The West German Federal Cabinet will deal tomorrow with the question of the activities of West German scientists and technicians reported to be working on advanced weapons for the Nasser regime in Egypt. Israel has formally accused the West Germans of working on internationally banned weapons designed to be used against Israel.
All aspects of the issue were considered today at a departmental meeting of the affected West German Ministries. At the same time, the opposition Social Democratic Parliamentary unit urged the Federal Government to do everything possible to preserve West Germany’s reputation abroad.
Foreign observers in West Germany’s capital meanwhile were reported as being concerned over the fact that the Federal Government was handling Israel’s urgent appeal for action to withdraw the German scientists from Egypt within the most formal and strictest legal framework, without regard to Germany’s Nazi past, and with no consideration for Israel’s view that the weapons under development threaten Israel’s very existence.
It was noted that suggestions had been made that a action of the basic Federal law, Article 26, might provide a basis for legislation to bring an end to such West German scientific aid in working on the development of nuclear weapons in other countries. The article specifies that “activities tending to disturb or undertaken with the intention of disturbing peaceful relations between nations and especially preparations for aggressive war shall be unconstitutional” and “subject to punishment, ” Official sources here said, however, that West German courts probably would allow appeals by scientists against such legislation.
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.