Legislation Introduced to Reject Ussr-u.s. Trade Pact; State Dept. Opposed

Rep. Wilbur Mills (D. Ark.) today introduced legislation to reject the Soviet-American trade agreement unless the Soviet government eliminates restrictions on the emigration of Jews and other citizens seeking to emigrate.

The legislation was presented by Mills on behalf of himself and Rep. Charles A. Vanik (D. Ohio) who first proposed it in the House last autumn, and 257 other Congressmen representing 46 of the states and more than half of the 435 members of the House. Before going on the House floor, Mills clearly expressed determination to newsmen that the legislation will be adopted if the Soviet policy remains unchanged. “I’m committed to this,” he said. “There will be no trade bill without this measure in it.”

Shortly after the presentation, the State Department declared opposition to it. Spokesman Charles Bray in response to newsmen’s questions, said the Department regarded “quiet diplomacy” as the best means of achieving emigration results from the Soviet Union. “Quiet diplomacy” was the phrase used by President Nixon last autumn when he discussed Soviet emigration policies with Jewish leaders in New York.

The trade agreement, announced by the White House last Sept., includes settlement of the Soviet Union’s lend-lease debt and also would grant it most, favored nation treatment. Both factors are subject to approval by the Congress. The significance of Mills as the leader for the legislation in the House, is that the powerful Ways and Means Committee he heads-handles all trade legislation. Fifteen of the Committee’s 25 members have sponsored the legislation.

The trade agreement itself has not yet been sent to the Congress for ratification. Bray said he did not know when it would be offered. Senator Henry M. Jackson (D.Wash), who proposed-legislation last Oct. identical to that presented by Mills and Vanik, said today that he will hold in abeyance re-introduction of his measure until after he sees the agreement submitted by the administration.

HOPE ACTION WILL BE UNDERSTOOD

At the news conference at the Capitol, Mills read a statement on behalf of himself, Jackson and Vanik, that stated:

“We hope our action today will be understood by responsible Soviet authorities as our answer to the official publication in Moscow last month of the so-called ‘education tax’ schedule–an outrageous price list on human beings that reduces trained and educated men and women to chattel. The promulgation of that decree is, in our view, a profoundly disappointing response to the worldwide concern with which an oppressive and capricious Soviet emigration policy has been followed.”

Jackson emphasized that “There are thousands of gentiles, too, in the Soviet Union who want to get out–especially from the Baltic states and the Ukraine.” He added, “If the Soviet Union cannot understand the signal implied in this legislation, there is no hope for future Soviet-American negotiations.” The make-up of the House sponsorship includes the 16 members of the all-Democratic Black Congressional Caucus including Rep. Charles Diggs of Michigan who had co-sponsored the Vanik measure last autumn.

Newsmen questioning Bray on the State Department’s position on the bill, which also is opposed by most of the Republican leadership in the House, noted that the Soviet Union published the education tax decree after Nixon had expressed his “quiet diplomacy” line of action. “We have noted the publication of the decree,” Bray responded. “I simply must repeat on our behalf that this matter can be most efficaciously be pursued through diplomatic channels.”