Moscow Students In Demonstration

Press, Volume C, Issue 29638, 7 October 1961, Page 15

Moscow Students In Demonstration

(hjf Pul .-Reuter—Copv**olp> MOSCOW, October 6. Soviet students clashed with their professors in the 32,000 student skyscraper Moscow University yesterday during a visit by 30 Western “peace marchers.”

The clash came when the professors tried to close the meeting after an hour during which the peace marchers’ spokesman. Brad L<yttle, of New York, had been given only 15 minutes to present their views on disarmament and unilateralism. Just before the hour was up a West German marcher, 20-year-old Johannes Meyar, said: “When I came here and saw you supporting your Government on nuclear tests, I discovered that your position was no different from that adopted officially in the West"

This caused consternation f.mong the professors and members of the Soviet Peace Committee who looked after arrangements for the demonstrators in Moscow after their march across Europe, which ended in the Red Square on Wednesday. When they tried to close the meeting, they were met with shouts from the 200 Soviet students, who also pounded on. the desks with their fists. One student rose and shouted: “Let them talk. Do not agree with them. But let them have their say.” As officials pleaded that the auditorium had to be vacated for a lecture, several students rose to their feet and shouted “Nonsense.” The meeting then went on for another 90 minutes.

As the peace marchers left they were given a standing ovation.

On Wednesday, the peace marchers complained that the Russian authorities had killed

e their campaign in Moscow » with kindness. ; Their Russian hosts had f arranged such a number of f tourist and cultural trips for i them that there was little t time for meeting people, and t distributing disarmament leaflets, the group told a press s conference. No answer has been re- ; reived to their request for a 1 meeting with Mr Khrushchev r British United Press reported* i, The marchers said that the r signs that they carried had i to be submitted for approval • to the Russian peace committee.

Correspondents were also told that the group bad promised to abstain from civil disobedience demonstrations while in Russia.