West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, who is here on a visit, replying to newsmen’s queries as to whether there had been a change of heart in Germany since Hitler’s persecution of the Jews, said that “this persecution was felt to be a very grave moral burden on the Federal German Republic. “
West Germany, he continued, would “endeavor in the future, to the best of its ability, to repair the damage that has been done to Jewry and to recognize this as a duty binding on her, and also as an ethical obligation.”
The West German leader stated that negotiations on the problem of reparations for Jews had been held up by the fact that various Jewish organizations dealing with the matter had not yet been in agreement. “Now that they have come together, and are in contact with the Israel Government, negotiations can begin, ” he added. He expressed the hope that the negotiations would conclude successfully.
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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.