Mikhail Souslov, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Supreme Soviet, demonstrated in London a readiness to talk with his British hosts on every imaginable topic except Jews, it was reported here today.
Mr. Souslov, the top Soviet Communist theoretician, is now in Britain for a two-week stay. He proceeded at various occasions to duck all questions about Jews even under the most intensive questioning. This stand was in marked contrast to his ready flow of opinions on all other political issues, including the delicate Berlin problem and the current Geneva talks on control of nuclear testing.
At a private dinner, he was pressed by Sir Leslie Plummer, British Labor MP, for an assurance, confidentially if necessary, that the Soviet Union would intervene with the Rumanian authorities to assure continuation of Jewish emigration and reunification with families in Israel on humanitarian grounds. Another issue raised by the non-Jewish MP was the future of Russian Jews and their chances for emigration.
Refusing to be drawn into any discussion on either topic, Mr. Souslov referred to the stereotyped Moscow announcements that there was no Jewish problem in the Soviet Union, that Russian Jews did not want to emigrate and that “it is for the Rumanian authorities to reach their own decisions. ” He implied that he had never heard about a Jewish emigration from Rumania.
Other Labor MPs, including Jewish Socialists known to be strong protagonists of peaceful co-existence between the East and West, were equally unsuccessful, though the Jewish questions were raised repeatedly at the dinner. A similar failure was registered at a luncheon tendered the Soviet official by the Foreign Press Association.
The interest displayed by British political leaders in the fate of East Europe’s Jews is linked with a renewal of interest in the nine Jews imprisoned in Czechoslovakia for “Zionist activities.” Jewish and non-Jewish Socialist leaders were understood to have asked Mr. Souslov to intervene to obtain release of the nine prisoners and permission for them to leave for Israel.
The answer of the Soviet leader was reported to be non-committal, but a number of top West European personalities were reported to have pledged themselves to continue working for their release. It is believed that many personal interventions will be made to Czech envoys in Western Europe and possibly directly to the Czechoslovak authorities in Prague soon.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
