The German-Israel reparations agreement will enter into effect officially this week, after being promulgated in the Federal Gazette. The bill ratifying the agreement was signed this week-end by West German Federal President Theodor Heuss, after it had been approved unanimously by the Upper House.
The exchange of the ratification documents between Germany and Israel is expected to take place this week in the office of the United Nations Secretary General in New York. West German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer today termed ratification of the agreement by the Bonn Parliament as being of “far-reaching significance.”
The Foreign Office here issued statement declaring that the Federal Government would agree in principle to the appointment of a ”trustee” to carry out the Provisions of the reparations pact. This trustee. the statement said, world have to be a personality ”acceptable to all parties concerned.” At the same time. the Foreign Office emphasized that West German Federal Government is determined to improve and strengthen Germany’s relations with the Arab states.
(The New York Times today reported form Cairo that a high Egyptian Minister, who would not permit himself to be identified by name, has indicated that an Arab economic boycott of West Germany in reprisal for Bonn’s ratification of the reparations agreement with Israel would conflict with Egypt’s desire to consolidate relations with the German.)
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