Declaring that “the American Jewish community is encouraged by the increase in emigration from Rumania which has developed in recent weeks,” Rabbi Israel Miller, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations urged Congressional approval of the U.S.-Rumanian trade agreement making Rumania eligible for most favored nation status. Congressional action on the U.S.-Rumanian trade pact is expected to be completed by the end of this week.
In a letter to Sen. Russell Long (D.La.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Rabbi Miller referred to reports that Rumanian officials have issued over 1000 visa approvals in June which, he said, was “a welcome indication of a positive trend that we trust will be continued and reflected in the actual number of departures.” He said that “On this basis we support favorable Congressional action on the U.S.-Rumanian trade agreement.” An identical letter was sent to Rep. Al Ullman (D.Ore.), chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Rabbi Miller cited statements by Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Arthur Hartman before both the Senate and the House committees giving what Rabbi Miller described as “assurances that the Administration will recommend an extension of the waiver of the Jackson-Vanik provisions of the Trade Act only in the event of continued upward movement in Rumanian emigration throughout the waiver period.” The Jackson-Vanik measure links U.S. trade with Communist-bloc nations to their emigration practices.
Last month, Rabbi Miller had urged the Senate Finance Committee to defer action on the agreement until the Rumanian authorities demonstrated “the kind of positive movement on emigration that will permit favorable action.” He said that earlier this year, Jewish emigration from Rumania was “very low,” but reports from Jerusalem July 14 indicated that the exit of Jews from Rumania in June had tripled compared to the previous month and that a further increase was anticipated in July.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
