Reform Judaism Leaders Say Nixon Administration May Be Soft-pedaling Soviet Jewry Issue to Reach Det

National leaders of American Reform Judaism have called upon the Nixon administration and Congress not to enter into any trade agreements with the Soviet Union “until the evil practice of exit visa ransom for Soviet Jews is rescinded by the Soviet Union.” They stated that there is a growing feeling on the part of Soviet Jews that Kremlin leaders believe the Nixon administration will not pressure Moscow on the issue of Soviet Jewry in order to achieve a US-USSR detente.

The executive board of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations unanimously appealed today to President Nixon to speak out and lead an international outcry of protest. “If the moral leader of our nation maintains silence on this matter, then the Soviet government and all other nations will conclude that trade takes precedence over human rights.” Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, UAHC president, in presenting the resolution, declared: “We and other Jewish agencies have received alarming reports showing a deterioration of conditions for Soviet Jews since the President’s summit meeting.”

He named as examples the newly imposed exit fees, increased harassment and arrests and an intensified campaign by the KGB and Soviet officials against Jewish intellectuals seeking to emigrate. Furthermore, Rabbi Eisendrath noted, “We have received reports from Soviet Jews that, based on their evaluation, Kremlin leaders believe that the Nixon administration will not pressure them on Soviet Jews because the strong American desire for detente in many areas,” would clash with a strong stand on Soviet Jewry.

UAHC board chairman, Sidney I. Cole of Chicago, cited current statistics showing that there are 150,000 exit visa applications from Soviet Jews and that about 45,000 of these would be assessed an average of 15,000 rubles each ($17,000). Cole observed that this adds up to 675 million rubles ($765-million).

He added–“Some experts have suggested that the Soviets are using this vicious device in order to accumulate hard currency to pay for the trade treaties now being worked out through negotiations with the United States.” Cole stated that the UAHC executive board called upon the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations to mount a national and international campaign of protest.