A regional convention of the Canadian members of B’nai B’rith cabled Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, currently on a visit to the Soviet Union, urging his intercession with Soviet leaders in behalf of the nine Jews convicted last week. The delegates also asked that Trudeau make appropriate representations to the Soviet government for the freedom of other Jews arrested and awaiting trial, and for the right of Soviet Jews to emigrate. Meanwhile, it was learned that Trudeau told reporters in Tashkent that he made strong representations to Soviet Premier Alexsei Kosygin on behalf of Soviet Jews who wished to emigrate to Israel. Trudeau indicated his plea was not received warmly. Kosygin replied he was free to make representations for Jews but that the Soviet Union is also free to follow its own policies. Kosygin stated that large numbers of Soviet Jews go to Israel but each case is judged on its own merit.
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.
