State Department spokesman Robert McCloskey made known today that the Department has decided not to object to the Ribicoff resolution which provides for Congressional condemnation of Soviet anti-Semitism. It was learned that the State Department, in view of criticism of its opposition to the Ribicoff resolution, noted the deterioration in American-Soviet relations and felt that the previous reasons for America’s opposition to the resolution no longer applied.
It has now been decided that, while the resolution may not have a significant effect, the Department feels that, under present circumstances, it can no longer object. Mr. McCloskey said that the Department’s views were contained in a letter by Assistant Secretary of State Douglas MacArthur 2nd, to Chairman J.W. Fulbright of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who had requested the current position on the pending measure.
Mr. MacArthur stated that, after weighing possible advantages against disadvantages, it had been decided not to object to adoption of the Ribicof draft at this time.
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