Beame Tells Jewish Leaders World Opinion on Soviet Jews Key to Future USSR Course

The United States Ambassador to Russia, Jacob Beame, has reportedly stressed to Jewish leaders the importance of expressions of concern by European nations and European Communist parties about the condition of Soviet Jewry. Speaking Monday off the record to more than 20 top officers of the American Jewish Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Beame said that world opinion on the issue of Soviet Jewry is a key factor in determining the future course of Soviet policy. He noted, too, that internal factors are also important in affecting Soviet treatment of Russian Jews. Representatives of the two Jewish umbrella organizations were said to have impressed upon Beame that the status of Soviet Jewry is not solely a Jewish problem, but a humanitarian issue of concern to many American religious and racial groups. Beame discussed recent representations made to the Kremlin by the United States and other governments, including Canada. He assured these attending the more than 90-minute meeting at the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, that the issue of Soviet Jewry would continue to occupy an important place on the diplomatic agenda. Richard Mass, newly elected chairman of the Soviet Jewry Conference, chaired the off-the-record meeting.