/LMAR=0/XLINE=10/USET=37


␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ β[PARTICIPATION OF A WOULD-BE EMIGRANT IN A SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ πqIN THE SOVIET UNION




␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        At␈α∃the␈α∃Fourth␈α∃International␈α∃Joint␈α∃Conference␈α∃on␈α∃Artificial␈α∃Intelligence␈α∃(IJCAI),␈α∃held␈α∃in
␈↓ α,␈↓Tbilisi,␈α⊗USSR␈α⊗from␈α⊗3␈α⊗to␈α⊗8␈α⊗September␈α⊗1975,␈α⊗Alexander␈α⊗Y.␈α⊗ Lerner,␈α⊗a␈α⊗cyberneticist␈α⊗who␈α⊗had
␈↓ α,␈↓declared␈α⊃his␈α⊃intention␈α⊃to␈α⊃emigrate␈α⊃from␈α⊃the␈α⊂USSR␈α⊃to␈α⊃Israel␈α⊃four␈α⊃years␈α⊃previously,␈α⊃participated
␈↓ α,␈↓without␈α!incident␈α!in␈α!a␈α!panel␈α!discussion␈α!entitled␈α!"Artificial␈α!Intelligence,␈α!Cybernetics␈α!and
␈↓ α,␈↓Mathematics".␈α∀ Since␈α∀this␈α∀was␈α∀the␈α∀first␈α∪time␈α∀that␈α∀a␈α∀scientist␈α∀refused␈α∀permission␈α∀to␈α∀emigrate
␈↓ α,␈↓was␈α∂permitted␈α∂to␈α∂take␈α∂part␈α∂in␈α∂a␈α∂scientific␈α∂meeting␈α∂in␈α∂the␈α∂Soviet␈α∂Union,␈α∂there␈α∂has␈α∂been␈α∂curiosity
␈↓ α,␈↓about␈α∞how␈α∞this␈α∞came␈α∞about,␈α∞and␈α∞whether␈α∞a␈α∞more␈α∞humane␈α∞Soviet␈α∞policy␈α∞more␈α∞in␈α∞keeping␈α∞with␈α∞the
␈↓ α,␈↓customary openness of scientific meetings can now be expected.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        ␈↓↓Artificial␈α~intelligence␈↓␈α~is␈α~the␈α~study␈α~of␈α~intellectual␈α~processes␈α~with␈α~emphasis␈α~on␈α~how
␈↓ α,␈↓computers␈α∀can␈α∀be␈α∀made␈α∀to␈α∀carry␈α∀them␈α∀out.␈α∀ The␈α∀IJCAIs␈α∀(conferences)␈α∀have␈α∀been␈α∀held␈α∀every
␈↓ α,␈↓two␈α∞years␈α∞since␈α∞1969␈α∞in␈α∞Washington␈α∞D.C.,␈α∞London,␈α∞Stanford␈α∞California,␈α∞and␈α∞Tbilisi␈α∞USSR.␈α∞ Each
␈↓ α,␈↓meeting␈α∞has␈α∞had␈α∞several␈α∞hundred␈α∞attendees␈α∞-␈α∞about␈α∞half␈α∞Americans,␈α∞since␈α∞most␈α∞research␈α∞in␈α∞AI␈α∞is
␈↓ α,␈↓American.␈α⊃ The␈α⊃IJCAI␈α⊃(committee)␈α⊃is␈α⊃an␈α⊃informal␈α⊃organization␈α⊃of␈α⊃individuals␈α⊃representing␈α⊃only
␈↓ α,␈↓themselves␈α∃that␈α∃meets␈α∃at␈α∃each␈α∃conference␈α∃to␈α∃select␈α∃one␈α∃or␈α∃two␈α∃individuals␈α∃responsible␈α∃for
␈↓ α,␈↓organizing the next conference.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        At␈α∞the␈α∞Stanford␈α∞conference␈α∞in␈α∞1973,␈α∞a␈α∞delegation␈α∞from␈α∞the␈α∞Council␈α∞of␈α∞Cybernetics␈α∞of␈α∞the
␈↓ α,␈↓USSR␈α⊗invited␈α⊗the␈α⊗Committee␈α⊗to␈α⊗hold␈α⊗the␈α⊗next␈α⊗conference␈α⊗in␈α⊗the␈α⊗USSR␈α⊗at␈α⊗a␈α⊗location␈α⊗to␈α⊗be
␈↓ α,␈↓subsequently␈α≠determined.␈α≠ At␈α≠first,␈α≠there␈α≠was␈α≠considerable␈α≠skepticism␈α≠about␈α≠whether␈α≠the
␈↓ α,␈↓IJCAI's␈α∞informal␈α∞habits␈α∞were␈α∞compatible␈α∞with␈α∞the␈α∞way␈α∞things␈α∞might␈α∞have␈α∞to␈α∞be␈α∞done␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞USSR,
␈↓ α,␈↓but␈α~the␈α~Soviet␈α~delegation␈α~accepted␈α~all␈α~our␈α~proposals␈α~regarding␈α~organization␈α~including␈α~the
␈↓ α,␈↓complete␈α∀authority␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀Program␈α∀Chairman,␈α∀Professor␈α∀Patrick␈α∀Winston␈α∀of␈α∀M.I.T.,␈α∀over␈α∀the
␈↓ α,␈↓program␈α~and␈α~the␈α~overall␈α~authority␈α~of␈α~the␈α~General␈α~Chairman,␈α~Professor␈α~Erik␈α~Sandewall␈α~of
