A Soviet trade official said here today that the USSR will carry out its contracts with American companies regardless of whether the Jackson Amendment is adopted, but warned that the 78 Senators who sponsor that measure were forcing the Soviet Union to “take a decision to re-orient our (trade) interests to Western Europe” instead of the U.S.
Nikolay S. Patolichev, the Soviet Foreign Trade Minister, speaking to reporters here, added, “It is for you to judge if this corresponds to the interests of the American people.” He said that the credit facilities for the Soviet Union that the Jackson Amendment would bar unless there is a relaxation of Soviet emigration policies were an integral part of doing business in the world. “This is a common practice,” he said.
Patolichev appeared at a press conference held under the auspices of the U.S.-USSR Trade and Economic Council which was established, last year after the Brezhnev-Nixon summit meeting in Washington. He disclosed that the Soviet Union presently holds 103 contracts with American firms worth $360 million and indicated that his trade delegation was going after more during its current U.S. tour.
JACKSON SUPPORTERS RAPPED
The group of 26 high-ranking Soviet trade officials will be the guests of President Nixon at a White House dinner tonight and will breakfast tomorrow with members of the Senate Finance Committee before embarking on an 11-city U.S. tour for meetings with American businessmen. The Senate Finance Committee will begin hearings March 4 on the Trade Reform Bill that embodies the Jackson Amendment.
Donald M. Kendall, chairman of the Pepsico Corp. which has contracts with the USSR for its soft drink, Pepsi Cola and Russian vodka, remarked at the press conference, “Fortunately the U.S. Senate does not decide if we give credit to the Soviet, Union.” He did not make it clear whether he was referring to private American companies or the U.S. government. Patolichey remarked that the Senators who support the Jackson Amendment were thinking in ways typical of the past.
The Madison Hotel where the press conference was held was picketed by members of the Washington Jewish Community Council who carried signs reading. “East-West Trade Yes, Blackmail of Soviet Jews No.” Asked by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency how he reconciled the protests with a statement by the U.S.-USSR Council referring to a “climate of mutual trust and understanding.” Patolichev replied by saying that he had many friends of Jewish origin.
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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.
