/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curiosity␈αabout␈αhow␈αthis␈αcame␈αabout,␈αand␈αwhether␈αa␈αmore␈αhumane␈αSoviet
␈↓ ↓H␈↓policy more in keeping with the customary openness of scientific meetings can now be expected.

␈↓ ↓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∪research␈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␈αfirst,␈αthere␈αwas␈αconsiderable␈α
skepticism␈αabout␈αwhether␈αthe␈αIJCAI's␈αinformal␈αhabits␈α
were
␈↓ ↓H␈↓compatible␈αwith␈αthe␈αway␈αthings␈αmight␈αhave␈αto␈αbe␈αdone␈αin␈αthe␈αUSSR,␈αbut␈αthe␈αSoviet␈αdelegation␈αaccepted
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Soviet␈αpapers␈αwould␈αbe␈αsupplied␈αin␈αtime␈αfor␈αthis.␈α It␈αwas␈αagreed␈αthat␈αdelegates␈αfrom␈αall␈αcountries␈αwould
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓after␈αan␈αinitial␈αvote␈αthat␈αconferences␈αshould␈αalternate␈αbetween␈αNorth␈αAmerica␈αand␈αelsewhere,␈αthere␈α
were
␈↓ ↓H␈↓8 votes for the USSR against 3 for Japan and 1 for West Germany.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        An␈αinquiry␈αin␈αIsrael␈α established␈αthat␈αIsraelis␈αreceived␈αvisas␈αfor␈αinternational␈αConferences␈αheld␈αin
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓domestic␈αconference␈α(perhaps␈αin␈αthe␈αbelief␈αthat␈αhe␈αwas␈αan␈αAmerican),␈αno␈αvisa␈αcould␈αbe␈αobtained.␈α (This
␈↓ ↓H␈↓raises questions for people receiving such invitations).

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓the␈αUnion␈αof␈αConcerned␈αScientists␈α(They␈αare␈α
concerned␈αabout␈αSoviet␈αtreatment␈αof␈αdissidents␈αand␈α
would-
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓treatment␈αof␈α
these␈αpeople.␈α The␈α
organizers␈αdeclined␈αon␈α
the␈αgrounds␈αthat␈α
the␈αstate␈αof␈α
these␈αissues␈αhad␈α
not
␈↓ ↓H␈↓changed␈α
since␈α
the␈α
decision␈α
to␈α
hold␈α
the␈α
meeting␈αin␈α
the␈α
USSR.␈α
 Professor␈α
Minker␈α
pursued␈α
this␈α
goal␈αwith␈α
a
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓(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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Machinery␈α(ACM),␈α
and␈αmost␈α
researchers␈αin␈αartificial␈α
intelligence␈αbelong␈α
to␈αSIGART,␈α
but␈αthe␈αIJCAI␈α
has
␈↓ ↓H␈↓no official connection with it).
␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓employed␈αby␈αthe␈αInstitute␈αof␈αProblems␈αof␈αControl␈αin␈αMoscow␈αuntil␈αhe␈αtried␈αto␈αemigrate␈αin␈α1971␈αand␈α
was
␈↓ ↓H␈↓rather␈α
prominent␈αin␈α
Soviet␈α
cybernetics␈αand␈α
held␈α
many␈αofficial␈α
positions.␈α
 In␈α1971␈α
he␈α
was␈αfired,␈α
remained
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓prominent␈α
␈↓↓refuseniks␈↓␈α
and␈α
has␈α
been␈α
interviewed␈αby␈α
foreign␈α
newspapers␈α
and␈α
visiting␈α
U.S.␈α
Senators␈αand
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Representatives.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓accepted␈αthe␈αpanel␈αfor␈αthe␈αprogram␈αon␈αdetermining␈αthat␈αthe␈αpanel␈αtopic␈αwas␈αsuitable␈αfor␈αthe␈αconference
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓motivation.␈α∞ In␈α∞April␈α∞1975␈α∞three␈α∞Soviet␈α∞scientists␈α∂came␈α∞to␈α∞M.I.T.␈α∞to␈α∞discuss␈α∞the␈α∞program␈α∞and␈α∂at␈α∞their
␈↓ ↓H␈↓request␈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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓John␈αMcCarthy␈αof␈αStanford␈αUniversity,␈αwho␈αhad␈αaccepted␈αmembership␈αin␈αthe␈αpanel,␈αwould␈αbe␈αasked␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓scientists␈αagreed␈αto␈αLerner's␈αparticipation␈α-␈αwhether␈αthey␈αsaid␈αonly␈αthat␈αthey␈αhad␈αno␈αpersonal␈αobjections
␈↓ ↓H␈↓or whether they committed the Soviet Council on Cybernetics - is unclear.

