A West German Foreign Office spokesman, commenting today on the German-Arab talks which opened yesterday in Cairo, said that he thought it was possible that the implementation of the German-Israel reparations pact would coincide with the implementation of German trade pacts with the Arabs, which will be concluded soon as a result of the present discussions in Cairo.
The spokesman said that the “simple purpose” of the German delegation which now in Cairo is to work out the basis for the trade agreements with the Arab states. A report received here said that a trade delegation from Communist East Germany is expected in Cairo this week to discuss expansion of the current barter agreement in effect between East Germany and Egypt.
It was revealed here today that Egypt had demanded a long-term credit of $250,000,000 from West Germany as the price of convincing the Arab League not to boycott the Germans if they make reparations payments to Israel. It is understood that Dr. Westrick will attempt to cut the Egyptian demands.
Indications that Germany is willing to extend credit to Egypt were seen in reports that the German National Bank had agreed to make available several hundred million marks to the Egyptian Government. The Egyptian plan calls for this loan to be extended over and above the annual trade between the two states. Last year this amounted to $70,000,000.
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