Adenauer Assures Dr. Goldmann of Action Against Anti-semitism

The West German Government will do everything in its power to prevent the recurrence of anti-Semitic incidents such as burst on the scene in recent weeks and months, Chancellor Konrad Adenauer promised Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, at an audience this week-end.

The Chancellor reiterated to Dr. Goldmann what he had earlier stated in a several-days long debate in the West German Parliament, that the incidents were “isolated” occurrences which were not condoned by the German people. Both at the audience and earlier in Parliament, the Chancellor sharply condemned the anti-Jewish outbursts.

Additionally, the Chancellor pledged that Federal and state governments would join in seeking ways and means of implementing the indemnification law. That program, he promised, would meet its deadline. He promised favorable consideration of a number of detailed measures designed to speed indemnification which Dr. Goldmann laid before him.

Meanwhile, in Parliament, Socialist leader Adolf Arndt opposed as “imprudent and dangerous to free expression” a Cabinet proposal to make group libel of a national or religious group a criminal offense. This is a reversal, since in the past the Social Democrats have favored such legislation.

Other deputies, including Free Democratic Party men, spoke out against the government’s return to official positions former Nazi judges and prosecutors. Christian Democratic Union members protested bitterly when the Socialists held Finance Minister Frits Schaeffer responsible, in part, for the wave of anti-Semitism. The Socialists said he contributed to the outbursts when he charged last year that restitution to the Jews would exceed $6,000,000,000.

Frisking in his own defense, Herr Schaeffer pointed out that in his official capacity he had signed the Indemnification Law, adding that his remarks were aimed at the “financial effects” of the indemnification program. He said this view had been confirmed by Jewish organizations, adding: “I am covered by the decency of the Jews.”