West German Ambassador Heinrich Khappstein made known here today, after meeting with Secretary of State Dean Rusk, that the United States may be intervening with Israel in support of West Germany to calm down “the very emotional reactions” to Germany’s difficulties with Egypt. The Ambassador voiced disappointment about Israel’s reaction, stating that West Germany “had done a great deal for them.” He said Mr. Rusk has also agreed to support the German position in the Arab countries, in connection with the current controversy. The Ambassador and the Secretary discussed further contacts in that region.
The Ambassador stressed that the United States favored and urged West Germany to embark on the arms project involving Israel. He said his Government had been in permanent consultation with the United States on Middle East problems, and that the two governments were now jointly attempting to calm down “the very emotional reactions” by Israel and the Arab states.
Ambassador Knappstein also said that they touched on Jewish threats to boycott West Germany, and felt that this was so far only a move by private individuals. He said the boycott subject did not come up yesterday when he met with the Conference of Presidents of American Jewish Organizations. He added that a full-page advertisement placed in today’s New York Times by the Jewish War Veterans was “deeply unfair and unjust, to say the least.” The advertisement protested West German policies.
In response to reporters’ questions on a related German subject, the Ambassador said that he now has the impression that there is a growing majority in the West German Parliament, seeking in one way or another to extend the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes.
State Department today made known that it disapproves of “private boycotts” by Americans of Jewish faith, arising from recent West German policies. Referring to reports that some American Jewish businessmen were no longer buying German products, State Department spokesman Robert McCloskey issued a comment on behalf of the Department.
Mr. McCloskey said that, “as a matter of principle, we do not favor private boycotts as a form of retaliation, and I would say that this policy would apply no matter what the reason or inspiration for such a boycott.”
Meanwhile, however, strong reactions were voiced here today against Bonn’s anti-Israeli stop. A dozen members of the House of Representatives, including members of both parties, protested very sharply against Bonn’s “capitulation” to Egypt.
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.
