Soviet Jewry was discussed at a breakfast meeting Friday at the State Department between Secretary of State Henry A Kissinger and Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin. The State Department, however, refused to give any details. Department spokesman Robert Funseth said the meeting took place at Kissinger’s invitation to discuss “a broad range” of subjects.
Asked whether “the harassment of Jewish dissidents and their reported beatings” were among the topics. Funseth replied. “The situation of Jews in the Soviet Union was discussed.” He added. “I cannot be more specific.”
It was pointed out that Democratic Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter had cabled protests against the beatings of 12 Soviet Jews almost two weeks earlier after they participated in a sit-in at the Supreme Soviet building in Moscow but that there had been no public statement from the White House. Asked if the U.S. government had made any presentation on this issue, Funseth said, “I can’t say. The Soviet Union is very much aware of our position on Soviet Jews.”
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