German Chancellor Favors Extension of Nazi Trials; Tells Goldmann

Chancellor Ludwig Erhard was reported here today as indicating that he personally was in favor of extending the statute of limitations for trying Nazi war criminals for another 10 years, but was bound by the decision of his Cabinet to end the term for prosecution of such criminals next May.

The sentiments of Chancellor Erhard were revealed here following a meeting which Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, had with him this weekend. He was reported as having assured Dr. Goldmann that the matter was not closed. Dr. Goldmann suggested to him to extend the statute of limitations by 20 or 30 years beyond next May.

Dr. Goldmann also drew the attention of the West German Chancellor that the people in Israel are deeply concerned over the fact that Germany has thus far taken no legislative steps to force the recall of the German scientists and research workers employed in Egypt by Nasser.

The World Jewish Congress leader also reiterated previous requests by the Jewish Claims Conference that the compensation laws here be broadened so as to include those Nazi victims who were unable to file indemnification applications prior to the cut-off date of October 1, 1953. There are said to be 100,000 to 150,000 such Nazi victims, the vast majority of them Jews, who were unable to file claims prior to 1953 because they were by that time still isolated in Communist countries.

(West German President Heinrich Luebke was asked today by the Jewish Labor Committee to veto a bill passed by the West German Parliament which provides pensions to veterans of the Spanish “Blue Division,” which fought for Hitler during World War II. In a cable to President Luebke, Adolph Held, JDC chairman, described the bill as “an incredible action that can only appear as a symbolic pat on the back for fascists who fought so that Hitler might rule the world.”)