Despite assurances by Chancellor Leopold Figl and Foreign Minister Karl Gurber that the Austrian Government was prepared to start discussion on Jewish reparation claims with representatives of major Jewish organizations it was announced here today that the Cabinet had definitely decided not to undertaken ### discussions.
An official announcement said that the decision was taken in view of the fact that the present government considers itself provisional and does not want to initiate any binding agreements untill after the national elections early next year. It was indicated that Foreign Minister Gurber will explain to Jewish organizations in the United States the reason for the postponement when he arrives in New York early next month.
Observers here belief that the reason for the postponement is that the two leading parties–the ### Party and the Social Democratic Party – which compose the Cabinet did not want to ### non-Jewish voters during the election campaign. The government ### afraid that Arab delegates at the United Nations may vote against Austrian during the debate on Austrian’s fate at the United Nations next month, should the Austrian Cabinet agree to discuss the payment of reparations to Jews.
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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.
