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Nonetheless, there were hopes that Neto, who wants to improve relations with the West, will spare at least Gearhart and perhaps Barker. Touring U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. William Scranton took up the matter in the Ivory Coast with U.N. Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim, who will see Neto this week at the annual meeting of the Organization of African Unity. The State Department also asked the Rev. Ralph Dodge, a retired missionary who during his 20 years in Angola was close to Neto, to use his influence to ask for clemency. Dodge contacted Neto but at week's end had not received a response.