Austrian Chancellor Attends Re-opening of Claims Talks with Jews

The long-awaited meeting between the Austrian Government and representatives of Jewish and other organizations interested in restitution for victims of the Nazis opened today with the Austrian Government making no new offer of any substance. At the conclusion of the meeting there was little optimism among the four delegates representing the Jewish Committee for Claims on Austria.

Representing the Austrian Government at today’s session were: Chancellor Julius Raab; Deputy Chancellor Adolf Schaerf; Finance Minister Reinhardt Kamitz; Foreign Minister Leopold Figl, and Minister of Social Administration Karl Maisel, Representing the Jewish committee were: Dr. Nehemiah Robinson; Seymour Rubin; Charles Kapralik, and Jehoshua Guvrin. H. Propper represented an organization of Jews who had been converted to Christianity, but whose members were victimized by the Nazis.

Dr. Kamitz handed the representatives a short memorandum outlining the Austrian proposals, following this with an expanded oral presentation. The proposals were similar to those offered by him last fall. The Jewish representatives then asked a number of questions about legislative measures Austria will put into effect to aid victims of the Nazis. There has been some improvement in this field, particularly in reference to eliminating discrimination against former Austrians now living abroad and in restoring social security rights.

The Austrian Ministers insisted that these improvements were of major importance for needy Jews abroad. The claims committee group will further explore the effect of such legislation in discussions with various Austrian officials. The four are due to meet again with the Austrian Ministers on Thursday. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Austrian proposals there is a strong possibility that this will be the last meeting between the two parties.