2nd December, 1974

The President of the Supreme Soviet of
the U.S.S.R.
MOSCOW
U. S. S. R.

Dear Mr. Podgorny

I understand that the scientist Alexandre Goldfarb and his wife havs been denied an
exit visa to go to Israel on the grounds that his ecientiflc work has given him information
which is important to the security of the U. S, S. R. I know Goldfarb personally, having
met him in Moscow in 1971 and am familiar with his work. I should like to assure pou
that the idea that such work is important to your security is quite ridiculous.  Excuses
of this type, made by petty officials, only make your government an object of ridicule in
informed circles. I am sure you would wish to avoid giving such an impression.

I hope that now that the matter has bsen brought to your attentlon you will ask your
officials to remove this objection to his going to Israel.  Otherwise I should have no
option but to raiss the matter in a public manner. If you are not prepared to take my
unsupported opinion on this matter, may I aslk you to approach Academician Engelhardt
(or some similar Russian scientist of international standing) and ask him to confirm that
the excuse given in this case can only appear ridiculous to scientists abroad.

I feel I do not need to restate the general reason for allowing certain of your Jewish
scientists to go to Israel as this has heen done many times already by others.  In the
case of Alexandre Goldfarb the fact that he has at the moment no employment in your
country suitable to his capacities would appear to be an additional reason for allowing
him and his wife an exit visa.

Perhaps you would be so gmd as to abowledge receipt of this letter as you would
a diplomatic one.

Your6 sincerely

F.H.C. Criclr, P.&S.
Ph. D.
Nobel Laureate