Trial of Nine Soviet Doctors Starts Today in Moscow

The trial of the nine prominent Soviet physicians accused of causing the death of Andrei Zhdanov, late Soviet leader, under instructions from American Jews, and plotting to kill other high Soviet officials, is scheduled to start in Moscow tomorrow, it was reported here today. No indication was given whether the trial will be open to the public.

The Soviet press continues, in the meantime, its intensified anti-Jewish propaganda. Pravda, leading Communist newspaper, came out yesterday with a bitter attack against “Jewish nationalists” in Soviet Lithuania, charging them with being “in the pay of American imperialism” and working as spies for the United States. In Soviet Ukraine the press similarly attacks “Jewish nationalists” and describes them as servants of American imperialism.

Sir David Kelly, former British Ambassador to Moscow, told a meeting of the Overseas League here that the Soviet rulers “are hitting at Jews now for the simple reason that Jews did not and could not fit into Stalin’s system, because of their connections all over the world and above all because of their extremely open minds and high intelligence.” Sir David served as Ambassador to Moscow from 1949 to 1951.

Reports reaching here from Hong Kong say that Communist authorities in China have indicated they want all foreign Jews to leave the country as soon as possible. At present there are 1,180 Jews in China and the Joint Distribution Committee and Israel Government representatives in Hong Kong have been transferring small groups of Jews to Israel, with priority going to those who are young, are technicians or who have guarantors in Israel. Many of the Jews still in China are aged and ill and under the care of Jewish welfare bodies.