CJF Supports Jackson-mills-vanik Amendment

The Board of Directors of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds has expressed renewed support for Congressional action linking trade concessions to the Soviet Union with the removal of obstacles to emigration from that country. A resolution adopted by the CJF Board at its meeting just concluded here, cited the Jackson Amendment before the U.S. Senate and the Mills-Vanik bill in the House as important means of strengthening the hand of President-Nixon-in his current summit talks with Soviet Communist Party Secretary Leonid I. Brezhnev.

(In New York last night, Sen. Henry M. Jackson said he hoped that Brezhnev learns during his visit that “If the United States Congress gives guaranteed credits to the Soviet Union then there has to be guaranteed emigration from the Soviet Union.” Jackson made his remarks at a press conference prior to addressing the 63rd annual dinner of the Religious Zionists of America.

(The Washington Democrat said he believed President Nixon knows that Congress will not back down in its support of the Jackson Amendment but he wasn’t sure that Brezhnev has learned this yet. He said that while the Watergate scandal has made Nixon “a crippled bird” he could still come out on top in negotiations with the Soviet leader, because Brezhnev has even bigger problems. He noted that Russia needs American economic aid and technological and managerial skills. Brezhnev came to the U.S. “desperate” and “with his hand out,” Jackson said.)

(Governor Thomas Meskil of Connecticut sent today letters to President Nixon and Leonid Brezhnev, Soviet Communist Party Secretary, on behalf of Soviet Jewry.)