Dutch Jews demonstrated outside Parliament here today demanding freedom for Soviet Jews as Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and Dutch Foreign Minister Norbert Schmeltzer conferred inside. Gromyko arrived here last night on the first state visit by a Russian leader to Holland since 1907. Dutch diplomatic circles said today that it was probable that Schmeltzer would raise the issue of Soviet Jews with Gromyko in the course of their talks.
The Russian diplomat did not react to the demonstrations. Political sources here said it was not likely that he would say anything that might spoil his visit although the sources said it was difficult to see how Gromyko could ignore the subject of Soviet Jews if it is raised by Schmeltzer.
The sources said the Soviet Union is extremely interested in Holland’s views on the Middle East in light of this country’s excellent relations with both Jerusalem and Cairo. Schmeltzer just returned from an official visit to the Egyptian capital. According to diplomatic observers the Middle East is definitely on the agenda of the Schmeltzer-Gromyko talks. Schmeltzer has stated repeatedly that he has no intention of becoming a mediator in the Middle East conflict but he has offered to convey the positions of each side to the other.
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.