␈↓ ↓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␈αhe␈αwould␈αnot␈αbe␈αallowed␈αto␈αgo␈αto␈αTbilisi␈αand␈αparticipate␈αin␈αthe␈αconference.␈α This␈αcaused␈αMinker␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓500␈αcards␈αsupporting␈αhis␈αposition.␈α The␈αOrganizing␈αCommittee␈αmembers␈αagreed␈αby␈αtelephone␈αto␈αsend␈αa
␈↓ ↓H␈↓letter␈αto␈αthe␈αSoviet␈αOrganizing␈αCommittee␈αstating␈αthat␈αwe␈αtook␈αthe␈αissue␈αof␈αLerner's␈αright␈αto␈αattend␈αand
␈↓ ↓H␈↓the␈αConference's␈αright␈αto␈αhear␈αhim␈αvery␈αseriously␈αand␈αthat␈αhis␈αinclusion␈αin␈αthe␈αprogram␈αwas␈αwithin␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓want␈α
to␈α
do␈α
at␈α
the␈α
time.␈α
 In␈αany␈α
case,␈α
it␈α
was␈α
planned␈α
to␈α
obtain␈α
a␈αtape␈α
of␈α
Lerner's␈α
speech␈α
and␈α
play␈α
it␈αat␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈α∞in␈α∞time␈α
to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓make up his mind.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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-chairman,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓McCarthy␈α∞was␈α∞continuing␈α∞ Minker's␈α∞invitation␈α∞to␈α∂ Lerner,␈α∞and␈α∞that␈α∞ the␈α∞Program␈α∞Chairman␈α∂had␈α∞the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓final 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␈α
in␈αthe␈α
panel␈αand␈α
in␈αthe␈α
Conference.␈α The␈α
main␈αargument␈α
was␈αthat
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓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␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓and␈αan␈αairplane␈αreservation␈αto␈αTbilisi,␈αbut␈αhe␈αthought␈αthat␈αthe␈αKGB␈αmight␈αprevent␈αhim␈αfrom␈αgoing␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈αarticle
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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 quite 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∪Dr.␈α∩A.P.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓scientist␈α
agreed␈αto␈α
participate␈αand␈α
took␈α
part␈αin␈α
a␈αpreliminary␈α
get-together␈α
of␈αthe␈α
panel,␈αbut␈α
had␈αto␈α
return
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓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␈↓immediately␈αrealize␈αhis␈αpassport␈αwas␈αIsraeli␈αbecause␈αhe␈αworked␈αin␈αthe␈αU.S.␈α On␈αthe␈αother␈αhand,␈αhis␈α
visa
␈↓ ↓H␈↓application␈αstated␈α
clearly␈αthat␈α
the␈αwas␈α
attending␈αan␈α
international␈αconference.␈α
 After␈αthe␈αdenial,␈α
telephone
␈↓ ↓H␈↓calls␈αfrom␈αthe␈αGeneral␈αChairman␈αto␈αMoscow␈αresulted␈αin␈αan␈αassurance␈αthat␈αa␈αcable␈αhad␈αbeen␈αsent␈αto␈αthe
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓obtained␈αafter␈αthe␈αOrganizing␈αCommittee␈αarrived␈αin␈αMoscow,␈αthat␈αthe␈αproblem␈αhad␈αfinally␈αbeen␈αsolved
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓may␈αhave␈αmade␈α
the␈αSoviets␈αmore␈α
willing␈αto␈αmake␈α
concessions,␈αsince␈αthey␈α
had␈αgiven␈αassurances␈αtwo␈α
years
␈↓ ↓H␈↓previously that Israelis would have no problems.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓had␈αlost␈α
their␈α jobs␈αfor␈α
 trying␈αto␈αemigrate␈α
and␈αwho␈α also␈α
wished␈αto␈α attend␈α
the␈α conference.␈α They␈α
 were
␈↓ ↓H␈↓allowed␈αto␈αattend␈αthe␈αpanel␈αinvolving␈α Lerner␈αwhere␈αone␈αof␈αthem␈αasked␈αa␈α question␈αidentifying␈α himself
␈↓ ↓H␈↓as␈αfrom␈α the␈αState␈α of␈αIsrael,␈αwhich␈αcaused␈αno␈αreaction␈αat␈αthe␈αtime.␈α According␈αto␈αtheir␈αreport,␈αthey␈αwere
