French, Italian Cp’s Report Trials Might Be Cancelled; ‘leak’ Seen As Significant

The French Communist newspaper L’Humanite said today that the upcoming trials of Soviet Jews might be cancelled. Observers viewed the report as a possibly Kremlin-initiated “leak.” (A Similar statement appeared today in the Italian Communist paper, L’Unita.) There was no immediate confirmation from any authoritative sources that this “leak” meant the trials had been officially cancelled. A source familiar with the inner workings of the Kremlin, however, regarded the “leak” as “significant.” The new trial of the Leningrad Nine, scheduled to begin today, was reported by Western sources earlier today to have been postponed until next week because one of the defendants is ill. Other sources, however, reported the trial would begin today as scheduled. The nine have been charged with anti-Soviet activity and with knowing about the alleged hijacking attempt last June 15 but failing to report it to the Soviet authorities. It was still uncertain today whether the court-martial of Lieutenant Wolf Zalmanson, who was part of the 12 arrested at Smolny Airport last June, would begin today as scheduled. Lt. Zalmanson’s trial was separated from those of the Leningrad 11 who received severe prison terms.

A group of prominent French intellectuals including Nobel Laureate Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir issued a declaration which appeals to “all progressive forces” to rally to the aid of Soviet Jews in their struggle for human rights. Among the signatories were the Communist poet Vercours, and the former Czechoslovakia Communist Party leader, Arthur London, who was purged during the Slansky trials in 1952. London is the author of “The Confession,” which deals with that period and has now been made into a motion picture. A protest meeting against the treatment of Soviet Jews sponsored by the French Left took place in Paris today. In Jerusalem, the head of the Soviet Ecclesiastical Mission, Archimandrite Yeronim, refused today to accept a petition submitted to him by 150 demonstrators calling for the release of the Jewish prisoners in the Soviet Union. He told the demonstrators “today is a holiday and I cannot engage in workday affairs.” Yeronim was referring to the Greek and Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday which begins tonight and is also celebrated in Monophysite churches such as the Syrians, Copts and Ethiopians.

In London, Jews continued to conduct protest demonstrations in support of Soviet Jewry and are receiving support from non-Jews. A petition has been signed by 3000 non-Jewish members of various youth organizations protesting the Leningrad trial and the treatment of Soviet Jews. A silent demonstration, conducted by Jewish women marching to the Soviet Embassy carrying torches, was sponsored by the Universities Committee for Soviet Jewry. Another silent demonstration took place outside Intourist, the Soviet travel agency. A spokesman for the latter demonstration said it would continue as long as the Leningrad trials go on. Six Soviet workers reportedly visited the United States Embassy in Moscow today to present a letter condemning what they called anti-Soviet hysteria and Zionist hoodlumism in reaction to the Leningrad trial. The letter was reportedly accepted by Embassy official Sol Polansky.