Soviet Ambassador to the United States Ivan Panvushkin was requested today to verify with the Moscow government reports current here for some time that a number of leading Jewish writers in the U.S.S.R. have “disappeared” without trace. The request was addressed to him by the Yiddish P.E.N. Club of America, which represents Jewish poets, essayists and novelists in this country.
Among the writers reported to have vanished are Itzik Eeffer, who several years ago visited the United States as representative of the now-dissolved Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee of Moscow. Other writers whose fate is unknown include David Bergelson, prominent novelist: Peretz Markish, well-known post and playwright; Moshe Broderzon, noted author, and others. The P.E.N. Club asked Ambassador Panyuahkin to ascertain their whereabouts.
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