1990 letter to Congressmen

Esteemed Congressmen,

“Americans For a Free Lithuania” is a coalition of grass roots organizations founded seven weeks ago in Connecticut to increase public awareness and public support for Lithuania and her drive for independence. Since then our efforts have expanded throughout the United States.

Opinion surveys taken at that time presented the American public with an unfair choice—Gorbachev or Lithuania. As Prime Minister Prunskiene pointed out during her meetings in Washington, DC the choice is more correctly between democratic reform in the Soviet Union or a step back to the days of repression and centralized control. Lithuania represents a test case as to whether Gorbachev’s reforms will continue to advance or be stalled by conservative forces.

The opinion surveys taken at that time also presented the American public with a simplistic choice—Gorbachev or Lithuania. We believe that there is a range of actions that can be taken—that should be taken—in support of freedom for Lithuania. We believe that Americans will support a more active policy.

We tested this thesis by talking with our fellow Americans, by explaining to them in more detail the values at stake. Well over one hundred thousand agreed with us, and expressed their support by signing a petition calling for more active and visible support of Lithuania’s independence.

We ask you to heed these voices and to more vigorously, more publicly support the cause of freedom and democracy in Lithuania. We are, candidly, disappointed and dumbfounded by the President’s lack of statesmanship in this regard. We must turn now to you. Members of both the House and the Senate have been extremely supportive and sympathetic in our conversations with them.

The economic embargo in Lithuania is bringing the economy to a nearly catastrophic breakdown. Therefore:

1. We must bring more pressure to bear on Gorbachev to stop the embargo.

2. We ought to provide humanitarian aid to the Lithuanians, in the form of emergency deliveries of food and medicine.

3. We must not reward the Kremlin with most-favored nation status until true negotiations with the Lithuanians begins.

Your help in the months ahead with the cause of Lithuanian independence will be much appreciated, and will not be forgotten.

Vaiva R. Vebraitė
Americans for a Free Lithuania