␈↓ α,␈↓Uppsala␈α⊃University␈α⊃(Sweden).␈α⊃ It␈α⊃was␈α⊃agreed␈α⊃that␈α⊃Professor␈α⊃Winston␈α⊃would␈α⊃publish␈α⊃an␈α⊃English
␈↓ α,␈↓language␈α~advance␈α~proceedings␈α~and␈α~that␈α~translations␈α~of␈α~submitted␈α~Soviet␈α~papers␈α~would␈α~be
␈↓ α,␈↓supplied␈α⊂in␈α⊂time␈α⊂for␈α⊂this.␈α⊂ It␈α⊂was␈α⊂agreed␈α⊂that␈α⊂delegates␈α⊂from␈α⊂all␈α⊂countries␈α⊂would␈α⊂be␈α⊂allowed␈α⊂to
␈↓ α,␈↓attend,␈α∞because␈α∞of␈α∞a␈α∞previous␈α∞case␈α∞in␈α∞which␈α∞an␈α∞Israeli␈α∞invited␈α∞to␈α∞a␈α∞conference␈α∞was␈α∞subsequently
␈↓ α,␈↓denied␈α∩a␈α∩visa.␈α∩ No␈α∩issue␈α∩concerning␈α∩the␈α∩attendance␈α∩of␈α∩Soviet␈α∩citizens␈α∩was␈α∩raised.␈α∩ There␈α∩was
␈↓ α,␈↓some␈α∪behind␈α∪the␈α∪scenes␈α∪muttering␈α∪about␈α∪treatment␈α∪of␈α∪dissidents␈α∪and␈α∪problems␈α∪with␈α∪Intourist,
␈↓ α,␈↓but␈α≡after␈α≡an␈α≡initial␈α≥vote␈α≡that␈α≡conferences␈α≡should␈α≡alternate␈α≡between␈α≡North␈α≡America␈α≡and
␈↓ α,␈↓elsewhere, there were 8 votes for the USSR against 3 for Japan and 1 for West Germany.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        An␈α⊂inquiry␈α⊂in␈α⊂Israel␈α⊂established␈α⊂that␈α⊂Israelis␈α⊂received␈α⊂visas␈α⊂for␈α⊂international␈α⊂Conferences
␈↓ α,␈↓held␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞Soviet␈α∞Union,␈α∞although␈α∞when␈α∞an␈α∞Israeli␈α∞working␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞United␈α∞States␈α∞was␈α∞invited␈α∞to␈α∞a
␈↓ α,␈↓Soviet␈α⊂domestic␈α⊂conference␈α⊂(perhaps␈α⊂in␈α⊂the␈α⊂belief␈α⊂that␈α⊂he␈α⊂was␈α⊂an␈α⊂American),␈α⊂no␈α⊂visa␈α⊂could␈α⊂be
␈↓ α,␈↓obtained.  (This raises questions for people receiving such invitations).

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        About␈α≤a␈α≤year␈α≤before␈α≠the␈α≤Conference,␈α≤Professor␈α≤Jack␈α≤Minker␈α≤of␈α≤the␈α≤University␈α≤of
␈↓ α,␈↓Maryland␈α⊃and␈α⊃the␈α⊃Union␈α⊃of␈α⊃Concerned␈α⊃Scientists␈α⊃(They␈α⊃are␈α⊃concerned␈α⊃about␈α⊃Soviet␈α⊃treatment
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ 	72␈↓ ⊂\


␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓of␈α_dissidents␈α_and␈α_would-be␈α_emigrants),␈α_proposed␈α_that␈α_the␈α_Conference␈α_be␈α_moved␈α_from␈α_the
␈↓ α,␈↓Soviet␈α∃Union␈α∃because␈α∃of␈α∃the␈α∃ill␈α∃treatment␈α∃of␈α∃these␈α∃people.␈α∃ The␈α∃organizers␈α∃declined␈α∃on␈α∃the
␈↓ α,␈↓grounds␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂state␈α⊂of␈α⊂these␈α⊂issues␈α⊂had␈α⊂not␈α⊂changed␈α⊂since␈α⊂the␈α⊂decision␈α⊂to␈α⊂hold␈α⊂the␈α⊂meeting
␈↓ α,␈↓in␈α⊃the␈α⊃USSR.␈α⊃ Professor␈α⊃Minker␈α⊃pursued␈α⊃this␈α⊂goal␈α⊃with␈α⊃a␈α⊃letter␈α⊃to␈α⊃the␈α⊃SIGART␈α⊃newsletter,␈α⊃and
␈↓ α,␈↓an␈α↔ad␈α↔hoc␈α↔meeting␈α↔held␈α↔in␈α↔connection␈α↔with␈α↔the␈α↔ACM␈α↔meeting␈α↔in␈α↔San␈α↔Diego␈α↔voted␈α↔31-0␈α↔to
␈↓ α,␈↓propose␈α∪moving␈α∪the␈α∪meeting,␈α∪but␈α∪the␈α∪organizers␈α∪didn't␈α∪change␈α∪their␈α∪position.␈α∪ (SIGART␈α∪is␈α∪the
␈↓ α,␈↓Special␈α∪Interest␈α∪Group␈α∪on␈α∪Artificial␈α∪Intelligence␈α∪of␈α∪the␈α∪Association␈α∪for␈α∪Computing␈α∪Machinery
␈↓ α,␈↓(ACM),␈α⊂and␈α⊂most␈α⊂researchers␈α⊂in␈α⊂artificial␈α⊂intelligence␈α⊂belong␈α⊂to␈α⊂SIGART,␈α⊂but␈α⊂the␈α⊂IJCAI␈α⊂has␈α⊂no
␈↓ α,␈↓official connection with it).

