Gromyko on Friday. it is important that Mr. Gromyko also be aware that the Members of Congress are concerned about the plight of Soviet Jews. Although there are many issues involving the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union. it is my belief that the virtual shutdown of emigration is the most significant issue and a reasonable surrogate for the other difficulties facing people of the Jewish faith in the Soviet Union. From 1975 through 1979 there was a steady increase in Jewish emigration. From 1979 to 1980 there was a drop from over 51.000 to 21.472. The rate in 1984 has been less than 100 per month. This precipitous drop has caused incalculable suffering for the individuals involved. It is my hope that Mr. Gromyko will urge a change in the restrictive policies which have shut off emigration. It is my hope that he will respond to the perception that the Jews are somehow being held hostage to issues over which they exercise no control. People have for too long been used as pawns in games in which they are really not the players.
Keywords matched
emigration