Jackson Claims the J/v Amendment Will Eventually Lead the USSR to Ease Its Emigration Restrictions

Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D.Wash.), defending his amendment to the Trade Reform Act as having “paid off,” declared today that “it represents a strong position of Congress” which will eventually lead the Soviet Union to ease its restrictions on the emigration of Soviet Jewry. However, he cautioned Americans that “we need to be patient.”

Jackson, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency, answered questions at a press conference for the Jewish media. He accused President Ford of lacking the firmness to stand up to the Soviet Union on the issue of emigration vs. trade and not being firm on any issue. He said Ford’s announcement 30 days after Congress had adopted the Jackson/Vanik amendment-that the law would be revised was “playing right into the hands of the Soviet Union.”

He noted that when the Rumanians were told last summer that they would not get U.S. trade credits and benefits unless emigration restrictions were lifted, the restrictions were dropped immediately. Jackson said he favors detente but one that is based on a freer movement of people and ideas. He noted that the Helsinki agreement resulted in diminishing freer movement of people.

Jackson said when he is charged, particularly in the Midwest, with harming U.S. trade with the Soviet Union, his reply is that “people are more important than trade.” He said the Soviet Union needs U.S. food and if the U.S. stays firm, the USSR will eventually give in on the question of emigration.

NEGOTIATIONS WILL LEAD TO MIDEAST PEACE

On Israel, Jackson said peace will only come when the Arabs are willing to negotiate directly with the Israelis. Until then. Israel should have defensible borders so that if any other agreements that are made in the meantime fall “Israel will have a chance to defend themselves and survive.” He said what is needed in the Mideast is “not a change of lines (borders ) but of heart” in which the Arabs agree to recognize Israel.

Jackson said the present situation in Lebanon is a “great opportunity for Jews and Christians” to get together to fight against genocide. He said the Palestine Liberation Organization has committed genocide against Israelis and now is doing the same thing to Christians in Lebanon. “I don’t know why the Pope hasn’t spoken out,” he said, noting that most of Lebanon’s Christians are Catholics.

Asked whether he was linked too closely to Jews, Jackson said he is not concerned about this charge although he said some Jews have expressed concern about it. It is usually raised in the Midwest as a charge that he is too pro-Israeli, he noted.