Authors of Congressional resolutions that oppose the holding of the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 said they are firmly continuing to work for acceptance of their proposals in both the Senate and House.
Sen. Wendell Anderson (D. Minn.) and Rep. Jack Kemp (R. NY) pointed out to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that they seek to move the games out of the Soviet Union and their resolutions bear a "definite distinction" to President Carter’s opposition to a "boycott" of the 1980 Olympics.
Following the Soviet trials of dissidents and American journalists, Anderson and Kemp introduced identical resolutions expressing "the sense" of Congress that the games by held in a place other than Moscow as scheduled. The resolutions observed that "The Soviet Union continues to demonstrate a disregard for basic human rights guaranteed by the Helsinki Accords and the Soviet constitution" and pointed to "the uncertainty of what its actions will be towards representatives to the Olympic Games from Israel, Taiwan, and certain other nations."
At his nationally televised news conference last Thursday night, Carter was asked: "Mr. President, do you agree or disagree with those who urge that American athletes boycott the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow as a protest against Soviet treatment of dissidents?" The President replied: "This is a decision that will be made by the U.S. Olympic Committee. My own hope is that the American athletes will participate in the 1980 Olympics."
SEEKING MORAL OPPOSITION
The Anderson and Kemp resolutions are regarded by their supporters as a means to bring moral opposition to bear against the games in Moscow. The Olympic Committee, a private body, is autonomous and is not bound by a governmental or Congressional action. Robert J. Kane, who has offices in New York City and Ithaca, N. Y., is the committee’s president.
Anderson, who was a silver medalist in the 1956 Olympics as a hockey player, observed that Carter "is opposed to a boycott while we are saying move the games. The Soviet Union, as Berlin in 1936, is an inappropriate place for the games" because "the Soviet by its violations of human rights is an inappropriate host."
Anderson’s resolution, which is in the Senate Commerce, Science and Transport Committee, is co-sponsored by Senators Henry M. Jackson (D. Wash.), Clifford Case (R. NJ), Howard Metzenbaum (D. Ohio), Malcolm Walop. (R. Wyo.), Charles Percy (R. III.), E. J. Garn (R. Utah), Harrison Schmitt (R. N.M.) and Muriel Humphrey (D. Minn.).
Kemp, whose resolution has 17 co-sponsors and is in the House International Relations Committee, told JTA that "we are not going for a boycott. I want our athletes to participate, but not in Russia. This thing is going to escalate. The Soviets will try to Keep Israel out of the Olympics. If President Carter is consistent with his campaign statements for human rights around the world he will ask the American Olympic Committee to join me. not in a boycott, but in moving the games" out of the Soviet Union. Presidential News Secretary Jody Powell said Friday that the President’s comments about U.S. action with regard to Soviet treatment of the dissidents and journalists was not "a softening" of his position toward the Kremlin.
CARTER: NOT EMBARKED ON VENDETTA
Besides his response to the question on the Olympics, Carter said at his press conference that he has "not embarked on a vendetta against the Soviet Union." The President said "we cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Soviet Union" and "I would like to have better relations with the Soviets." Pointing to the various Soviet trials, Carter said: "We have expressed our displeasure, I think, in a very moderate way."
In another aspect of the trials, Carter said at his news conference that he is "not specifically" aware of any negotiations underway for the release of Anatoly Shcharansky or Alexander Ginzburg. "I think it would be inappropriate for me to talk about the negotiations that go on between ourselves and other governments about the release of prisoners in general or specifically."
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
