A joint appeal by world-famous personalities in many fields calling on the Soviet Government to allow Russia’s Jews “full cultural lives, religious freedom and the rights of a national group,” has been sent to Premier Nikita Khrushchev, it was reported here today.
The appeal, which was forwarded to the Soviet Premier last December, was signed by Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, British philosopher Bertrand Russell, nuclear physicist Max Born, Israeli philosopher Martin Buber, Francois Maurice, Lord Boyd Orr, Professor Linus Pauling, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, Norman Thomas and Professor Giuseppe Ungaretti, Italian left-wing intellectual, and other leading personalities.
Stressing that we speak as friends, but as friends whose friendship requires honesty,” the appeal declared: “Although aware and appreciative of the improvement in the lives of Jews in the Soviet Union through the abolition of legal disabilities of the Czarist days, we are gravely concerned by the evident difficulties experienced by Jews as a Soviet nationality.”
Pointing out that the Jews had been subjected to long and continuous persecution throughout the history of Europe, the appeal stated: “The culmination of this cruelty was the wholesale extermination of Jews during our lifetimes, one of the most barbaric crimes in all human history, and the tragic fragmentation of the families of survivors in the chaotic aftermath of this holocaust. If ever a people were deserving of under-standing and sympathetic treatment after harsh suffering, it is the Jews of Europe.”
“We greatly hope therefore,” the appeal continued, that the Jews will be permitted full cultural lives, religious freedom and the rights of a national group, in practice as well as in law; and that people separated for many years from their closest kin who have since become resettled in Israel and elsewhere will be permitted at Iast to reunite.”
Pointing out that “many of us are lifelong non-believers in any religion.” the appeal declared: “Nonetheless, we believe freedom to practice religious views should be allowed the Jews of the Soviet Union in the same manner that such freedom is granted people of other religious persuasion.”
‘DEEPLY TROUBLED’ OVER ANTI-JEWISH ARTICLES IN SOVIET PRESS
The appeal expressed concern that “the process of restitution of Jewish cultural activities has been slow. Journals and theaters of much smaller groups are more plentiful, and the closure of synagogues and the shortage of religious facilities have impaired Jews in pursuit of their belief. We are deeply troubled that there should be articles in Soviet journals of many republics expressing hostility to the Jewish people as such and using such terms as ‘vermin, bloodsuckers, parasites,’ in combination with caricatures of Jews.”
While professing an understanding of the objections expressed by Premier Khrushchev to economic offenses, the appeal declared: We feel, however, that the death penalty upon citizens accused of these crimes harms the Soviet Union and allows those hostile to her to malign her. We consider the fact that 60 per cent of those executed are Jews to be gravely disturbing. We are troubled by prison sentences imposed for the preparation by individuals of unleavened bread.”
The signatories stressed their friendship for the Soviet Union and expressed the hope that “no Soviet citizen will misunderstand when we speak frankly or conclude that we wish to harm the Soviet Union or cooperate with those who promote the Cold War.” They stressed that the spirit in which the appeal was made is one of concern and not of condemnation.”
“We fervently hope,” the appeal declared, “that nothing will take place which obliges us to believe Jews are receiving unjust treatment in contradiction to law and that those who break Soviet laws concerning economic offenses will be treated without undue severity instead of being put to death. We cannot too strongly appeal for understanding of the difficulty experienced by those in the West who are working dedicatedly to ease tension, promote peaceful coexistence, and to end the Cold War. These objects are harmony by events which those who desire the Cold War can exploit and which trouble us who wish peace and good relations.”
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