Jewish Agency Calls World Parley on Soviet Anti-semitism

An international Jewish conference to consider the implications of the anti-Semitic propaganda campaign in the countries behind the Iron Curtain for the 2,500,000 Jews residing in these countries has been convened by the Jewish Agency, it was announced here last night. The convention will open on March 11 and is expected to last three days.

The exact place of the parley has not yet been determined, but it is certain that it will be held in a European country. Participating will be major world Jewish organizations and communities in 38 countries. The invitation to the convention was signed by Dr. Nahum Goldmann and Berl Locker, co-chairman of the Jewish Agency executive.

The decision in convene this conference was taken by the Jewish Agency executive after a fortnight of consultations, by cable and phone, between its Jerusalem and New York headquarters. Mr. Locker flew in from Jerusalem, especially to discuss with his New York colleagues a program of action to counteract the effects of the Soviet anti-Semitic campaign. At a series of meetings at the Agency’s headquarters, Dr. Goldmann reported on information obtained on a recent emergency visit to Berlin.

The text of the invitation reads in part: “The executive of the Jewish Agency for Palestine urgently invites you to participate in a conference of major Jewish organizations and communities the world over to consider the plight of Eastern European Jewry and to set forth the reaction of authorized Jewish representatives to the campaign in Soviet Russia and Eastern Europe against Israel, the Zionist movement, the American Joint Distribution Committee and the Jewish people generally. It is imperative that the Jewish people give unified expression to its alarm over the mounting perils for Eastern European Jewry and Israel and demand the right for Eastern European Jews to emigrate, stressing the readiness of Israel to receive them. “