The national executive committee of the British Labor Party replied today to an appeal from Nikita Khrushchev, written in his capacity as Secretary General of the Russian Communist Party, for support in ending tension in the Middle East. The Communist boss addressed his appeal a week ago to six European labor parties, including the British, warning them of the threat of war in the Middle East with “dangerous consequences to all international life.”
In his message, Mr. Khrushchev made no direct reference to Israel and, in its reply, the Labor Party likewise made no direct reference to the Jewish State although it had been requested to do so. Sam Watson, Durham miners’ leader and chairman of the party’s international committee, had proposed that the party, in its reply, urge the Soviet Union to join in safeguarding Israel. Mr. Watson disclosed today that he had personally cabled Mr. Khrushchev in reply to the Communist leader’s letter, and had pointed out Khrushchev’s failure to include in his proposals guarantees of the political and territorial integrity of Israel.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.