Dr. Goldmann Criticizes A.J.C. for Approaching Germany Directly

Dr. Nahum Goldmann, co-chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, who is here for a three-day visit, told a press conference that he estimated American Jews will give to Israel twice as much this year as last year through the United Jewish Appeal and Israel bond drive together. Dr. Goldmann said that the 23rd World Zionist Congress, recently concluded in Jerusalem, “went off better than was expected.”

Touching on the forthcoming conference in New York of Jewish organizations from all parts of the world which will take up the question of German restitution, Dr. Goldmann said the meeting cannot regulate relations between Germany and the Jewish people, “this being a political problem which will be resolved by history,” but can merely press for material reparations which may help considerably in the reconstruction of Israel and “must not be neglected. Dr. Goldmann criticized the American Jewish Committee for addressing the German Government directly, which he said no other Jewish body had done.

“It is not important why Chancellor Adenauer made his statement (on German restitution to the Jews),” Dr. Goldmann said. “I do not deal in psychoanalysis. But he made the offer to discuss restitution and we must consider it in view of Israel’s necessities,” he added. Emphasizing that Jewish organizations in Allied countries have been invited together with Israel to consider Dr. Adenauer’s offer at the conference, Dr. Goldmann declared that Argentine Jewry, being an important factor, has also been invited – through the DAIA – to participate in the New York meeting. Dr. Benjamin Rinsky and H. Swarsenky, editor of the German-Jewish periodical, Judische Wochenschau, are Argentine Jewry’s delegates to the parley.