KAUNAS (Nov. 13)
Exchange of Lithuanians in Russia for Jews and White Russians in the Wilno region has been proposed by the Soviet Government, it was reported here today. At least 100,000 persons would be affected by the proposed transfer, it was said.
Meanwhile, the Wilno frontier has been closed by the Soviet authorities. Prior to barring of the border, a total of 8,000 Jews emigrated from the Wilno region to Russia.
The number of Jews in the “no-man’s-land” area along the Nazi-Lithuanian frontier is increasing as a result of expulsion of Jews by the Germans from more Polish towns. The situation of the deportees is particularly tragic because of the continuous rain that is falling in the region. Some of the exiles have died of exposure. Two sons buried their 70-year-old mother, inscribing on her grave the epitaph: “A Victim of Exile.”
The Lithuanian Jews are unable to help the deportees to a greater extent than they already have. One township numbering 300 families has already received 700 refugees and is suffering from a shortage of clothes and medicaments.
The Lithuanian police have arrested a number of illegal entrants and are deporting several of them.