Representatives of the World Jewish Congress, together with leaders of other Jewish organizations, will seek to meet with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev during the latter’s visit to the United States, it was reported today at the WJC Assembly now in session here.
The Assembly delegates discussed the current international situation in the light of the forthcoming meeting between President Eisenhower and Premier Khrushchev and urged the WJC leadership to take advantage of the relaxation of international tension and to contact Soviet Government leaders for the purpose of securing amelioration of the situation of Soviet Jewry.
Philip Klutznik, honorary president of the B’nai B’rith, addressing today’s session of the Assembly, told the delegates that it has been reported that Mr. Khrushchev has allegedly indicated willingness to receive American Jewish leaders and discuss with them the position of the Jews in the Soviet Union.
“The questions concerning Soviet Jewry will never be answered in a single meeting with Premier Khrushchev patently desirable as such a meeting is,” Mr. Klutznik said. He predicted that it would be a long time before meaningful answers would be received.
PROPOSAL TO CONTACT “PEACE ORGANIZATIONS.” REJECTED BY W. J. C.
An analysis of the international situation and its implications both for the State of Israel and world Jewry was given today by Dr. S. Levenberg, of London, at the political committee of the Assembly. Following Dr. Levenberg’s report, the committee adopted a resolution asking the Great Powers to negotiate, within the framework of the United Nations, for a further relaxation of international tensions and for an end to the “cold war” between East and West.
The committee rejected a resolution presented by a member of the Communist-dominated observers team from Poland urging the World Jewish Congress to establish contact with various “peace organizations.” A full discussion of the current position of Soviet Jewry will take place tonight, following which resolutions on this subject will be adopted.
Efforts on the part of a number of delegates from Israel to have the political committee pass a resolution on Israel’s sale of arms to West Germany failed. Dr. Nahum Goldmann, WJC president, indicated that it would be best not to adopt any resolution on this issue. Four Israeli delegates who disagreed with this view were voted down. They represented the rightist Herut Party and the two left-wing groups Mapam and Ahdut Avoda.
The political commission also decided not to adopt any resolution on German rearmament. At the same time it entrusted a subcommittee with the task of drawing up resolutions expressing the WJC concern over the resurgence of anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism in West Germany as well as in the Communist part of Germany.
Dr. Gerhard Riegner, WJC coordinating director, today reported that an office of the World Jewish Congress will be opened in New Delhi, India, in order to acquaint the people of Asia with the life of Jews in various countries as well as with Jewish philosophical concepts.
“The task which faces Jewry in Asia is one of culture and education,” he said. “The WJC office will have to undertake cultural work–distribute books, arranged lectures and sponsor exchanges of students between Jewish centers and Asian countries.” In Africa, Dr. Riegner added, the problem might be simpler.
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