' - cg-019 F l _ r P711 I 2 I I· tit· •I _ s DEPARl '1ENT OF STAT£ June 16 1978 ARGENTINA PROJECT S2 0 0044 IJ S DEPT OP STATE A RPS JPS 1 r s Harrison Dogole Mugaret P Grafei5 Director C Release N C Deny l xeinptlon s ' l i R Oeda slfy c l1n-Part 'c'-- _1n_Pu11 _ _ _ __ ' Ouaify as_ Extend as _ Downgrade 10 _ Oate _ _ _ Declas slfyon · Reuon_ Dear Mr Dogole Thank you for your April 26 letter to Robert J Lipshutz who has provided a copy to Secretary Vance concerning the situation of the Jewish community in Argentina I have been asked to respond On numerous occasions the Department has expressed its concern to the Argentine Government about reports of anti-Semitism in that country When Secretary Vance was in Argentina in November cf last year the question was discussed Our Ambassador continues to stress to the Argentines our concern over these reports Argentine g0vernment officials have responded o our concern by noting they trenuously oppos anti-Semitism that it is not Argentine Government policy and that specific leqislation has been passed which makes it a punishable offense to incite racial hatred or violence 0 Although there are still anti-Semitic magazines published in Argentina the incidences of open antisemitic activities -- swastikas painted on synagogues threats to Jewish leaders -- which occurred in 1976 and early 1977 have greatly decreased The present major concern of U S Jewry is the reports of discriminatory treatment meted out to some Jews who are imprisoned in Argentina We have heard that certain jailers berate prisoners and treat them more harshly than gentile prisoners Our concern ever these reports has been conveyed to the Argentine authorities In the case of Jacobo Timernan the United States has made repeated efforts on his behalf President Carter raised his case with Arg ntine President Videla when the latter was in Washington for the Panama Canal Treaties signing Ceremony and Secretary Vance reviewed his case in detail when he visited Aroentina in late November Since then our Ambassador and Department officials have continued to press for an early resolution of Mr Timerman's case At present he is under house arrest i I i ''l I f 1 Robert w zillmeraaM llii ec ttol' Office of East Coast Aff tn _ ' k Burueau of Inter-Aaerl oan Uf w•S4 Y r i ' I I I I I l ' l' f I '' t •' · ·r - r Drafted DVanTreeck af Clearance ARA - -- -----------1 li 78 • x- 22 17 9--5 S _j7Bll50 B ·-·--·-· f