Senate Urged to Approve Jackson/mili-vanik Amendments to Trade Act

Stanley H. Lowell, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, testifying today before the Senate Finance Committee on the pending Trade Reform Act, expressed the overwhelming support of the Jewish community and its supporters for the Jackson/Mills-Vanik freedom of emigration provision. Lowell called the Jackson/Mills-Vanik legislation “a realistic and effective formula to employ American economic resources and capabilities in securing the fundamental and internationally recognized right to emigrate.”

He pointed out that “we are for a genuine detente. Such a relationship must include the right and opportunity for people to move freely between countries. The passage of the Trade Act would result in overwhelming benefits to the USSR economically. It is appropriate for us to seek in return concessions from the Soviet Union in an area vital to all Americans–that is. human rights!”

Lowell, appearing in behalf of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry, the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews, and the Committee of Concerned Scientists, was accompanied by Sister Margaret Traxler, co-chairwoman of the National Interreligious Task Force on Soviet Jewry, and by Prof. Seymour M. Lipset of Harvard University, a member of the executive committee of the Academic Committee on Soviet Jewry.

HARASSMENT OF JEWS CITED

Lowell took issue with a statement by Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger in his recent testimony before the same committee. The Secretary had asserted that passage of the freedom of emigration legislation would bring about the termination of Soviet Jewish emigration. Lowell asserted that this is “questionable” and “carried the danger of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.” In documenting the case for aiding Soviet Jews, Lowell outlined the continued harassment of Jews Lowell outlined the continued harassment of Jews applying to emigrate. He denied the accuracy of Soviet “statistics” that 95 percent of all Soviet citizens who apply to emigrate are permitted to do so, pointing out that if this were so “then the Soviet Union need have no objections to the Jackson Amendment since it would not apply to them,”

Lowell stressed that there had been no fundamental change in the emigration situation, despite Soviet claims, noting the 30 percent slash in Jewish emigration in the first quarter of this year He stated that, although no one knew exactly how many Soviet Jews would leave if prevailing conditions were alleviated, there are more than 120,000 applications which have not been acted upon, and a “hard core” list of 1600 cases representing repeatedly denied cases.

Describing in detail the arduous application process, and the economic and social censure to which Soviet Jews are subjected when they apply to emigrate, Lowell noted that “despite the stigmatization, the intimidation, the arrests and the threat of imprisonment, and with no certainty on the part of the applicant whether a visa will be issued, applications continue at an undiminished rate.” Lowell cited commonly accepted international standards on the Right to Leave, as well as historical precedents for American involvement. He expressed pride “that the Congress is taking a leadership role in upholding the long standing American commitment to human rights, and urged favorable action on the legislation.”