Soviet Decision to Permit Exceptions to Exit Fees Not Reversal of Policy

The Soviet decision so far to permit exceptions to the exit fees seem clearly just that and not a reversal of policy, the Labor Zionist Alliance stated in a resolution by its national executive committee meeting here this weekend. “Furthermore,” the resolution noted that the “timing of these actions indicates that they are intended to mollify American public opinion because of, and until, the Nov. 7 elections, or until Congress ratifies the most favored nation provision of the trade agreements.”

“For American Jews, for Soviet Jews and for all our friends throughout the world, nothing fundamental has changed” in Soviet policy toward Jewish emigration and that “even if the ransom is completely removed, the basic restriction on free emigration of Soviet Jews remain.” the LZA resolution stated.

The Labor Zionists said that the clear consensus of Congress, as manifested by the overwhelming bipartisan support of the Jackson amendment and the Vanick amendment, that the US should not consider most favored nation status for a nation which trades in human beings, was a crucial factor in bringing about this temporary respite, as were the sharp protests of scientists and intellectuals, Jewish and non-Jewish.”

The forces which mobilized “so effectively” in the past few months must not be misled by the “clever and devious actions of the Soviet Union,” the resolution added. It urged world public opinion to concern itself with the Soviet denial of the right of people to leave their place of birth without undue harassment, penalty or difficulty “until the present Soviet emigration policy, in all its forms, is finally rescinded.”