Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev and other Soviet leaders, with whom a French Socialist delegation conferred throughout last week, were “both evasive and embarrassed” whenever questions were raised about the situation of the Soviet Jews by the visitors, French Socialist sources in Paris told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency today. The Soviet leaders displayed the same responses to questions about Israel and the Middle East.
The delegation, led by former Premier Guy Mollet, conferred twice with Khrushchev and on several occasions with members of the USSR Communist Party’s Central Committee. The problems of Soviet Jewry were raised during a marathon, nine-hour Khrushchev-Mollet session, and also during a delegation meeting with the Central Committee.
The Soviet Premier showed himself to be “abrupt” and “evasive,” and reportedly told Mr. Mollet “all this is Western anti-Soviet propaganda.” But he advised Mr. Mollet to raise the Jewish issue with “people more expert in this field,” namely, certain members of the Central Committee. These, however, proved themselves to be just as evasive as the Premier, and managed to avoid discussion of details on the Soviet-Jewish problem presented by the visiting French Socialists.
The Soviet officials also did their utmost to avoid discussions of Soviet attitudes toward Israel. Mr. Mollet is scheduled to hold a press conference at Socialist Party headquarters here Friday, at which further details are anticipated.
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