The Canadian Jewish Congress reported today it had been informed by West German Ambassador Kurt Oppler that “current pensions and cases of medical treatment” of victims of Nazism would not be affected by new West German legislation authorizing deferment of compensation to a special group of such victims.
Dr. Oppler made the statement in replying to a protest from the CJC against the possible deferment, during 1966 and 1967 of an estimated $100,000,000 in each year in such cases. Those affected would be about 150,000 claimants, most of them Jews, who were in Iron Curtain countries in October, 1953, the deadline for filing claims in the original West German indemnification laws, and hence could not file. A special hardship fund was set up to cover their needs but the Government obtained postponement legislation on grounds of “budgetary difficulties.”
In his reply, the envoy declared that his government had no intention “to evade the fulfilment of its solemn obligation for the indemnification of victims of Nazism. The arguments advanced by Jewish organizations will be earnestly taken into consideration.” He added that “in view of the serious financial situation with which the Federal Government is confronted, the new budget legislation will be in the general interest and particularly in the interest of those who are still entitled to indemnification.”
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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.
