Ribicoff Appeals to Congress to Oppose Trade Legislation with USSR As Long As Emigration Restriction

Sen. Abraham Ribicoff (D. Conn.) appealed to both houses of Congress today to “go on record” in “making clear our strong opposition to any trade legislation granting the Soviet government better trade terms as long as the ransom decree” and “similar draconian measures” are applied to restrict the emigration of Soviet Jews.

Ribicoff, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee’s subcommittee on international trade, said he was prepared to explore other “more immediate legislative means to deny the Soviet Union the trade terms it desires” from the United States.

The Connecticut law-maker also urged Congressional condemnation of the “extortionist Soviet visa fees and to make clear” its “determination to link improved trade relations with this issue.” Ribicoff was referring to the exorbitant fees demanded by Soviet authorities for exit visas sought by Jews who received a free State education in the USSR.

In his speech, which followed consultations yesterday among the legislative aides of a bi-partisan group of Senators and Representatives on the issue, Ribicoff said, “There is still time to save Soviet Jewry. I appeal to all men of good will everywhere to raise their voices in loud protest against this latest injustice and to pledge their efforts to its total elimination.”

He disclosed that Benjamin Levich, a Russian-Jewish scientist and member of the Soviet Academy of Science, had appealed to him directly to help Soviet Jewish scientists who wish to emigrate. He said the appeal was in a handwritten letter delivered to Ribicoff by an American scientist who met Levich at the recent International Biophysical Congress in Moscow.

Ribicoff said he welcomed the easing of tensions between the US and the Soviet Union and that he has actively sought to expand trade between East and West and has introduced legislation to that effect. “I still feel that economic ties should be improved but the question is at what price,” he said. “When the US supports increasing economic and commercial ties we do so in the hope that the contacts act as a moderating, civilizing influence on relations between nations,” he added.