B'NAI B'RITH LEADERS SEE POPE AND FRANCO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000300350002-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 19, 1998
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 23, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

the declaration should start work
soon.
They came to Rome after a meet-
ing in Vienna wlth the Austrian
Chancellor, Dr. Josef Klaus, in the
course of which they urged the
introduction of legislation making
antisemitism a crime against the
State. They advocated improved
methods of teaching democratic
ideals in schools and the prepara-
tion of text-books which would deal
adequately with the Nazi period.
They also asked the Chancellor
to give consideration to a
memorandum presented 'by the
American Council for Equal Com-
pensation in association with the
World Association of Jewish Vic-
tims of Nazism from Austria which
details Austria's negative attitude
on many questions of restitution.
From Rome, Dr. Wexler and Mr.
Joftes went to Madrid where they
were meeting General Franco to
discuss the implications for the
Jewish community. in the new law'
providing for a " legal shield" to
guarantee religious liberty. They
were also to discuss whether inter-
national organisations, such as
B'nai B'rith, would be allowed to
function in Spain.
Sanitized - Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000300350002-5
Sanitized - approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000300350002-5
-Hopes that 'the Ecumenical
Council's declaration on the Jews
would be vigorously implemented
and that its message would perco-
late down to parish level were
expressed during a meeting with .
Pope Paul on Monday by Dr.
William Wexler, the president of
B'nai B'rith, and Mr. Saul Joftes,
its general secretary.
The two men, who said that the
Pope's attitude was " very co-opera-
tive," put forward a plea that the
' ? special ad hoc commission which
was to be formed to give effect to