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∂AILCity Editor↓Los Angeles Times Newspaper↓Times Mirror Square
↓Los Angeles, California 90053∞

Dear Sir:

	Si Frumkin's  September 17 article  is mistaken about  what we
did  on behalf of  would-be emigrant Soviet  scientists in connection
with the meeting in the Soviet  Union of the International Conference  on
Artificial  Intelligence.   In  particular,  it  gives me  credit  for
forcing  them to let  out a  Jewish scientist by  threatening that no
Stanford people  would be allowed  to come  to the conference  unless
they  let him  into  the conference  or  out of  the country.    Ovsei
Gelman,  the  scientist  they  let   out,  was  registered  for   the
conference, but so far as I know, no threat  was made on his behalf. 
On the other  hand, Alexander Lerner, a Moscow cyberneticist, was not
merely invited  by us  to attend  but included  in an official  panel
discussion,  and the main efforts  were in his behalf  and included a
threat of a demonstration  at the meeting.   After arguing, on  the
first  day  of the  conference,  the  Soviets  agreed that  he  could
participate.   He did,  and was  treated with courtesy.

	Mr. Frumkin's source
mixed up what happened this time with what we  think we should have
done  in connection with  a Soviet  conference to which  they invited
several people from Stanford including  an Israeli who later was  not
given a  visa.   The Soviet  scientists expressed continued  optimism
that  the visa  for  him would  come even  after  we arrived,  but it
didn't.  We should have said, "not one without all", and next time we
will. 

	I  agree  with  Mr. Frumkin's  opinion  that  protest against
violations of human rights and the customs of scientific meetings are
important and often effective.   Our Soviet colleagues can often find
reasons for  giving in  to foreign  pressure when  they know  we  are
right.   Fairness requires  stating that  while the Soviets  mistreat
protesters, they are better than the Chinese who don't tolerate their
existence. 
.sgn