News Brief

JEWS ISSUE A NUMBER OF DEMANDS

Experts on the Soviet scene here called the petition distributed to newsmen in Moscow the result of the most widely coordinated effort at signature collection for such appeals since Soviet Jews began efforts for emigration in defiance of Soviet officials. The petition declared that “the issue of free emigration of Jews to Israel is not a new one and is becoming more acute with every passing day. More and more Jews realize, and then openly proclaim, that they do not want to assimilate with other peoples. This movement has its historical causes and cannot be stopped by administrative directive.” The petition also asserted that in the Soviet Union, “there is no future for us as Jews.”

The Conference reported that a delegation of five Jews, most of them known as Jewish activists, was received by members of the Central Committee at the Communist Party headquarters. They were listed as Pavel Goldstein, a former political prisoner, Boris Orlov, Gavriel Shapiro, Vladimir Rosenblum and Viktor Polsky. They met with Ivanov, Maj. Gen. Shukavey, identified as the Vice-Minister for Internal Affairs, Ovchinyakov, identified as deputy chief of Ovir, the office for visas and registrations, and an unidentified member of the Central Committee.

Ivanov initially told the delegation of five Jews that “the Jews have no right to emigrate. Everybody has a right to apply individually. The state then has a right to decide.” The Jewish delegation then handed Ivanov a list of Jews who had sworn that they had been denied receipt of affidavits from relatives in Israel and other Jews who were refused exit permits without explanation. The official told them that “such allegations may be considered a provocation,” which appeared to be a threat to the Jews present.

The visiting Jews then presented several “demands” to Ivanov, the Conference said. These included a request that officials stop harassing Soviet Jews applying for emigration, that reasons be given for refusal to give exit documents and that Soviet authorities determine the accuracy of such complaints and not require Jews to provide the evidence. Prior to the meeting, several busloads of police came to the Communist Party headquarters but there was no police action during the three-hour meeting. The delegation also said that they had not received Rosh Hashanah greetings from relatives and friends in the United States which they knew had been mailed to them.