German-jewish Reparations Talks Reported Falsely in Germany

Professor Franz Boehm, head of the German delegation which is now discussing the question of indemnification for Jews and Israel, today apologized to the Israel delegation for reports published in the press in Germany concerning the German-Israeli talks which started here this week.

One of the reports to which exception was taken appeared in a newspaper in Hamburg. It stated that there was considerable friction between the Israeli delegation and the delegates representing the Conference on Jewish Material Claims over the latter’s request for $500,000,000 from Germany. The German newspaper claimed that the Israelis fear this request will endanger the claims presented to the West German Government by Israel.

Prof. Boehm also termed “without foundation” a report which appeared in numerous German newspapers to the effect that the German delegation would ask for a 35-to-50-year period for payment of whatever sum is agreed upon at the talks here.

A spokesman for the Israeli delegation said today: “There is no disagreement between the two Jewish delegations. Each informs the other as to what it plans to do. The decision of the Conference to ask for $500,000,000 was arrived at in consultation with us at our last meeting in Paris.”

At this morning’s meeting between the Israeli and the German delegations further discussion took place on questions raised by the Germans regarding Israel’s figures on the number of immigrants and the cost of rehabilitating each Nazi victim in Israel. “We are clearing up many important points and are making headway,” the Israeli spokesman said. The German delegates told reporters at the end of today’s talks that the atmosphere at the discussions are “very good.”