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        Then␈α≤Professor␈α≤Minker␈α≤proposed␈α≤to␈α≤organize␈α≤a␈α≤panel␈α≤on␈α≤Artificial␈α≤Intelligence␈α≤and
␈↓ α,␈↓Cybernetics␈α⊃for␈α⊃the␈α⊃meeting␈α⊃and␈α⊃to␈α⊃invite␈α⊃Dr.␈α⊃Alexander␈α⊃Lerner␈α⊃of␈α⊃Moscow␈α⊃to␈α⊃take␈α⊃part.␈α⊃ Dr.
␈↓ α,␈↓Lerner␈α⊂had␈α⊂been␈α⊂employed␈α⊂by␈α⊂the␈α⊂Institute␈α⊂of␈α⊂Problems␈α⊂of␈α⊂Control␈α⊂in␈α⊂Moscow␈α⊂until␈α⊂he␈α⊂tried␈α⊂to
␈↓ α,␈↓emigrate␈α→in␈α→1971␈α→and␈α→was␈α→rather␈α→prominent␈α→in␈α→Soviet␈α→cybernetics␈α→and␈α→held␈α→many␈α→official
␈↓ α,␈↓positions.␈α⊂ In␈α⊂1971␈α⊂he␈α⊂was␈α⊂fired,␈α⊂remained␈α⊂unemployed,␈α⊂and␈α⊂had␈α⊂his␈α⊂name␈α⊂removed␈α⊂from␈α⊂a␈α⊂new
␈↓ α,␈↓edition␈α⊂of␈α⊂his␈α⊂book.␈α⊂ He␈α⊂is␈α⊂one␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂more␈α⊂prominent␈α⊂␈↓↓refuseniks␈↓␈α⊂and␈α⊂has␈α⊂been␈α⊂interviewed␈α⊂by
␈↓ α,␈↓foreign newspapers and visiting U.S. Senators and Representatives.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        Several␈α≥people␈α≥accepted␈α≥Minker's␈α≥invitation␈α≥to␈α≥be␈α≥on␈α≥the␈α≥panel,␈α≥and␈α≥the␈α≥Program
␈↓ α,␈↓Chairman␈α⊂accepted␈α⊂the␈α⊂panel␈α⊂for␈α⊂the␈α⊂program␈α⊂on␈α⊂determining␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂panel␈α⊂topic␈α⊂was␈α⊂suitable
␈↓ α,␈↓for␈α⊂the␈α⊂conference␈α⊂and␈α⊂that␈α⊂Minker␈α⊂was␈α⊂qualified␈α⊂to␈α⊂organize␈α⊂it,␈α⊂i.e.␈α⊂without␈α⊂giving␈α⊂any␈α⊂weight
␈↓ α,␈↓to␈α⊃conjectures␈α⊃about␈α⊃motivation.␈α⊃ In␈α⊃April␈α⊃1975␈α⊂three␈α⊃Soviet␈α⊃scientists␈α⊃who␈α⊃came␈α⊃to␈α⊃M.I.T.␈α⊃to
␈↓ α,␈↓discuss␈α!the␈α!program␈α!expressed␈α!their␈α!surprise␈α!that␈α!someone␈α!who␈α!opposed␈α!the␈α!agreed
␈↓ α,␈↓arrangements␈α⊂for␈α⊂the␈α⊂meeting␈α⊂should␈α⊂chair␈α⊂a␈α∂panel.␈α⊂ In␈α⊂deference␈α⊂to␈α⊂their␈α⊂position,␈α⊂Minker␈α⊂was
␈↓ α,␈↓persuaded␈α≤give␈α≤up␈α≤being␈α≤chairman␈α≤of␈α≤the␈α≤panel,␈α≤and␈α≤it␈α≤was␈α≤agreed␈α≤that␈α≤Professor␈α≤John
␈↓ α,␈↓McCarthy␈α⊃of␈α⊃Stanford␈α⊃University,␈α⊃who␈α⊃had␈α⊃accepted␈α⊃membership␈α⊃in␈α⊃the␈α⊃panel,␈α⊃would␈α⊃be␈α⊃asked
␈↓ α,␈↓to␈α∪be␈α∪co-chairman␈α∪with␈α∪a␈α∪Soviet␈α∪scientist␈α∪subsequently␈α∪to␈α∪be␈α∪appointed.␈α∪ The␈α∪sense␈α∪in␈α∪which
␈↓ α,␈↓the␈α∞Soviet␈α∞scientists␈α∞agreed␈α∞to␈α∞Lerner's␈α∞participation␈α∞-␈α∞whether␈α∞they␈α∞said␈α∞only␈α∞that␈α∞they␈α∞had␈α∞no
␈↓ α,␈↓personal objections or whether they committed the Soviet Council on Cybernetics - is unclear.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        In␈α~May␈α~the␈α~␈↓↓New␈α~York␈α~Times␈↓␈α~reported␈α~that␈α~Lerner␈α~was␈α~told␈α~by␈α~the␈α~KGB␈α~(a␈α~Soviet
␈↓ α,␈↓organization␈α∀combining␈α∀the␈α∀functions␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀FBI␈α∀and␈α∀CIA␈α∀with␈α∀political␈α∀control␈α∀functions␈α∀not
␈↓ α,␈↓carried␈α∪out␈α∪in␈α∪the␈α∪U.S.)␈α∪that␈α∪he␈α∪would␈α∪not␈α∪be␈α∪allowed␈α∪to␈α∪go␈α∪to␈α∪Tbilisi␈α∪and␈α∪participate␈α∪in␈α∪the
␈↓ α,␈↓conference.␈α∂ This␈α∂caused␈α∂Minker␈α∂to␈α∂renew␈α∂his␈α∂campaign␈α∂to␈α∂move␈α∂the␈α∂conference␈α∂with␈α∂a␈α∂mailing
␈↓ α,␈↓to␈α∀the␈α∀members␈α∀of␈α∀SIGART␈α∀getting␈α∀about␈α∀500␈α∀cards␈α∀supporting␈α∀his␈α∀position.␈α∀ The␈α∀Organizing
