Jewish Situation in Algeria and Russia Reviewed by Board of Deputies

Persecutions of Jews in Russia and the situation of Algerian Jewry under that area’s new provisional government, were discussed here yesterday at the monthly meeting of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, central representative body of British Jewry.

Sir Barnett Janner, president of the Board, repeated an appeal he voiced to the Soviet Government two months ago, requesting clemency for Russian Jews sentenced to death for alleged “economic offenses.” He also reiterated protests against the Soviet ban on the baking of matzohs in state factories this year.

Referring to an anti-Israeli statement made in Cairo last week by Ahmed BenBella, vice-premier of the Provisional Algerian Government, Sir Barnett questioned whether “such an extremist attitude by a leader of the new Algeria” must not place in “serious doubt the validity of the promises made for the future of the Jews in Algeria.”