Sixty Senators Introduce Resolution in Senate on Soviet Jewry

Fifty-nine U.S. Senators joined with Senator Abraham Ribicoff, Dem., Conn., today in a resolution condemning the Soviet Union for discrimination against Jews. They appealed to the Soviet Union “in the name of decency and humanity” to cease executing persons for alleged economic offenses. They also asked the Soviet Government to fully permit freedom of religion for Jews–and all others–within its borders.

In the Ribicoff resolution, Senators from both political parties and from all sections of the country declared there is now “abundant evidence” that the Soviet Government was persecuting Jewish citizens. The resolution specifically condemned Russia for singling out Jews for extreme punishment for alleged economic offenses, confiscating synagogues, closing Jewish cemeteries, arresting rabbis and lay religious leaders and curtailing religious observances.

It also protested the practice of discriminating against Jews in cultural activities and access to higher education, imposing restrictions that prevent the reuniting of Jews with their families in other countries, and–through other acts, –oppressing Jews from freely exercising their faith.

By responding to their resolution, the Senators said, the Soviet Union now has “a clear opportunity to match the words of its constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion with specific action. ” They affirmed their deep belief in freedom of religion for all people and their opposition to infringement of this freedom anywhere in the world. The resolution was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

SEN. RIBICOFF SAYS JEWS ARE CHIEF VICTIMS OF PERSECUTION IN RUSSIA

In introducing this resolution on the floor of the Senate, Sen. Ribicoff said: “Today–the day after the United States Senate gave its advice and consent to the limited nuclear test ban treaty–the world looks with renewed strength and spirit toward the prospect of peace. It looks with renewed strength and spirit toward the day when all men will enjoy the basic freedoms.

“Yet even today, as we look and work towards this goal, freedom of religion is trampled by one of the principal parties to a treaty which has given new hope to the world. In the Soviet Union, the free exercises of religion in any meaningful sense has been denied to everyone. But today the chief victims of religious persecution are the Jews. “

The list of the co-sponsoring Senators follows:

Gordon Allott, R., Colo.; Clinton P. Anderson, D. N Mex.; E. L. Bartlett, D. Alas.; Birch E. Bayh, D., Ind.; J. Glenn Beall, R., Md.; J. Caleb Boggs, R.Del. ; Daniel Brewster, D., Md.; Clinton N. Burdick, D., N. D.; Clifford Case, R., N. J.; Frank Church, D. Ida.; Joseph Clark, D. Penn.; John S. Cooper, R. Ky.; Norris Cotton, R. N.H.; Thomas J. Dodd, D. Conn.; Peter Dominick, R. Colo.; Paul Douglas, D. Ill.; J. Howard Edmonson, D. Okla.

Also Barry Goldwater, R. Ariz.; Ernest Gruening, D. Alas.; Philip A. Hart, D. Mich.; R. Vance Hartke, D. Ind.; Spessard L. Holland, D. Fla.; Hubert Humphrey, D. Minn.; Daniel K. Inouye, D. Hawaii; Henry M. Jackson, D. Wash. Jacob K. Javits, R. N. Y.; Len B. Jordan, R. Ida.; Kenneth B. Keating, R. N. Y.; Edward M. Kennedy, D. Mass.; Thomas H. Kuchel, R. Cal.; J. Frank Lausche, D. Ohio; Warren Magnuson, D. Wash.; Eugene McCarthy, D. Minn.; George McGovern, D. S.D.; Thomas J. McIntyre, D. N. H.; Patrick McNamara, D. Mich.; Lee Metcalfe, D. Mont.; Mike Monroney, D. Okla.

Also Wayne Morse, D. Ore.; Thruston Morton, R. Ky.; Frank E. Moss, D. Utah; Karl Mundt, R. S. D.; Gaylord Nelson, D. Wis.; Mrs. Maureen Neuberger, D. Ore.; John O. Pastore, D. R.I.; Claiborne Pell, D. R.I.; William Proxmire, D. Wis.; Jennings Randolph, D. W. Va.; Leverett Saltonstall, R. Mass.; Hugh Scott, R. Penna.; Milward L. Simpson, R. Wyo.; George A. Smathers, D. Fla.; Stuart Symington, D.Mo.; Strom Thurmond, D. S. Caro.;John G. Tower, R. Texas; Herbert Walters, D. Tenn.; Harrison Williams, Jr. D. N. J.; Ralph Yarborough, D. Texas; and Stephen M. Young, D. Ohio.