Norway to Seek Extension of German Indemnification to Foreign Nationals

The Norwegian Government will raise again with the West German Government the extension of German indemnification legislation to nationals of other countries who had been persecuted by the Nazis on racial, religious or political grounds, Foreign Minister Halvard Lange disclosed today.

The West German Government has rejected a proposal by eight nations – including Norway – that an intergovernmental committee be set up to study possibilities of remedying the situation where by these Nazi victims are excluded from German compensation legislation. The Bonn authorities suggested that needy persons excluded from the benefits of this legislation be aided by charitable measures in which the Germans would participate.

Mr. Lange, when he reported this to the Norwegian Parliament, said that the German position was “unacceptable.”