Dr. Goldmann Advocates Direct Negotiations with Germany for Settlement of Jewish Claims

Direct negotiations with the Bonn Government of Western Germany for a substantial cash settlement of Jewish claims for reparations, indemnification and restitution, were advocated here this week-end by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, head of the American section of the Jewish Agency and president of the World Jewish Congress.

Dr. Goldmann, who recently discussed the Jewish claims with American High Commissioner James J. McCloy in Frankfurt, said he would urge the Israel Government to authorize the world Jewish organizations to negotiate with the Bonn regime. He estimated that the yield on these claims might total one billion marks ($250,000,000). He voiced the belief that the Jewish bodies would be in a better position to deal with the Germans than the Israel Government. He expressed opposition, however, to anything that would give the Germans “formal absolution.”)