USSR (Jewish Scientists) (Hansard, 15 May 1972)

§ 15. Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make representations to the Soviet Government regarding the recent harassment of Soviet Jewish scientists who have sought to join relatives in Israel in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

§ Mr. Kershaw
The Soviet Government are well aware of our views on the general issue in question. We have no proper standing to take up individual cases, and indeed this might be counter-productive.

§ Mr. Janner
Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Jewish prayer book sent 22 via BEA to Leonid Slepak, the son of one of Moscow's most harassed Jewish scientists, has been impounded by the Soviet authorities and that, unless the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Cormack) has other information, it remains in the Moscow customs shed?
As 200 hon. Members, including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and, I believe, the Minister himself have associated themselves with this unique personal and very kindly gift, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to seek an opportunity at an early date to inform the Soviet authorities that their failure promptly to hand over this book is quite inexplicable by ordinary civilised standards?

§ Mr. Kershaw
I take this opportunity to congratulate the hon. and learned Gentleman on his initiative in this matter. We are hopeful that the detention of this prayer book on the ground that it should have been sent freight or something like that is only a matter of official bumbledom and we are endeavouring to clarify the position.

§ Mr. Cormack
Is my hon. Friend aware that I spoke to the elder brother of the boy concerned on the telephone to Moscow about an hour and a half ago and that I shall be telephoning him again later this afternoon? Will my hon. Friend promise to take up this matter at an early stage with the Soviet Ambassador should the official bumbledom become fossilisation?

§ Mr. Kershaw
I have taken note of my hon. Friend's comments. I very much hope that we will be able to help but it would be premature for me to say now exactly what we would do.