville, New York, September 3, 4 and 5, 1960.

We, the young Ukrainian-Americans, noting the grave international crisis forced upon the Free World by Russian communist imperialism, have assembled at the Ninth Mass Rally of our organization to show our determination and readiness to help restore a unified and independent Ukrainian state and to defend the interests of the United States and the principles for which this country stands. On this occasion we feel duty-bound to express our views concerning the weaknesses and dangers of Soviet Russian imperialism and new possibilities of combating it.

The present state of affairs in the world shows that the struggle between the communist bloc and the West has entered the critical phase. The constantly increasing threat of Russian communist imperialism with its universally known goal of world domination indicates the need for more effective policy and initiative on the part of the Free World.

Being aware of serious weaknesses within their own borders , the rulers in the Kremlin try to divert the attention of their subjects by creating tensions abroad. The real Achilles' heel of the modern Russian empire which Moscow cannot eliminate is the national, political, economic, religious, and cultural enslavement of the non-Russian nations within the USSR itself. In order to eliminate this weakness the Kremlin rulers would have to liquidate the very prison of nations which they have created under the misleading name of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The events of 1956 in Hungary have shown that Moscow will never agree to such a solution.

The great desire for freedom among the non-Russian nations in the USSR is evidenced by the existence of active underground movements in Ukraine, the Baltic countries and elsewhere in the USSR. These movements are functioning despite the unfavorable conditions of terror and persecution inflicted upon them by the Soviet Russian secret police. Their goal is the complete liquidation of the Russian slave empire and the establishment of independent and sovereign national states, including an independent Russian within her own ethnic borders. This idea of national independence for the non-Russian nations of the USSR has never ceased to be the weakest spot of the Kremlin. The recent uprisings in various non-Russian areas of the USSR and political trials of the members of the Ukrainian liberation movement are clear evidence of such weakness.

Moreover, the Public Law 86-90 which authorizes the President of the United States to proclaim each year a Captive Nations Week enumerates all non-Russian nations which are kept by force within the USSR and pledges support for the just aspirations of those nations. The unusual reaction of Nikita Khrushchev to the idea of a Captive Nations Week reveals Moscow's grave concern over the inevitable consequences. We regretfully note the fact that the foreign policy planks of both major parties have failed to recognize and mention each non-Russian captive nation in the USSR, individually.

The great vitality and explosive force of the idea of nationalism is fully acknowledged by the Russian communists. They ostensibly support it in Asia, Africa and most recently in the Western Hemisphere while within the USSR identical movements are being ruthlessly suppressed. Actually, they exploit the movement of nationalism abroad in an effort to turn it against the Free World.

Khrushchev's torpedoing of the Paris summit conference, communist-inspired riots in Japan, Soviet Russian penetration of Cuba and other surprises which the Kremlin has in store for the future show that there is little hope for peaceful coexistence with a political system which has promised to bury us economically and otherwise. To meet the growing threat of Russian communist imperialism the United States must not only be strong in military and economic terms; it must also be armed with sincere but captivating ideas molded into a firm and active policy. If this country is to survive it must give an all-out support to those who desperately strive for freedom and sacrifice their lives for it. It must support the national liberation movements within the USSR. In order to win the final battle, the United States policy must be the dismemberment of the Russian slave empire into free and independent national states because there can be no hope for real peace as long as Russia, Red or White, is permitted to continue the exploitation of slave labor and resources in Ukraine, the Baltic states and elsewhere to maintain her present strength. Having all the means of modern communication at its disposal, this country must reveal the true story of the captive nations within the USSR to the public so that its citizens and nations of Africa and Asia can benefit from their tragic but valiant experience with communist imperialism.

It is out earnest conviction that such approach to the problem of Russian communist imperialism merits serious consideration by presidential candidates of the Republican and the Democratic party. We hope to hear their opinion on this subject before the forthcoming presidential elections.

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