/LMAR=0/XLINE=3/FONT#0=BASL30/FONT#1=BASI30
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ α∂PARTICIPATION OF A WOULD BE EMIGRANT IN A SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ ¬:IN THE SOVIET UNION




␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓USSR␈αfrom␈α
3␈αto␈α8␈α
September␈α1975,␈αAlexander␈α
Y.␈αLerner,␈α
a␈αcyberneticist␈αwho␈α
had␈αdeclared␈αhis␈α
intention
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Soviet␈αUnion,␈α
there␈αhas␈αbeen␈α
curiousity␈αabout␈αhow␈α
this␈αcame␈α
about,␈αand␈αwhether␈α
a␈αmore␈αhumane␈α
policy
␈↓ ↓H␈↓more␈αin␈αkeeping␈α
with␈αthe␈αcustomary␈α
openness␈αof␈αscientific␈α
meetings␈αcan␈αnow␈α
be␈αexpected␈αin␈α
the␈αSoviet
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Union.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        ␈↓↓Artificial␈αintelligence␈↓␈α
is␈αthe␈αstudy␈α
of␈αintellectual␈αprocesses␈α
with␈αemphasis␈αon␈α
how␈αcomputers␈αcan␈α
be
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓hundred␈α∩attendees␈α∩-␈α∩about␈α∩half␈α∩Americans,␈α∩since␈α∩most␈α∩reasearch␈α∩in␈α∩AI␈α∩is␈α∩American.␈α∪ The␈α∩IJCAI
␈↓ ↓H␈↓(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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓conference to select one or two individuals responsible for organizing the next conference.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓determined.␈α At␈αfirst,␈αthere␈αwas␈αconsiderable␈α
skepticisI␈αwas␈αcompatible␈αwith␈αthe␈αway␈αthings␈α
might␈αhave
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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Upsalla
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓advanced␈αproceedings␈αand␈αthat␈αtranslations␈αof␈αSoviet␈αpapers␈αwould␈αbe␈αsupplied␈αin␈αtime␈αfor␈αthis.␈α It␈αwas
␈↓ ↓H␈↓agreed␈αthat␈αdelegates␈α
from␈αall␈αcountries␈α
would␈αbe␈αallowed␈αto␈α
attend,␈αbecause␈αof␈α
a␈αprevious␈αcase␈αin␈α
which
␈↓ ↓H␈↓an␈α
Israeli␈α
invited␈α
to␈α
a␈α
conference␈α
was␈αsubsequently␈α
denied␈α
a␈α
visa.␈α
 No␈α
issue␈α
concerning␈α
the␈αattendance␈α
of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓America and elsewhere, there were 8 votes for the USSR against 3 for Japan and 1 for West Germany.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        An␈αinquiry␈αestablished␈αthat␈αIsraelis␈αwere␈α
admitted␈αto␈αInternational␈αConferences␈αheld␈αin␈αthe␈α
Soviet
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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.␈α∞ (This␈α
raises
␈↓ ↓H␈↓some questions for people receiving such invitations).

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        About␈αa␈αyear␈αbefore␈αthe␈αConference,␈αProfessor␈αJack␈αMinker␈αof␈αthe␈αUnion␈αof␈αConcerned␈αScientists
␈↓ ↓H␈↓(They␈α∞are␈α
concerned␈α∞about␈α∞Soviet␈α
treatment␈α∞of␈α
dissidents␈α∞and␈α∞would-be␈α
emigrants),␈α∞proposed␈α∞that␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓newsletter,␈α
and␈α
an␈α∞ad␈α
hoc␈α
meeting␈α∞held␈α
in␈α
connection␈α
with␈α∞the␈α
Association␈α
for␈α∞Computing␈α
Machinery
␈↓ ↓H␈↓(ACM)␈α
meeting␈α
in␈αSan␈α
Diego␈α
voted␈α31-0␈α
for␈α
moving␈αthe␈α
meeting.␈α
 The␈αProfessor␈α
Minker␈α
proposed␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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∂Alexander
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Lerner,␈αone␈αof␈αthe␈αbetter␈αknow␈αwould-be␈αemigrants␈αto␈αtake␈αpart.␈α Dr.␈αLerner␈αhad␈αbeen␈αemployed␈αby␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Institute␈α
of␈αProblems␈α
of␈αControl␈α
in␈α
Moscow␈αuntil␈α
he␈αtried␈α
to␈α
emigrate␈αin␈α
1971␈αand␈α
was␈αrather␈α
prominent
␈↓ ↓H␈↓in␈α
Soviet␈αcybernetics␈α
