Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev said today that Jews were foremost among those responsible for the launching of the Soviet rocket to the moon and that Jews hold a place of honor in the Soviet Union. He spoke at the National Press Club answering questions submitted by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Addressing to Mr. Khrushchev the JTA’s questions about the status of Soviet Jewry. National Press Club President William H. Lawrence informed him there was great interest among Americans in this matter
Mr. Khrushchev replied that he thought one of the facts which could demonstrate the position of Jews in the Soviet Union was that among persons who took the foremost part in the launching of the Soviet rocket to the moon were Jews. He said Jews hold a position of honor.
He said that the question of a man’s religion was not asked in the Soviet Union; it was a matter of the conscience of the individual he stated, explaining that the Soviet Union looks on a person as a person.
He named a number of Soviet nationalities, including Jews, and said it would take a long period to name them all. They all live in peace and close friendship, he declared, “The Soviet Union is proud the nationality problem does not exist and that all nationalities are marching together toward a common aim, said Mr. Khrushchev.
KHRUSHCHEV’S STATEMENT CONSIDERED HELPFUL TO SOVIET JEWRY
Experts on Soviet affairs here, including American journalists who served recently in the Soviet Union, considered the statement made by Premier Khrushchev on the role of Jewish scientists in launching the Soviet rocket to the moon as a public expression which could only ameliorate the situation of the Jews in the USSR.
The important development, it was pointed out here, was not the answer elicited from Mr. Khrushchev but the fact that he personally learned that the present treatment of the Jews in the Soviet Union was a leading subject of American concern, Mr, Khrushchev was aware that the National Press Club, where American anxiety about the plight of Soviet Jewry was dramatically brought home to him, represents the nation’s most important public opinion forum.
In view of Mr. Khrushchev’s Known sensitivity to world public opinion, today’s questioning on the situation of the Jews in his country was deemed of vital importance. There was no doubt that the Soviet Premier noted that the preface made by president Lawrence of the National Press Club indicated the great interest of Americans in the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union.
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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.
