World Jewish Parley Assails Soviet Suppression of Jewish Culture

A six-point statement assailing the Soviet Government for suppressing Jewish culture in the Sorter Union, expressing hope that the Moroccan Government will permit free emigration of Jews, and pledging continued aid to Israel was issued jointly here today by leaders of major Jewish organizations from various countries following a two-day Conference at which general Jewish problems were reviewed.

The parley, held under the chairmanship of Dr. Nahum Goldmann, was called to constitute an international Jewish body to be known as the Conference of Jewish Organizations. This body is to hold regular meetings to exchange information and discuss problems of common interest, as well as to endeavor to coordinate their policies on such matters and to take such action as may be unanimously agreed upon.

The following organizations participated in the conference through their leading officers: American Jewish Congress, B’nai B’rith. Board of Deputies of British Jews, Canadian Jewish Congress, Counsel Representatif des Juifs de France, Deleration de Associaciones Israelitas Argentinas, Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Jewish Labor Committee, South African Jewish Board of Deputies, and the World Jewish Congress. A delegation of the executive of the Jewish Agency participated in the capacity of observers.

The meeting adopted the following statement:

“1. The defeat of Nazism 13 years ago brought to a close the most tragic period in Jewish history. The appalling spiritual and physical losses entailed in the Nazi annihilation of one-third of world Jewry cannot be appraised. But since this catastrophe the world has witnessed an inspiring demonstration of the Jewish capacity for self-renewal of which Israel has been the most outstanding expression.

“2. Jews everywhere cherish the State of Israel in whose creation and development they have shared. They are concerned for its security and integrity, and pray that Israel’s hope for peace with its neighbors will be speedily fulfilled. They pledge their continued aid to Israel in its task of absorption and settlement of Jewish immigrants from many lands and to the advancement of its spiritual culture and scientific institutions.

“In the light of the immense burden which Israel is called upon to sustain, it is our confident hope that Jews everywhere will fulfill their solemn obligation to assist Israel in its economic growth and consolidation. It is our prayer that Israel’s hope for peace will be speedily, fulfilled.

“3. The situation of the Jews of the Soviet Union constitutes one of the central problems of our generation. It is our duty to draw the attention of world public opinion to their plight and to seek to secure the redress of the wrongs they suffer. They are denied the facilities essential to the effective exercise of the right of cultural and communal expression, or perpetuating of their faith and developing their culture by the education of their children and youth.

“They are not permitted the right of countrywide organizations for cultural or religious purposes which other communities enjoy in the Soviet Union. They are prevented from establishing organized associations with Jewish communities in other countries on matters of common Jewish interest. They are the object of discrimination by comparison with the status and rights of other peoples and religious groups in the Soviet Union.

ASKS FOR FREE EMIGRATION OF JEWS FROM IRON CURTAIN COUNTRIES

“4. No less grave is the denial to the Jews of the Soviet Union of the right of free migration, particularly in order to settle in Israel, A similar situation exists in certain other Eastern European countries which likewise deny the right of emigration embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In some of these countries, notably Rumania, this has resulted in the human tragedy of thousands of broken homes.

“5. We express the confident hope that the Moroccan Government will now fulfill their assurances regarding the democratic right of freedom of emigration in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and will this complete the liberties and equality of citizenship granted by the Moroccan Government to their Jewish citizens.

“6. Meeting at a period of grave anxiety, we join in the prayer and hope that the world will seek a solution to its complex problems by peaceful means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. In all our actions and strivings we are guided by the vision of peace of the Hebrew prophets. We are convinced that it is within the capacity of mankind to realize this vision. It is in this spirit that we dedicate ourselves to the task of doing all that lies within our power to shape the Jewish future in peace and dignity.