The quantity of matzoth which the Soviet Government will permit to be imported into the country for Russian Jews during the coming Passover holiday is still a matter of negotiation.
This statement was made to the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency upon inquiry made by him concerning a Riga despatch to the effect that permission had been given for the importation of 15,000 pud matzoth instead of 50,000 pud matzoth flour from Germany alone. The Riga despatch also stated that the Soviet Government had cancelled all permits for matzoth granted within Russia, as Russian Jewry would be amply supplied with matzoth from abroad.
The problem of supplying matzoth for the Russian Jews is complicated not only because of the negotiations as to the amount required and the question of duty, but also because of the fear of the impression which may be made on some parts of the non-Jewish population. The steps to facilitate shipment of matzoth to Soviet Russia may be viewed, it is feared, as a special privilege to the Jews, should an insufficient quantity of flour be available for the general population during the Passover season.
The Riga despatch stated that permission had been withdrawn from Rabbi Katzenelenson of Leningrad to import flour from Siberia. The fact is that the Siberian Government had refused permission for the export of flour for matzoth, it was explained to the correspondent here.
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