␈↓ α,␈↓Committee␈α⊂members␈α⊂agreed␈α⊂by␈α⊂telephone␈α⊂to␈α⊂send␈α⊂a␈α⊂letter␈α⊂to␈α⊂the␈α⊂Soviet␈α⊂Organizing␈α⊂Committee
␈↓ α,␈↓stating␈α∩that␈α∩we␈α∩took␈α∩the␈α∩issue␈α∩of␈α∩Lerner's␈α∩right␈α∩to␈α∩attend␈α∩and␈α∩the␈α∩Conference's␈α∩right␈α∩to␈α∩hear
␈↓ α,␈↓him␈α∂very␈α∂seriously␈α∂and␈α∂that␈α∂his␈α∂inclusion␈α∂in␈α∂the␈α∂program␈α∂was␈α∂within␈α∂the␈α∂prerogatives␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂the
␈↓ α,␈↓Program␈α∪Chairman.␈α∪ The␈α∪letter␈α∪went␈α∪on␈α∪to␈α∪say␈α∪that␈α∪there␈α∪would␈α∪be␈α∪a␈α∪"public␈α∪protest"␈α∪at␈α∪the
␈↓ α,␈↓conference␈α⊃if␈α⊃Lerner␈α⊃were␈α⊃not␈α⊃allowed␈α⊃to␈α⊃take␈α⊃part.␈α⊃ The␈α⊃form␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊃protest␈α⊃was␈α⊃not␈α⊃stated,
␈↓ α,␈↓partly␈α⊂for␈α⊂tactical␈α⊂reasons␈α⊂and␈α⊂partly␈α⊂because␈α⊂it␈α⊂would␈α⊂depend␈α⊂on␈α⊂what␈α⊂the␈α⊂participants␈α⊂would
␈↓ α,␈↓want␈α∩to␈α∩do␈α∩at␈α∩the␈α∩time.␈α∩ In␈α∩any␈α∩case,␈α∩it␈α∩was␈α∩planned␈α∩to␈α∩obtain␈α∩a␈α∩tape␈α∩of␈α∩Lerner's␈α∩speech␈α∩and
␈↓ α,␈↓play␈α∂it␈α∂at␈α∂the␈α∂panel,␈α∂but␈α∂additional␈α∂actions␈α∂were␈α∂contemplated.␈α∂ The␈α∂letter␈α∂was␈α∂signed␈α∂by␈α∂all␈α∂but
␈↓ α,␈↓one␈α∪non-Soviet␈α∪member␈α∪of␈α∪the␈α∪Organizing␈α∪Committee;␈α∪he␈α∪was␈α∪not␈α∪informed␈α∪of␈α∪enough␈α∪of␈α∪the
␈↓ α,␈↓background in time to make up his mind.
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ 	73␈↓ ⊂\


␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        A␈α∀letter␈α∀was␈α∀received␈α∀ from␈α∀Professor␈α∀I.␈α∀M.␈α∀Gelfand,␈α∀ who␈α∀was␈α∀appointed␈α∀ Soviet␈α∀co-
␈↓ α,␈↓chairman,␈α≥asking␈α≥about␈α≥ the␈α≥suggested␈α≥content␈α≥of␈α≥the␈α≥panel␈α≥and␈α≥ suggesting␈α≥that␈α≥ good
␈↓ α,␈↓participants␈α∪be␈α∪ obtained.␈α∪  The␈α∪reply␈α∪discussed␈α∪the␈α∪ scientific␈α∪question␈α∪and␈α∪emphasized␈α∪ that
␈↓ α,␈↓part␈α∩of␈α∩the␈α∩  membership␈α∩  of␈α∩ the␈α∩  panel␈α∩  was␈α∩ already␈α∩  determined,␈α∩ that␈α∩participation␈α∩was
␈↓ α,␈↓not␈α↔organized␈α↔ on␈α↔national␈α↔lines␈α↔and␈α↔ that␈α↔McCarthy␈α↔was␈α↔continuing␈α↔ Minker's␈α↔invitation␈α↔to
␈↓ α,␈↓Lerner, and that  the Program Chairman had the final authority.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        No reply was received to either of the above letters.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        When␈α the␈α members␈α of␈α the␈α Organizing␈α Committee␈α arrived␈α in␈α Moscow,␈α the␈α Soviet
␈↓ α,␈↓Committee␈α_had␈α_apparently␈α_still␈α_not␈α_decided␈α_what␈α_to␈α_do␈α_about␈α_the␈α_issue,␈α_except␈α_that␈α_they
␈↓ α,␈↓offered␈α∨several␈α∨arguments␈α∨against␈α∨the␈α∨participation␈α∨of␈α∨Lerner␈α∨in␈α∨the␈α∨panel␈α∨and␈α∨in␈α∨the
␈↓ α,␈↓Conference.␈α⊂ The␈α⊂main␈α⊂argument␈α⊂was␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂Soviet␈α⊂␈↓↓delegation␈↓␈α⊂was␈α⊂made␈α⊂up␈α⊂of␈α⊂the␈α⊂nominees
␈↓ α,␈↓of␈α∂various␈α∂organizations,␈α∂and␈α∂no␈α∂organization␈α∂had␈α∂nominated␈α∂Lerner.␈α∂ The␈α∂reply␈α∂was␈α∂that␈α∂the␈α∂AI