and␈αheld␈α
many␈αofficial␈α
positions.␈α In␈α
1971␈αhe␈α
was␈αfired,␈α
remained␈αunemployed,␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈↓
␈↓ ↓H␈↓and has been interviewed by foreign newspapers and visiting U.S. Senators and Representatives.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        I␈αaccepted␈α
Professor␈αMinker's␈α
invitation␈αto␈αbe␈α
on␈αthe␈α
panel,␈αand␈αWinston␈α
accepted␈αthe␈α
panel␈αfor
␈↓ ↓H␈↓the␈α
program␈α
simply␈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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓was␈αqualified␈αto␈αorganize␈αit.␈α In␈αApril␈α1975␈α
three␈αSoviet␈αscientists␈αcame␈αto␈αM.I.T.␈αto␈αdiscuss␈αthe␈α
program
␈↓ ↓H␈↓and␈αat␈αtheir␈α
request␈αMinker␈αwas␈α
persuaded␈αgive␈αup␈α
being␈αchairman␈αof␈α
the␈αpanel␈αand␈α
it␈αwas␈αagreed␈α
that
␈↓ ↓H␈↓I␈α∩was␈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∩ There␈α∪is␈α∩a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓difference␈α⊃of␈α⊂opinion␈α⊃on␈α⊂the␈α⊃sense␈α⊂in␈α⊃which␈α⊂the␈α⊃Soviet␈α⊂scientists␈α⊃agreed␈α⊂to␈α⊃Lerner's␈α⊃participation␈α⊂-
␈↓ ↓H␈↓whether␈α⊂they␈α⊂said␈α∂only␈α⊂that␈α⊂they␈α∂had␈α⊂no␈α⊂personal␈α∂objections␈α⊂or␈α⊂whether␈α∂they␈α⊂committed␈α⊂the␈α∂Soviet
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Council on Cybernetics.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓combining␈αthe␈α
functions␈αof␈α
the␈αFBI␈α
and␈αCIA␈α
with␈αpolitical␈α
control␈αfunctions␈α
not␈αcarried␈α
out␈αin␈αthe␈α
U.S.)
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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∂event␈α∞caused
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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∂the␈α∞ACM
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Special␈α
Interest␈α
Group␈α∞on␈α
Artificial␈α
Intelligence␈α∞getting␈α
about␈α
500␈α∞cards␈α
supporting␈α
his␈α∞position.␈α
 The
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Chairman.␈α The␈αletter␈αwent␈αon␈αto␈αsay␈αthat␈αthere␈αwould␈αbe␈αa␈α"public␈αprotest"␈αat␈αthe␈αconference␈αif␈αLerner
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓partly␈αbecause␈α
it␈αwould␈α
depend␈αon␈αwhat␈α
the␈αnon-Soviet␈α
participants␈αwould␈αwant␈α
to␈αdo.␈α
 In␈αany␈α
case,␈αit
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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;
␈↓ ↓H␈↓he was not informed of enough of the background in time to make up his mind.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        A␈α
letter␈α
was␈α
received␈α
from␈α
I.␈α∞M.␈α
Gelfand,␈α
who␈α
was␈α
appointed␈α
Soviet␈α
co-chairman,␈α∞asking␈α
about
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓discussed␈αthe␈αscientific␈αquestion␈αand␈αemphasized␈αthat␈αpart␈αof␈αthe␈αmembership␈αof␈αthe␈αpanel␈αwas␈αalready
␈↓ ↓H␈↓determined,␈αthat␈αparticipation␈α
was␈αnot␈αorganized␈α
on␈αnational␈αlines␈αand␈α
that␈αI␈αwould␈α
take␈αresponsibility
␈↓ ↓H␈↓for␈αcontinuing␈αMinker's␈αinvitation␈αto␈αLerner,␈αand␈αthat␈αthe␈αProgram␈αChairman␈α(Winston)␈αhad␈αthe␈αfinal
␈↓ ↓H␈↓authority.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        No reply was received to either of the above letters.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓against␈α
the␈α
participation␈α
of␈α
Lerner␈αin␈α
the␈α
panel␈α
and␈α
in␈α
the␈αConference.␈α
 The␈α
first␈α
argument␈α
was␈αthat␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓registration for the Conference had been accepted and he had been invited to participate in the panel.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓airplane␈αreservation␈αto␈αTbilisi,␈αbut␈αhe␈αwas␈αnot␈αthought␈αthat␈αperhaps␈αthe␈αKGB␈αwould␈αprevent␈αhim␈αfrom
