Austrian diplomatic officials in the United States and in Israel are blamed in official circles here for the “antagonistic” attitude which American Jewry has taken toward Chancellor Julius Raab of Austria during his current visit to Washington and New York.
It was indicated in official circles here today that the Austrian Government was not aware of the extent to which the effect of Chancellor Raab’s visit to the United States might be marred by Jewish dissatisfaction with the stand which the Austrian Cabinet has taken toward meeting Jewish claims for restitution and heirless property. This, it was said here, was due to the fact that Austrian diplomatic officials in Washington and Tel Aviv had sent reports to Vienna to the effect that the Jewish organizations would take no effective action to support their claims against Austria.
Particular blame is laid on the Austrian diplomatic representatives in Israel. They, more than the representatives in the United States, are charged with inadequately warning the government of the difficulties that might be expected from world Jewish organizations seeking compensation for Jewish victims of the Nazi regime in Austria. Their optimistic report were taken seriously by the government here, because Israel is regarded in Austria as reflecting Jewish sentiment all over the world.
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