␈↓ α,␈↓Conference␈α⊂was␈α⊂of␈α⊂individuals␈α⊂not␈α⊂delegates,␈α⊂and␈α⊂his␈α⊂registration␈α⊂for␈α⊂the␈α⊂Conference␈α⊂had␈α⊂been
␈↓ α,␈↓accepted and he had been invited to participate in the panel.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        When␈α∀Lerner␈α∀ was␈α∀visited␈α∀in␈α∀ his␈α∀Moscow␈α∀ apartment,␈α∀he␈α∀had␈α∀ a␈α∀tape␈α∀of␈α∀his␈α∀ proposed
␈↓ α,␈↓remarks␈α⊃and␈α⊃an␈α⊃airplane␈α⊃reservation␈α⊃to␈α⊃Tbilisi,␈α⊃but␈α⊃he␈α⊃thought␈α⊃that␈α⊃the␈α⊃KGB␈α⊃might␈α⊃prevent␈α⊃him
␈↓ α,␈↓from␈α↔going␈α↔to␈α↔Tbilisi.␈α↔The␈α↔ ␈↓↓New␈α↔ York␈α↔ Times␈↓␈α↔ correspondent␈α↔Christopher␈α↔ Wren,␈α↔ who␈α↔ had
␈↓ α,␈↓written␈α⊃ the␈α⊃May␈α⊃article␈α⊃about␈α⊃Lerner␈α⊃being␈α⊂ told␈α⊃that␈α⊃he␈α⊃couldn't␈α⊃go␈α⊃to␈α⊃Tbilisi␈α⊃was␈α⊃ contacted
␈↓ α,␈↓and␈α∞expressed␈α∂ journalistic␈α∂interest.␈α∂  The␈α∂U.S.␈α∂ Embassy's␈α∂scientific␈α∞counselor␈α∂ was␈α∂contacted,
␈↓ α,␈↓told  what might happen, and he expressed a desire to be kept informed.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        On␈α∃the␈α∃morning␈α∃when␈α∃the␈α∃conference␈α∃was␈α∃to␈α∃open␈α∃a␈α∃breakfast␈α∃was␈α∃held␈α∃at␈α∃which␈α∃the
␈↓ α,␈↓Georgian␈α∂host,␈α∂Dr␈α∂Chavchanidze,␈α∂Director␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂Institute␈α∂of␈α∂Cybernetics␈α∂in␈α∂Tbilisi,␈α∂proposed␈α∂a
␈↓ α,␈↓compromise.␈α≤ Lerner,␈α≤who␈α≤had␈α≤arrived␈α≤in␈α≤Tbilisi␈α≤without␈α≤incident,␈α≤could␈α≤take␈α≤part␈α≤in␈α≤the
␈↓ α,␈↓Conference␈α∪and␈α∪the␈α∪panel,␈α∪but␈α∪as␈α∪a␈α∪guest␈α∪and␈α∪not␈α∪as␈α∪a␈α∪member␈α∪of␈α∪the␈α∪Soviet␈α∪delegation.␈α∪ In
␈↓ α,␈↓return␈α∃for␈α∃this,␈α∃both␈α∃Lerner␈α∃and␈α∃the␈α∃foreign␈α∃members␈α∃of␈α∃the␈α∃Organizing␈α∃Committee␈α∃were␈α∃to
␈↓ α,␈↓promise␈α∞to␈α∞discourage␈α∞any␈α∞political␈α∞activity␈α∞at␈α∞the␈α∞Conference.␈α∞ Both␈α∞Lerner␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞Organizing
␈↓ α,␈↓Committee were quite satisfied with this.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        Once␈α∞this␈α∂was␈α∂agreed,␈α∂Dr.␈α∂Chavchanidze␈α∂and␈α∂the␈α∞other␈α∂Soviet␈α∂organizers␈α∂acted␈α∂with␈α∂great
␈↓ α,␈↓courtesy␈α∞and␈α∞consideration.␈α∞ Dr.␈α∞Lerner␈α∞was␈α∞greeted␈α∞courteously␈α∞by␈α∞his␈α∞old␈α∞friends,␈α∞his␈α∞request
␈↓ α,␈↓that␈α∂his␈α∂wife␈α∂be␈α∂admitted␈α∂too␈α∂was␈α∂granted␈α∂without␈α∂hesitation,␈α∂and␈α∂a␈α∂prominent␈α∂Soviet␈α∂computer
␈↓ α,␈↓scientist,␈α∃Dr.␈α∃A.P.␈α∃Ershov,␈α∃replaced␈α∃Gelfand,␈α∃who␈α∃was␈α∃ill,␈α∃as␈α∃co-chairman␈α∃of␈α∃the␈α∃panel,␈α∃and
␈↓ α,␈↓another␈α∀prominent␈α∀Soviet␈α∀scientist␈α∀agreed␈α∀to␈α∀participate␈α∀and␈α∀took␈α∀part␈α∀in␈α∀a␈α∀preliminary␈α∀get-
␈↓ α,␈↓together␈α∪of␈α∪the␈α∪panel,␈α∪but␈α∪had␈α∪to␈α∪return␈α∪to␈α∪Moscow␈α∪before␈α∪the␈α∪panel␈α∪took␈α∪place.␈α∪ The␈α∪panel
␈↓ α,␈↓took␈α↔place␈α↔normally␈α↔in␈α↔a␈α↔room␈α↔crowded␈α↔with␈α↔both␈α↔Soviet␈α↔and␈α↔foreign␈α↔participants.␈α↔ It␈α↔was
␈↓ α,␈↓agreed that both sides had lived up to the letter and spirit of the agreement.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        Two␈α⊂other␈α⊂problems␈α⊂should␈α⊂be␈α⊂mentioned,␈α⊂because␈α⊂they␈α⊂interacted␈α⊂with␈α⊂the␈α⊂Lerner␈α⊂issue.
