The British Government has no intention at the present time of approaching the German Government to urge it to take concrete steps in the matter of Israeli reparations claims, it was indicated here today following the announcement in Germany that the leaders of the German delegation to The Hague had resigned in protest against the policy of high German official with regard to Israel’s claims.
Sources close to the government said that Britain had throughout the negotiations considered them “exclusively an affair between Israel and Germany.” They also indicated that the British Government has not been requested by anybody to ask Germany to make concrete proposals to Israel.
Jewish circles here close to both the Israeli and Jewish reparations negotiators believe that there are two possible developments which may follow the resignation of Prof. Franz Boehm and Dr. Otto Kuester. One is that the Western powers may step in and ask the West German Government to speed a satisfactory offer to and settlement with Israel. In the event the Western powers show no inclination to take such action, the German Government will probably appoint a new delegation with whom the Israelis and the Jews will have to start again from scratch.
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