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓interest.␈α∪ The␈α∩U.S.␈α∪Embassy's␈α∩scientific␈α∪counselor␈α∩was␈α∪contacted,␈α∩told␈α∪what␈α∩might␈α∪happen,␈α∪and␈α∩he
␈↓ ↓H␈↓expressed a desire to be kept informed.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓foreign␈α
members␈α
of␈α
the␈α
Organizing␈α
Committee␈α
were␈αto␈α
promise␈α
to␈α
discourage␈α
any␈α
political␈α
activity␈αat␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Conference.  Both Lerner and the Organizing Committee were entirely satisfied with this.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        Once␈α
this␈α
was␈α
agreed,␈α
Dr.␈α
Chavchanidze␈αand␈α
the␈α
other␈α
Soviet␈α
organizers␈α
acted␈α
with␈αgreat␈α
courtesy
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓admitted␈α∪too␈α∪was␈α∀granted␈α∪without␈α∪hesitation,␈α∪and␈α∀a␈α∪prominent␈α∪Soviet␈α∪computer␈α∀scientist␈α∪replaced
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Gelfand,␈α
who␈α∞was␈α
ill␈α∞in␈α
Moscow,␈α
as␈α∞co-chairman␈α
of␈α∞the␈α
panel,␈α
and␈α∞another␈α
prominent␈α∞Soviet␈α
scientist
␈↓ ↓H␈↓agreed␈α∂to␈α∂participate␈α∂and␈α∂took␈α∂part␈α∂in␈α∂a␈α∞preliminary␈α∂get-together␈α∂of␈α∂the␈α∂panel,␈α∂but␈α∂had␈α∂to␈α∂return␈α∞to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Moscow␈α∂before␈α∂the␈α∂panel␈α∂took␈α∂place.␈α∂ The␈α⊂panel␈α∂took␈α∂place␈α∂smoothly␈α∂in␈α∂a␈α∂room␈α∂crowded␈α⊂with␈α∂both
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Soviet␈α
and␈α
foreign␈α
participants.␈α
 It␈α
was␈α
agreed␈α
that␈α
both␈α
sides␈α
had␈α
lived␈α
up␈α
to␈α
the␈α
letter␈α
and␈α
spirit␈α
of␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓agreement.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓first␈α
was␈αthat␈α
the␈αone␈α
Israeli␈α
who␈αtried␈α
to␈αcome␈α
was␈αdenied␈α
a␈α
visa␈αby␈α
the␈αSoviet␈α
Embassy␈αin␈α
Washington
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓realize␈αthere␈αwould␈α
be␈αa␈αproblem␈αwith␈α
him,␈αbecause␈αhe␈αworked␈α
in␈αthe␈αU.S.␈α On␈α
the␈αother␈αhand,␈αhis␈α
visa
␈↓ ↓H␈↓application␈α∞stated␈α∞clearly␈α∞that␈α∞the␈α∞was␈α∞attending␈α∞an␈α∞international␈α∞conference.␈α∞ Moreover,␈α∞an␈α
assurance
␈↓ ↓H␈↓that␈αa␈α
cable␈αhad␈αbeen␈α
sent␈αthat␈αwould␈α
result␈αin␈α
a␈αvisa␈αat␈α
the␈αSoviet␈αConsulate␈α
in␈αSan␈α
Francisco␈αdidn't
␈↓ ↓H␈↓result␈α
in␈αa␈α
visa.␈α A␈α
further␈αassurance,␈α
obtained␈αafter␈α
the␈αOrganizing␈α
Committee␈αarrived␈α
in␈αMoscow,␈α
that
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓scientist␈α
in␈αquestion␈α
decided␈α
to␈αgive␈α
up.␈α
 This␈αissue␈α
had␈α
the␈αeffect␈α
of␈α
making␈αthe␈α
Western␈αscientists␈α
more
␈↓ ↓H␈↓militant␈αon␈α
the␈αLerner␈α
issue␈αand␈α
probably␈αmade␈α
the␈αSoviets␈α
more␈αwilling␈α
to␈αmake␈α
concessions,␈αsince␈α
they
␈↓ ↓H␈↓had given assurances two years previously that there would be no problem with Israelis.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        The␈αsecond␈αproblem␈αconcerned␈αthe␈αbrothers,␈αIssai␈αand␈αxx␈αGoldstein␈αof␈αTbilisi,␈αwho␈αalso␈αhad␈αlost
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓attend␈αthe␈αpanel␈αinvolving␈αLerner␈αwhere␈αone␈αof␈αthem␈αasked␈αa␈αquestion␈αidentifying␈αhimself␈αas␈αfrom␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓State␈αof␈αIsrael,␈αwhich␈αcaused␈αno␈αreaction␈αat␈αthe␈αtime.␈α The␈αnext␈αday␈αaccording␈αto␈αtheir␈αreport␈αthey␈αwere
␈↓ ↓H␈↓picked␈αup␈αby␈αthe␈αKGB␈αand␈α
told␈αthat␈αthey␈αhad␈αbeen␈αinvited␈α
by␈αthe␈αAmericans␈αwhich␈αwas␈αimproper␈α
and
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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⊃provide␈α∩they␈α⊃"behaved
