West Germany’s decision not to extend the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes was strongly condemned last night by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, in an address opening the meeting of the European executive of the WJC here.
“The decision of the Government of the Federal German Republic,” Dr. Goldmann said, “means that large numbers of Nazi criminals will go scot free after expiration of the 20-year time limit for prosecutions, next May.” He suggested that the West German Government follow the practice of Britain and the United States where, he asserted, persons charged with murder “are not protected by any statute of limitations.”
Turning to the problem of German scientists employed by the Egyptian armaments industry, Dr. Goldmann “deplored” that Germany had so far failed to take adequate steps to secure the recall of German scientists and technicians from Egypt. “These Nazis,” he declared, “are not only a threat to Israel but also to world peace.”
On the question of indemnification of Nazi victims, Dr. Goldmann stated: “I appreciate the great efforts made by the Federal German Government to mitigate, by compensation and indemnification, the hardships endured by the survivors of Nazi persecution. I trust that this noble action will be adequately completed by generosity in dealing with those thousands of persons who have so far received no compensation at all or have only been partially compensated.” Dr. Goldmann was referring, in particular, to those Jews who reached the West after 1953 and who are excluded by existing German legislation from submitting claims for compensation.
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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.
