State Department Report Claims Anti-semitism in Poland Has ‘abated’

The State Department disclosed Monday that the U.S. Government has been interceding with Poland on behalf of Polish Jewry and has now concluded that the anti-Semitic campaign has “abated.” The Department’s report was elicited by Rep. Frank Horton, New York Republican, who has been pressing for action to relieve the plight of Jews in Communist nations. Colgate S. Prentice, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations, wrote to Rep. Horton.

Mr. Prentice said that “on numerous occasions we have made clear to the Polish Government our concern over reports of anti-Semitic activities. The anti-Semitic campaign which reached its heights in Poland during the first half of 1968 has abated; since that time Jews wishing to leave Poland have by and large been able to do so. Our embassy in Warsaw is continuing to observe closely events in Poland, and our missions at Vienna, Geneva and other European capitals are also reporting such information as is available to them on the emigration of Jews from Poland.”

The official said the State Department was “continuing to facilitate in any way we can the immigration of Polish Jews who wish to come to the United States. We treat their visa applications as sympathetically and expeditiously as possible.” Rep. Horton is chairman of the Mideast Policy Committee of the “Members of Congress For Peace Through Law” organization. Commenting on the State Department letter, he said he would continue efforts to help Polish Jewry because he is continuing to receive distressing reports. He said he was “saddened by the overt anti-Semitism that has pervaded Communist Poland. This is a dangerous sign, and one whose impact should not be missed by the world community.”

ASSISTANCE FOR SOVIET JEWS SEVERELY LIMITED

Mr. Prentice also responded to Rep. Horton’s query on the Jews of the Soviet Union and measures to assist them. The State Department said that “extreme Soviet sensitivity to what it regards as interference in its internal affairs severely limits the utility of diplomatic initiatives or statements by U.S. officials on behalf of Soviet citizens. In the case of Soviet Jews, there is an added danger that such statements will only reinforce existing prejudices and suspicions.” Mr. Prentice pointed out that “the existence of Israel has made Soviet Jews vulnerable to official attack on grounds of divided loyalty and they are suspect of having ties with Western Jewry in general.” He saw no indication that the USSR was “prepared to abandon efforts to promote the religious and cultural assimilation of Soviet Jews into atheistic Soviet society. We will continue to express the U.S. Government’s concern over this question in every effective way possible.”