Adenauer Gives Washington His Views on Pact with Israel

German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer today said here that the West German Government considers the reparations pact with Israel and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany “amoral obligation” which is taken “extremely seriously” by all the German people. Speaking at the National Press Club, he declared:

“I believe that the treaty with Israel, which was ratified by the Bundestag by such an overwhelming majority, reflects the strongest denial of the spirit of National Socialism. This attempt at restitution was taken as a moral obligation by all the German people, and it has been taken extremely seriously. We fully realize that those crimes committed by the Hitler regime cannot be undone, nor can the resultant suffering be reversed, no matter how high the financial compensation. But we have voluntarily gone beyond a moral obligation by making a legal contract.”

Dr. Adenauer stated that published reports in the United States about a danger of Neo-Nazism in Germany did not “conform to reality.” He added: “Naturally, there are still a few die-hard Nazis in Germany. Indeed, it would be a miracle if this were not the case. That sort of people can also be found, for example, in France and Great Britain, since Naumann received support from persons in those countries. But a few Nazis do not by a long sight make for a German people controlled by National Socialism. There can be no serious talk about the danger of a Neo-Nazism, or right-wing radical influence on the Federal Government, or, the possibility of a new Nazi coup detect.”

Israel Ambassador Abba Eban has been invited to a reception to be tendered tomorrow by the Charge daffier of the Federal Republic of Germany in honor of Chancellor Konrad Adenauer. Israel Minister David Goitein and Counselor Y. H. Levin today attended the luncheon at the National Press Club which was addressed by Dr. Adenauer.