Emigration from Rumania to Israel rose slightly during the 12 months ending June 30 to 2560 from 2423 in the previous corresponding period but it still was below the levels of 1973 and 1974 when about 7400 Jews emigrated to Israel in that two-year period.
Emigration to the United States for the 12 months ending June 30 climbed to 1339 compared with 945 the previous year and 407 in 1974. It is understood that Jews are among these emigrants.
These statistics were made known to be Jewish Telegraphic Agency by congressional sources after Administration officials briefed the House International Trade Subcommittee regarding Rumanian emigration and trade within the United States. They included Arthur Hartman, Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Edward Strow, Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce’s Bureau on East-West Trade.
HEARINGS SET FOR THIS WEEK
The Senate Subcommittee on International Trade, headed by Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, (D Conn) is to hold hearings Wednesday on whether the U.S. should again waive the freedom of emigration requirements under the Jackson-Vanik provisions of the 1974 Trade Act and thereby allow Rumania to continue to receive the benefits of most favored nation treatment. This was granted to Rumania last September for the first time.
Representatives of more than 50 organizations have asked to testify amid indications that deep division exists among them. Some Jewish organizational spokesmen are understood to oppose the waiver on the ground that several thousand Jews continue to be deprived of emigration rights despite long efforts to leave Rumania. Of the approximately 400,000 Jews in Rumania when World War II ended, perhaps 65,000 remain, the congressional sources said.
Besides representatives of Jewish, Rumanian and other organizations, processors of commercial products such as shoes, glassware and canned hams also are opposing granting trade benefits to Rumania. The House Subcommittee led by Rep. William Greene (D Pa) also is likely to hold hearings with many of the same witnesses. Either House of Congress can veto the extension of the waiver during the 45-day period ending Oct. 18. If neither House takes action nor does not disapprove, the waiver automatically continues in effect until July, 1977.
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