The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith today made public a State Department reply to the ADL protest against continuing Arab discrimination against American visa applicants of Jewish faith.
In a message to Philip Klutznick, president of B’nai B’rith, William Rountree, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, said the department was glad to “have the benefit” of his views. “However,” Mr. Rountree added, “we believe our-efforts should be focused on a removal of the basic causes for the continuance of friction between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The resolutions introduced by the United States into the United Nations General Assembly on November 3 are examples of the type of action which may assist in this respect.”
Commenting on Mr. Routree’s reply, Mr. Klutznick said: “A permanent settlement of the issues in the Middle East is devoutly to be hoped for, and there are none who pray for it more than we do, but we cannot accept the principle that the recognition of the privileges of American citizenship should be deferred until such a settlement.”
Henry Edward Schultz was unanimously re-elected national chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith at the 43rd annual meeting of the organization held here. Mr. Schultz has held the League chairmanship since 1950.
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