␈↓ α,␈↓The␈α⊂first␈α⊂was␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂one␈α⊂Israeli␈α⊂who␈α⊂tried␈α⊂to␈α⊂come␈α⊂was␈α⊂denied␈α⊂a␈α⊂visa␈α⊂by␈α⊂the␈α⊂Soviet␈α⊂Embassy
␈↓ α,␈↓in␈α∀Washington␈α∀less␈α∀than␈α∀a␈α∀week␈α∀before␈α∀the␈α∀beginning␈α∀of␈α∀the␈α∀meeting.␈α∀ On␈α∀the␈α∀one␈α∀hand,␈α∀the
␈↓ α,␈↓Soviet␈α⊂organizers␈α⊂didn't␈α⊂immediately␈α⊂realize␈α⊂his␈α⊂passport␈α∂was␈α⊂Israeli␈α⊂because␈α⊂he␈α⊂worked␈α⊂in␈α⊂the
␈↓ α,␈↓U.S.␈α≡ On␈α≡the␈α≡other␈α≡hand,␈α≡his␈α≡visa␈α≡application␈α≡stated␈α≡clearly␈α≡that␈α≡the␈α≡was␈α≡attending␈α≡an
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ 	74␈↓ ⊂\


␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓international␈α→conference.␈α→ After␈α→the␈α→denial,␈α→telephone␈α→calls␈α→from␈α→the␈α→General␈α→Chairman␈α→to
␈↓ α,␈↓Moscow␈α∪resulted␈α∪in␈α∪an␈α∪assurance␈α∪that␈α∪a␈α∪cable␈α∪had␈α∪been␈α∪sent␈α∪to␈α∪the␈α∪Soviet␈α∪Consulate␈α∪in␈α∪San
␈↓ α,␈↓Francisco␈α∃that␈α∃would␈α∃result␈α∃in␈α∃a␈α∃visa,␈α∃but␈α∃it␈α∃didn't.␈α∃ A␈α∃further␈α∃assurance,␈α∃obtained␈α∃after␈α∃the
␈↓ α,␈↓Organizing␈α⊃Committee␈α⊃arrived␈α⊃in␈α⊃Moscow,␈α⊃that␈α⊃the␈α⊃problem␈α⊃had␈α⊃finally␈α⊃been␈α⊃solved␈α⊃and␈α⊃a␈α⊃visa
␈↓ α,␈↓was␈α⊂available␈α⊂in␈α⊂Vienna␈α⊂was␈α⊂not␈α⊂checked,␈α⊂because␈α⊂the␈α⊂scientist␈α⊂in␈α⊂question␈α⊂decided␈α⊂to␈α⊂give␈α⊂up.
␈↓ α,␈↓This␈α∩issue␈α∩had␈α∩the␈α∩effect␈α∩of␈α∩making␈α∩the␈α∩Western␈α∩scientists␈α∩more␈α∩militant␈α∩on␈α∩the␈α∩Lerner␈α∩issue
␈↓ α,␈↓and␈α→may␈α→have␈α→made␈α→the␈α→Soviets␈α→more␈α→willing␈α→to␈α→make␈α→concessions,␈α→since␈α→they␈α→had␈α→given
␈↓ α,␈↓assurances two years previously that Israelis would have no problems.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        The␈α↔second␈α↔problem␈α↔concerned␈α↔the␈α↔ brothers,␈α↔Issai␈α↔and␈α↔Gregory␈α↔Goldstein␈α↔ of␈α↔Tbilisi,
␈↓ α,␈↓who␈α∃also␈α∃ had␈α∃lost␈α∃their␈α∃ jobs␈α∃for␈α∃ trying␈α∃to␈α∃emigrate␈α∃and␈α∃who␈α∃ also␈α∃wished␈α∃to␈α∃ attend␈α∃the
␈↓ α,␈↓conference.␈α∞ They␈α∞ were␈α∞allowed␈α∞to␈α∞attend␈α∞the␈α∞panel␈α∞involving␈α∞ Lerner␈α∞where␈α∞one␈α∞of␈α∞them␈α∞asked
␈↓ α,␈↓a␈α⊃ question␈α⊃identifying␈α⊃ himself␈α⊃as␈α⊃from␈α⊃ the␈α⊃State␈α⊃ of␈α⊃Israel,␈α⊃which␈α⊃caused␈α⊃no␈α⊃reaction␈α⊃at␈α⊃the
␈↓ α,␈↓time.␈α∩ According␈α∩to␈α∩their␈α∩report,␈α∩they␈α∩were␈α∩picked␈α∩up␈α∩the␈α∩next␈α∩day␈α∩by␈α∩the␈α∩KGB␈α∩and␈α∩told␈α∩that
␈↓ α,␈↓they␈α⊂had␈α⊂been␈α⊂invited␈α⊂by␈α⊂the␈α⊂Americans␈α⊂which␈α⊂was␈α⊂improper␈α⊂and␈α⊂compelled␈α⊂on␈α⊂threat␈α⊂of␈α⊂arrest
␈↓ α,␈↓to␈α~promise␈α~not␈α~to␈α→ return␈α~to␈α~the␈α~Conference␈α~unless␈α~ properly␈α~invited.␈α~ This␈α~caused␈α~some
␈↓ α,␈↓Conference␈α∨attendees␈α∨to␈α∨propose␈α∨moving␈α∨a␈α∨session␈α∨to␈α∨their␈α∨home,␈α∨but␈α∨the␈α∨Organizing
␈↓ α,␈↓Committee␈α⊃declined␈α⊃to␈α⊃do␈α⊃this␈α⊃on␈α⊃ the␈α⊃grounds␈α⊃that␈α⊃our␈α⊃agreement␈α⊃concerned␈α⊃ Lerner␈α⊃and␈α⊃had
