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∂AIL Mr. Michael Regan↓Manager, International Relations Branch
↓Office of International Postal Affairs↓U.S. Postal Service
↓475 L'Enfant Plaza W., S.W.↓ Washington, D.C. 20260∞

Dear Mr. Regan:

	As you undoubtedly recall, I am writing you at the suggestion
of Congressman Gilman to elaborate some of the suggestions made
at the San Francisco hearing aimed at improving the delivery of
mail to individuals in the Soviet Union.

	I am sure it must have been painful to you to be pressed to
do something about the problem, when you believe that nothing
significant can be done as long as the Soviet political system
remains what it is.  However, in other matters, for example in
the matter of emigration itself, a great deal has been accomplished
by persistent pressure even when the chances of accomplishing anything
must have seemed quite unfavorable.

	As I explained in my testimony, although its representatives
undoubtedly pretend that its policies are matters of principle and
unalterable, this claim is false.  While their values undoubtedly
differ from ours, many Soviet officials know that many of their actions
in persecuting dissidents are wrong by their own moral standards.
Pressure on them is often successful, even though there is no recipe
that guarantees success or even enables one to predict when success
is likely.

	Here are some actions that the Committee of Concerned Scientists
thinks might be effective.

	1. Continue to press Soviet postal officials by letter and
in person about particular issues and about the problem in general.
Treat with skepticism any claims from them that the situations is
just about to improve or was about to improve if only you hadn't
got their backs up.  Pressing the unfairness of their actions in
personal conversation is particularly important.

	2. Raise the issue at the International Postal Union in
any form that might be effective.  Perhaps a technical approach
would be most effective there.

	3. Develop a form for complaints about falsely signed receipts.
Perhaps the form could contain one part for the post office in the
city of the recipient and another for the sending post office.  Copies
of the form will get to the Soviet Union, and the recipients can
use their own judgment about how and whether to express their protest.
If the form were an official International Postal Union form, it would
be even better.

	4. Make it easier for people to follow up their complaints
of non-delivery.  If a form and brochure were available, then people
could direct their complaints to offices where the problem was
better understood.  The present method of complaint should remain
available.

	5. It would be worthwhile to pursue the problem of theft
from the mail to the Soviet Union.  According to an article that
appeared in the %2New York Times Magazine%1 this Spring, books and
records undelivered to the recipient often appear on the black
market in Moscow and Leningrad.  If a few just published popular books
or just issued records were marked and sent, there is a good chance
that one would turn up and that some dissident would report back on
it.

	There is every reason to hope that an active policy will
achieve some result in this area just as it has in others.

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cc:\Congressman Gilman,  
\Ms. Ruth Levine, Committee of Concerned Scientists,
\Professor Owen Chamberlain
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