Congress Gets Another Resolution for U.S. Action on Jews in Russia

A concurrent resolution calling on both Houses of Congress to urge the U.S. delegation to the United Nations to seek “early adoption” of a resolution condemning the Soviet Union for its anti-Jewish acts, was introduced today by Congressman Leonard Farbstein, New York Democrat. A similar resolution was introduced in the House earlier this week by Representative Charles Buckley, New York Democrat.

Rep. Farbstein, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee asked both chambers to support his call for a resolution in the U.N. General Assembly which would not only condemn the Soviet Government for “recent manifestations of anti-Semitism” but would also prevail upon Moscow authorities “to adopt such measures as may be necessary to guarantee human rights, including the right of persons separated from their families to be reunited with them.”

The New York lawmaker told the House, in introducing his resolution, that the United Nations had the “legitimate right” to intervene in whatever way it could on behalf of Soviet Jewry because “recent manifestations of anti-Semitism appear to be in violation” of the principles of the preamble of the Charter of the world organization which guarantees human rights free from “distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.”

Mr. Farbstein said the arrest of religious leaders, the closing of synagogues and the restriction placed upon travel in and out of the Soviet Union “which prevents many Jewish families from being reunited” are instances of such U. N. charter violations.

In a separate resolution, Rep. Farbstein also called on both Houses of Congress to urge our United Nations delegation to seek “appropriate means” for bringing to world attention “instances where nations practice discrimination against minorities or persecution of minorities.” He asked that where such activities occurred, “direct representations” be made to the U. N.’s Human Rights Commission. Rep. Farbstein’s resolutions were regarded as indicative of the growing feeling in Congress that something should be done on behalf of Russia’s Jews.

Meanwhile, it was reported here today that Secretary of State Dean Rusk received an appeal from the Jewish Labor Committee in New York asking him to intervene on behalf of the four Jews in Vilna sentenced to death by a Soviet court there on charges of illegal grain traffic. A similar appeal from the same organization was received here by Soviet Ambassador Anatole Dobrynin.