␈↓ α,␈↓been␈α_adhered␈α_to,␈α_but␈α_we␈α_ stated␈α_that␈α_the␈α_psychological␈α_atmosphere␈α_would␈α_be␈α_improved␈α_if
␈↓ α,␈↓something␈α∂could␈α∂be␈α∂done␈α∂for␈α∂the␈α∂Goldsteins.␈α∂  Dr.␈α∂Chavchanidze␈α∂stated␈α∂that␈α∂he␈α∂had␈α∂been␈α∂unable
␈↓ α,␈↓to␈α_contact␈α_anyone␈α_in␈α_authority,␈α_but␈α_that␈α_the␈α_Goldstein's␈α_could␈α_ come␈α_ as␈α_far␈α_ as␈α_ he␈α_was
␈↓ α,␈↓concerned␈α∞ provided␈α∞they␈α∞"behaved␈α∞themselves",␈α∞but␈α∞he␈α∞couldn't␈α∞ guarantee␈α∞what␈α∞the␈α∞authorities
␈↓ α,␈↓would␈α⊂do.␈α⊂  This␈α⊂was␈α⊂Saturday␈α⊂and␈α⊂the␈α⊂Goldstein's␈α⊂attended␈α⊂the␈α⊂Monday␈α⊂morning␈α⊂session␈α⊂after
␈↓ α,␈↓which␈α∩they␈α∩ were␈α∩again␈α∩picked␈α∩up␈α∩and␈α∩told␈α∩ they␈α∩couldn't␈α∩come␈α∩no␈α∩ matter␈α∩what␈α∩anyone␈α∩said.
␈↓ α,␈↓The Conference concluded Monday afternoon in an atmosphere of mutual good will.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        Here␈α⊃are␈α⊃some␈α⊃conclusions␈α⊃that␈α⊃we␈α⊃have␈α⊃drawn␈α⊃from␈α⊃this␈α⊃affair,␈α⊃but␈α⊃we␈α⊃must␈α⊃emphasize
␈↓ α,␈↓that they are all tentative:

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        1.␈α!Sometimes␈α!foreign␈α!pressure␈α!can␈α!get␈α!Soviet␈α!organizations␈α!to␈α!behave␈α!more␈α!in
␈↓ α,␈↓accordance␈α_with␈α_international␈α_scientific␈α_and␈α_humanitarian␈α_norms␈α_than␈α_they␈α_will␈α_without␈α_the
␈↓ α,␈↓pressure.  Success in any instance cannot be predicted in advance of trying.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        2.␈α∂It␈α∂was␈α∂important␈α∂that␈α∂the␈α∂Organizing␈α∂Committee␈α∂itself␈α∂took␈α∂a␈α∂stand.␈α∂ The␈α∂delegation␈α∂of
␈↓ α,␈↓authority␈α∞to␈α∞the␈α∞General␈α∞Chairman␈α∞and␈α∞the␈α∞Program␈α∞Chairman␈α∞helped,␈α∞because␈α∞they␈α∞could␈α∞act␈α∞on
␈↓ α,␈↓what␈α∂they␈α∂felt␈α∂was␈α∂the␈α∂consensus␈α∂rather␈α∂than␈α∂wait␈α∂for␈α∂formal␈α∂meetings.␈α∂ There␈α∂is␈α∂evidence␈α∂that
␈↓ α,␈↓our␈α⊂unified␈α⊂willingness␈α⊂to␈α⊂go␈α⊂as␈α⊂far␈α⊂as␈α⊂a␈α⊂demonstration␈α⊂if␈α⊂necessary,␈α⊂combined␈α⊂with␈α⊂an␈α⊂equally
␈↓ α,␈↓unified desire to avoid all incident if a limited objective was achieved, was decisive.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        3.␈α∩The␈α∩IJCAI␈α∩involved␈α∩a␈α∩number␈α∩of␈α∩circumstances␈α∩that␈α∩will␈α∩not␈α∩recur.␈α∩ Thus␈α∩it␈α∩may␈α∩have
␈↓ α,␈↓been␈α~easier␈α~for␈α~the␈α~Soviets␈α~to␈α~make␈α~concessions␈α~to␈α~the␈α~Organizing␈α~Committee␈α~that␈α~had
␈↓ α,␈↓resisted␈α∂attempts␈α∂to␈α∂move␈α∂the␈α∂Conference␈α∂from␈α∂the␈α∂Soviet␈α∂Union.␈α∂ The␈α∂fact␈α∂that␈α∂the␈α∂Organizing
␈↓ α,␈↓Committee␈α⊗had␈α⊗to␈α⊗fight␈α⊗to␈α⊗keep␈α⊗the␈α⊗meeting␈α⊗in␈α⊗the␈α⊗Soviet␈α⊗Union␈α⊗is␈α⊗a␈α⊗symptom␈α⊗of␈α⊗growing
␈↓ α,␈↓Western␈α⊗impatience␈α⊗with␈α⊗the␈α⊗way␈α⊗the␈α⊗Soviets␈α⊗conduct␈α⊗international␈α⊗scientific␈α⊗relations␈α⊗and
␈↓ α,␈↓with their treatment of their own nonconformists.
␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ 	75␈↓ ⊂\


␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        4.␈α∞No␈α∞person␈α∞on␈α∞the␈α∞Soviet␈α∞side␈α∞expressed␈α∞personal␈α∞objection␈α∞to␈α∞Lerner,␈α∞but␈α∞none,␈α∞so␈α∞far
␈↓ α,␈↓as␈α↔we␈α↔know,␈α↔took␈α↔independent␈α↔action␈α↔on␈α↔his␈α↔behalf.␈α↔ We␈α↔think␈α↔it␈α↔was␈α↔easier␈α↔for␈α↔them␈α↔to
␈↓ α,␈↓advocate␈α∃concessions␈α∃to␈α∃a␈α∃foreign␈α∃viewpoint␈α∃than␈α∃to␈α∃express␈α∃personal␈α∃agreement␈α∃with␈α∃that
␈↓ α,␈↓viewpoint.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        5.␈α∩It␈α∩was␈α∩never␈α∩clear␈α∩who␈α∩made␈α∩the␈α∩final␈α∩Soviet␈α∩decision␈α∩or␈α∩on␈α∩what␈α∩level␈α∩the␈α∩decision
␈↓ α,␈↓was␈α∞made,␈α∞though␈α∞we␈α∞were␈α∞told␈α∞that␈α∞the␈α∞matter␈α∞was␈α∞discussed␈α∞in␈α∞the␈α∞Presidium␈α∞of␈α∞the␈α∞Academy
␈↓ α,␈↓of␈α Sciences.␈α  According␈α to␈α the␈α model␈α of␈α maximum␈α avoidance␈α of␈α responsibility,␈α higher
␈↓ α,␈↓authorities␈α⊗might␈α⊗have␈α⊗told␈α⊗the␈α⊗lower␈α⊗levels␈α⊗to␈α⊗optimize␈α⊗several␈α⊗variables␈α⊗simultaneously␈α⊗-
␈↓ α,␈↓effectively␈α∪leaving␈α∪to␈α∪the␈α∪lower␈α∪level␈α∪the␈α∪decision␈α∪of␈α∪what␈α∪to␈α∪do␈α∪when␈α∪it␈α∪became␈α∪clear␈α∪that
␈↓ α,␈↓simultaneous␈α∂optimization␈α∂was␈α∂impossible.␈α∂ This␈α∂model␈α∂is␈α∂supported␈α∂by␈α∂the␈α∂fact␈α∂that␈α∂if␈α∂"loss␈α∂of
␈↓ α,␈↓face"␈α⊂was␈α⊂a␈α⊂consideration␈α⊂-␈α⊂and␈α⊂several␈α⊂Soviets␈α⊂said␈α⊂it␈α⊂was␈α⊂-␈α⊂then␈α⊂less␈α⊂face␈α⊂would␈α⊂have␈α⊂been
␈↓ α,␈↓lost by making the same decisions earlier.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        6.␈α~In␈α~our␈α~opinion,␈α~the␈α~motivations␈α~of␈α~individuals␈α~and␈α~the␈α~local␈α~conditions␈α~played␈α~an
␈↓ α,␈↓important role, but we have not reported our conjectures about this.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        7.␈α~ Many␈α~  of␈α~ us␈α~  are␈α~ still␈α~  uncertain␈α~ how␈α~ to␈α~  balance␈α~considerations␈α~ of␈α~non-
␈↓ α,␈↓interference␈α$in␈α$another␈α# country's␈α$affairs␈α$and␈α$not␈α$mixing␈α$politics␈α$ with␈α$science␈α$with
␈↓ α,␈↓considerations␈α'of␈α'the␈α' proper␈α'conduct␈α'of␈α'scientific␈α'meetings␈α'and␈α'with␈α'humanitarian
␈↓ α,␈↓considerations.␈α∀Soviet␈α∀scientists␈α∀with␈α∀whom␈α∀the␈α∀matter␈α∀was␈α∀discussed␈α∀also␈α∀differed␈α∀in␈α∀their
␈↓ α,␈↓opinions␈α∞of␈α∞whether␈α∞ our␈α∞action␈α∞was␈α∞good,␈α∞bad,␈α∞ or␈α∞irrelevant.␈α∞This␈α∞report␈α∞merely␈α∞tells␈α∞what␈α∞we
␈↓ α,␈↓did and how it turned out.

␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓        8.␈α∂Other␈α∂scientific␈α∂organizations␈α∂may␈α∂resolve␈α∂such␈α∂issues␈α∂differently,␈α∂but␈α∂maintaining␈α∂any
␈↓ α,␈↓but␈α≠a␈α≠purely␈α≠passive␈α≠position␈α≠will␈α≠require␈α≠good␈α≠communications,␈α≠keeping␈α≠the␈α≠Soviet␈α≠side
␈↓ α,␈↓informed,␈α∩and␈α∩a␈α∩way␈α∩of␈α∩making␈α∩prompt␈α∩decisions,␈α∩since␈α∩matters␈α∩may␈α∩go␈α∩better␈α∩or␈α∩worse␈α∩than
␈↓ α,␈↓anticipated.
␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ πlJohn McCarthy
␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ πlArtificial Intelligence Laboratory
␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ πlStanford University
␈↓"∧␈↓ α,␈↓␈↓ πlStanford, California 94305
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