The German-Jewish weekly “Allgemeine Wochenzeitung Der Juden” today reported that the West German Government will place reconstruction material worth 10,000,000 German marks–approximately $2,500,000–at the disposal of the state of Israel. This information, Reuters reported, had been given to the editor of the weekly newspaper by Dr. Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of the West German Federal Republic.
(In London, informed sources today stated that the purported offer by Chancellor Adenauer is likely to be followed by further substantial allocations of goods to the Jewish state, without in any way affecting the restitution claims by Jews. Israel and other official sources in London refused to comment on the reported offer. At the Israel legation it was observed that “this is a question involving major policy.”)
Dr. Adenauer was quoted as saying that the West German Government was resolved to carry out the measures concerning the reparation of damage done to the Jews by the Nazis. The Chancellor was reported to have added: “We shall not fight anti-Semitism merely because it is disagreeable to our foreign and internal policy, but because we strongly oppose it for humanitarian reasons.”
Dr. Adenauer also said in the interview that a Jewish Affairs Branch would be established in the West German Ministry of Interior. The department would be headed by a German Jew. This would give all Jews in Germany the assurance that the West German Government will do everything to safeguard their full civic and political rights, the Chancellor is reported to have pointed out.
“The Jewish communities in Germany will continue to exist,” Dr. Adenauer added. “Germany needs the Jewish element, the Jewish intellect, we can and will not do without full Jewish cooperation with equal rights and duties for the reconstruction of our country.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
