2,000 Demonstrate in Paris Against Germany’s Decision on Nazis

More than 2,000 persons attended a mass demonstration here last night to protest against West Germany’s decision to permit the statute of limitations on prosecution of Nazi war criminals to become effective next May. The meeting, organized by the Federation of Jewish Societies, was one of the largest ever held in Paris under Jewish auspices.

Raymond Schmittlin, vice-president of the French National Assembly, one of the speakers, called on the United Nations to intervene on the issue so that “justice will be upheld.” He also protested strongly against the continued activities of some 500 West German scientists in Egypt, working on advanced weapons systems. He said they “now plot Israel’s destruction and the finish of a task they were unable to complete during the Second World War.”

He also recalled that he, together with Deputy Coste Floret, submitted a bill to the Assembly which would bar any ban on prosecution for war crimes and genocide in France. He said the bill, which will come up for discussion next week, seemed to have the support of deputies of all French parties and of all political views.

Leon Boutbien, vice-president of the French National Resistance Council, also assailed the scheduled application in West Germany of the limitations statute next May. He called on the world powers to pass an international convention to exempt from any limitation laws crimes against humanity and genocide.

Salomon Friederich, the secretary-general of the French-Israel Alliance, appealed to French Jews to make their voices heard in the issue and not to let “murderers and torturers get away Scot free.”