German Deferment of Payments to Nazi Victims Raised in Commons

Sir Barnett Janner requested in Parliament today that the British Government urge the West German Government, “on humanitarian grounds,” not to go through with its plans to defer 1966 payments to certain victims of Nazism, including about 150,000 Jews, due to budgetary curtailments.

George Thomson, Minister of State of the Foreign Office, told Sir Barnett that the Government has “the greatest sympathy” for the victims of Nazism who would have to wait longer to receive their indemnification, but declared that the matter was one that should be left to the German Government.

In his intervention, Sir Barnett–who is also chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Board of Deputies of British Jews–said it was “wrong” that “people on the verge of death, in many cases, some very old people and others who have been waiting for 20 years to obtain compensation” should be affected by budget curtailment. He asked Mr. Thomson if the Foreign Office would stress to the German Government the fact that “there are a large number of people, here and elsewhere, who are deeply disturbed by the proposed action” of the German Government on this issue.

Another member of the House, Anthony Kershaw, a Conservative, also asked Mr. Thomson to make such presentations to Bonn. Mr. Thomson told the House that he had expressed his feelings on the matter. He added that the British Government would, as always, take into account “the obvious feelings expressed here today,” and said that he had no doubt that “the concern expressed on both sides of the House” would be widely reported.