␈↓ ↓H␈↓picked␈αup␈αthe␈αnext␈αday␈αby␈αthe␈αKGB␈αand␈αtold␈αthat␈αthey␈αhad␈αbeen␈αinvited␈αby␈αthe␈αAmericans␈αwhich␈αwas
␈↓ ↓H␈↓improper␈αand␈αcompelled␈αon␈αthreat␈αof␈αarrest␈αto␈αpromise␈αnot␈αto␈α return␈αto␈αthe␈αConference␈αunless␈α
 properly
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓had␈αbeen␈αadhered␈αto,␈αbut␈αwe␈α stated␈αthat␈αthe␈αpsychological␈αatmosphere␈αwould␈αbe␈αimproved␈αif␈α
something
␈↓ ↓H␈↓could␈α
be␈αdone␈α
for␈αthe␈α
Goldsteins.␈α  Dr.␈α
Chavchanidze␈α
stated␈αthat␈α
he␈αhad␈α
been␈αunable␈α
 to␈αcontact␈α
anyone
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓"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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈αand
␈↓ ↓H␈↓told␈α
 they␈α
couldn't␈α
come␈α
no␈α
 matter␈αwhat␈α
anyone␈α
said.␈α
  The␈α
Conference␈α
concluded␈α
Monday␈αafternoon␈α
in
␈↓ ↓H␈↓an atmosphere of mutual good will.
␈↓ ↓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␈αand␈αthe␈αProgram␈αChairman␈αhelped,␈αbecause␈αthey␈αcould␈αact␈αon␈αwhat
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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␈α∂desire␈α∞to
␈↓ ↓H␈↓avoid all incident if a limited objective was achieved, 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
recur.␈α
 Thus␈α
it␈α
may␈α∞have␈α
been
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓move␈αthe␈αConference␈αfrom␈αthe␈αSoviet␈αUnion.␈α The␈αfact␈αthat␈αthe␈αOrganizing␈αCommittee␈αhad␈αto␈αfight␈αto
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓Soviets conduct international scientific relations and with their treatment of their own nonconformists.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓to a foreign viewpoint than to express personal agreement with that viewpoint.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        5.␈αIt␈αwas␈αnever␈αclear␈αwho␈αmade␈αthe␈αfinal␈αSoviet␈αdecision␈αor␈αon␈αwhat␈αlevel␈αthe␈αdecision␈αwas␈αmade,
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓According␈αto␈α
the␈αmodel␈α
of␈αmaximum␈αavoidance␈α
of␈αresponsibility,␈α
higher␈αauthorities␈α
might␈αhave␈αtold␈α
the
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓decision␈αof␈α
what␈αto␈α
do␈αwhen␈α
it␈αbecame␈α
clear␈αthat␈α
simultaneous␈αoptimization␈α
was␈αimpossible.␈α This␈α
model
␈↓ ↓H␈↓is␈αsupported␈αby␈α
the␈αfact␈αthat␈αif␈α
"loss␈αof␈αface"␈α
was␈αa␈αconsideration␈α-␈α
and␈αseveral␈αSoviets␈α
said␈αit␈αwas␈α-␈α
then
␈↓ ↓H␈↓less face would 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, but we have not reported our conjectures about this.

␈↓ ↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓matter␈α
was␈α
discussed␈αalso␈α
differed␈α
in␈αtheir␈α
opinions␈α
of␈αwhether␈α
 our␈α
action␈αwas␈α
good,␈α
bad,␈α or␈α
irrelevant.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓This report merely tells what we did and how it turned out.

␈↓ ↓H␈↓        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
␈↓ ↓H␈↓purely␈αpassive␈αposition␈αwill␈αrequire␈αgood␈αcommunications,␈αkeeping␈αthe␈αSoviet␈αside␈αinformed,␈αand␈αa␈αway
␈↓ ↓H␈↓of making prompt decisions, since matters may go better or worse than anticipated.
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλJohn McCarthy
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλArtificial Intelligence Laboratory
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλStanford University
␈↓ ↓H␈↓␈↓ πλStanford, California 94305