Silent Diplomacy Not Enough ZOA Asks Nixon to ‘openly and Vigorously’ Demand End of Exit Tax

The National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization of America urged President Nixon today not to rely on “silent diplomacy” as “the only instrument of administration policy where the rights of Soviet Jews are concerned.” The statement, adopted by the Committee was introduced by Herman L. Weisman, national president of ZOA, who has been identified in recent weeks as one of the Jewish leaders supporting the re-election of Nixon.

The statement called on the President to “openly and vigorously” demand “the immediate withdrawal of the unjust exit tax” imposed by Soviet authorities on educated Jews seeking to emigrate. The statement noted that the US Senate has overwhelmingly indicated it will not approve the pending US-Soviet trade treaty unless the exit tax is rescinded.

“The President thus has the right–and indeed the duty–to regard the overwhelming Senate vote as an expression of American public opinion to demand retraction of the exit tax now,” the ZOA statement said. It affirmed the ZOA “valued what the President has attempted to do through the medium of silent diplomacy.” But it observed, “We believe the Soviet Union will not be surprised if President Nixon puts up a fight on this issue since it is known that the President needs the consent of the Senate to enact the trade treaty.”