Rabbi Schacter Reports on Presidents’ Conference Session with Rogers

Rabbi Herschel Schacter, chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, said today following a meeting of the group with Secretary of State William P. Rogers that “profound concern” about American policy statements on the Middle East had been expressed to the Secretary. The statement read as follows: “A delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations met at length today with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. They conveyed the deep concerns and apprehensions of the American Jewish community over the recent U.S. proposals in the Middle East.

“The presidents conveyed their fear that these developments will strengthen Arab intransigence and Soviet designs, and lead to an imposed settlement between the parties.” This heretofore, has not been the stated policy of our Government.

“The discussion was frank and useful. In concluding the discussion, the delegation expressed its continuing profound concern over recent American policy statements as contributing neither to the long term interests of the U.S. nor to the security of Israel or the cause of peace in the Middle East.”