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Goldstein's␈αattended␈αthe␈αMonday␈αmorning␈αsession␈αafter␈αwhich␈αthey␈αwere␈αagain␈αpicked␈αup␈αand␈αtold␈αthey
␈↓ ↓H␈↓couldn't come no matter what anyone said.  The Conference concluded Monday afternoon.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        Here␈αare␈αsome␈αconclusions␈αthat␈αwe␈αhave␈αdrawn␈αfrom␈αthis␈αaffair,␈αbut␈αwe␈αmust␈αemphasize␈αthat␈αthey
␈↓ ↓H␈↓are all tentative:

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓international␈α∂scientific␈α∂and␈α∂humanitarian␈α∂norms␈α∂than␈α∂they␈α∂will␈α∂without␈α∂the␈α∂pressure.␈α∂ Success␈α∂in␈α∞any
␈↓ ↓H␈↓instance cannot be predicted in advance of trying.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓authority␈αto␈αthe␈αGeneral␈αChairman␈α
and␈αthe␈αProgram␈αChairman␈αhelped␈α
in␈αthis␈αcase,␈αsince␈αthey␈αcould␈α
act
␈↓ ↓H␈↓on␈αwhat␈αthey␈αfelt␈αwas␈αthe␈αconsensus␈αrather␈αthan␈αwait␈αfor␈αformal␈αmeetings.␈α Their␈αwillingness␈αto␈αcommit
␈↓ ↓H␈↓themselves was decisive.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        3.␈αThe␈αIJCAI␈α
involved␈αa␈αnumber␈αof␈α
circumstances␈αthat␈αwill␈αnot␈α
repeat␈αthemselves.␈α Thus␈α
it␈αmay
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓attempts to move the Conference from the Soviet Union.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        4.␈α
No␈α
person␈α
on␈α
the␈αSoviet␈α
side␈α
expressed␈α
personal␈α
objection␈αto␈α
the␈α
participation␈α
of␈α
Lerner,␈αbut
␈↓ ↓H␈↓none␈α⊂would␈α⊃have␈α⊂taken␈α⊃action␈α⊂on␈α⊂his␈α⊃behalf␈α⊂independently.␈α⊃ Presumably␈α⊂it␈α⊂was␈α⊃easier␈α⊂for␈α⊃them␈α⊂to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓advocate concessions to a foreign viewpoint than to express personal agreement with that viewpoint.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        5.␈αIt␈αwas␈αnever␈αclear␈αwho␈αmade␈αthe␈αfinal␈αSoviet␈αdecision␈αor␈αon␈αwhat␈αlevel␈αthe␈αdecision␈αwas␈αmade
␈↓ ↓H␈↓even␈α
though␈α
we␈α
know␈α
that␈α
the␈α
matter␈α
was␈α
discussed␈α
at␈α
the␈α
level␈α
of␈α
the␈α
Presidium␈α
of␈α
the␈α∞Academy␈α
of
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Sciences.␈α
 According␈α
to␈α
the␈α∞model␈α
of␈α
maximum␈α
evasion␈α∞of␈α
responsibility,␈α
higher␈α
authorities␈α∞may␈α
have
␈↓ ↓H␈↓ordered␈α∂the␈α∂lower␈α∂levels␈α∂to␈α∂optimize␈α⊂several␈α∂variables␈α∂simultaneously␈α∂which␈α∂effectively␈α∂left␈α⊂the␈α∂lower
␈↓ ↓H␈↓level␈α∂the␈α∞decision␈α∂of␈α∂what␈α∞to␈α∂do␈α∞once␈α∂it␈α∂became␈α∞clear␈α∂that␈α∞simultaneous␈α∂optimization␈α∂was␈α∞impossible.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓This␈αmodel␈αis␈α
supported␈αby␈αthe␈α
fact␈αthat␈αif␈α
"loss␈αof␈αface"␈α
was␈αa␈αconsideration,␈α
and␈αseveral␈αSoviets␈αsaid␈α
it
␈↓ ↓H␈↓was, then less face could have been lost by making the same decisions earlier.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓role,␈α
but␈α
we␈α
have␈αrefrained␈α
not␈α
reported␈α
our␈αconjectures␈α
about␈α
this,␈α
because␈αit␈α
would␈α
be␈α
unfair␈α
to␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓individuals concerned.  This goes for both Soviets and Westerners.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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-interference␈α∩in␈α⊃other
␈↓ ↓H␈↓country's␈αaffairs␈αwith␈αconsiderations␈αof␈αthe␈α
proper␈αconduct␈αof␈αscientific␈αmeetings␈αand␈αwith␈α
humanitarian
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈α⊂and␈α⊂how␈α∂it
␈↓ ↓H␈↓turned out.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλJohn McCarthy
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλProfessor of Computer Science
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλStanford University