Khrushchev’s Visit—lll Jewish Problem Still Exists

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29001, 16 September 1959, Page 13

Khrushchev’s Visit—lll Jewish Problem Still Exists

[Specially written for the N.Z.P.A. by HARRISON SALISBURY, a former Moscow correspondent of the “New York Times”]

NEW YORK, September 14. The problem of the Jews is a heritage of the Stalin days which has cost thousands their homes and lives and sent thousands more into exile.

A number, still unknown, met death before firing squads.

Let us note immediately that active antiSemitism or active persecution of Jews no longer is carried out by the Soviet Government. The situation of the Jew in Russia, like that of any Soviet citizen is far better today than in the final years of Stalin’s life.

But the consequences of official anti-Semitism and its widespread dissemination among the population are far from ended. Indeed, only fumbling and halfhearted efforts have been made by the Government to face up to the reality of the problem. AntiSemitic tendencies are still alive and powerful. Active anti-Semitism made its appearance in the Soviet Union early in World War H. Soviet authorities today like to say it was brought in by the Nazis, but, if so, no effort was made by Stalin or his associates to halt the spread. “What everyone overlooks in discussing anti-Semitism under Stalin,” said one man who had lived many years in Moscow, “is that anti-Semitism was popular. People liked to believe bad things about the Jews during the war. After the war even if Stalin had wanted to stop anti-Semitic sentiment it would not have been so easy.” Stalin had no desire to halt it. Unknown to the outside world, anti-Semitism was adopted as an official policy of the Stalin Government in the autumn of 1948. It remained an official policy until Stalin’s death. “The difference between the terror of the 1930’s and that of the 1940’s was this,” one man said. “In the 1930’s you had to be important to be arrested or shot. In the 1940’s it made no difference.” These years of terror, hatred and discrimination have provided a legacy of social ills for Mr Khrushchev. Neither he nor his associates seem to have found it possible to confront the problem candidly. The families of those Jews who were executed by Stalin have been given pensions. They have been advised that the executions were unjustified. Other victims have been released from prison or returned from exile. Jews, however, are still barred from military schools, cadet schools, and the Foreign Service School, and their admission to universities is not always easy. No leading party editor was a Jew and no Jew has risen to high party position under Mr Khrushchev.

In religious matters there is also discrimination against the Jews. They have fewer and poorer houses of worship, are permitted to train few rabbis and have trouble in getting appropriate food for Jewish holidays, And there is little prospect of any positive action to correct the Jewish situation in the near future. The fact is that the Khrushchev Government, like the Stalin Government, treats the Jewish population as a national security risk. I There is no doubt that many I Jews would leave the Soviet | Union if permitted. . . . But immigration is not permitted. Mr Khrushchev’s Christian I problem is of a different order. It stems from the strong revival in religion that got under way in the Soviet Union during World War II and has continued to the present time. Large numbers of Russian orthodox churches have reopened since World War 11. ‘

Alarmed by the growing attraction of the church for young people, the Communist Party has lumbered out its old propaganda weapons. Atheistic literature is to be found on every bookstand. Atheistic lectures are delivered in neighbourhood halls. Neighbourhood atheist societies have been formed. And the Communist youth organisation is devoting much energy to combating the effects of religion on the young. But this campaign against religion seems to have had little effect. Moscow’s churches last Easter showed little change.