German-jewish Talks Reaching Final Stage. U.S. Jewish Leaders Report

The negotiations between the West German Government and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany are heading toward a satisfactory conclusion, it was reported here today by Jacob Blaustein, president of the American Jewish Committee, and Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Congress, upon their return to the United States today from Europe. Both are members of the Conference presidium.

“Understanding between Western Germany and the Government of Israel has now been substantially reached and negotiations between Western Germany and the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany are in their final stages,” Mr. Blaustein said. “The written treaties covering these understandings are now being drafted. The basic understandings as to amounts, methods of payments and guarantees on the part of Germany are being arrived at after long negotiations, which, among other things, required the members of the Conference presidium to go to Europe three times since February of this year.

“A legislative program proposed by the Conference will enable individual claimants to obtain more adequate restitution and indemnification for damages sustained under the Nazi regime,” Mr. Blaustein continued. “In addition, the global sum to be paid by Western Germany is intended to defray the cost incurred by the Israel Government in rehabilitating the Jewish victims of Nazi persecution who came to Israel to resettle, and to satisfy partially the claim, of the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany with respect to heirless Jewish property which had been improperly seized by the Nazis. The funds that will be turned over to the Conference will be used for aiding Jewish victims outside of Israel who survived that Nazi regime. Obviously, however, no material compensation can atone for the moral aspects of the unprecedented Nazi crimes.

“The agreements, which, it is hoped, will be concluded in the near future, would not have been possible without the support of President Truman, the State Department and of our High Commissioner in Germany, John J. McCloy. As on previous trips. I had talks with Mr. McCloy about these claims and other matters pertaining to Germany, and his and our government’s interests and helpfulness have been in the best American humanitarian tradition.” Mr. Blaustein concluded.

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF JEWISH CONFERENCE CLAIMS OUTLINED

Dr. Goldstein said in his statement that the basis of the Israel-German negotiations is “Western Germany’s offer of $715,000,000 to be paid in goods over a period of approximately 12 years.” After agreeing upon provisions to safeguard the stability of the value of the goods, guarantees of the implementation of the agreement, and the governments for ratification, Dr. Goldstein reported.

“The claim of the Conference of Jewish Organizations is of a twofold nature,” he pointed out. “It has urged upon the Federal Republic of Germany the adoption of a legislative program making provision for adequate restitution and indemnification to categories of victims of Nazi persecution including and in addition to the categories provided for in the contractual agreement between Western Germany and the United States, United Kingdom and France. The Conference also makes a monetary claim of $500,000,000 in settlement of the heirless claims of Jewish victims of Nazi persecution.

“Negotiations between the representatives of the Conference and the representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany are expected to come to a head during the coming week when the latter’s response is expected as to both the legislative program and the monetary claim advanced by the former. Upon receiving that response the negotiators on behalf of the Conference will report to the presidium which, in turn, will make its recommendations to the Policy Committee of the Conference for its ratification. The legislative program, if adopted, will be one of the important aspects of the accomplishments of the Conference, as many thousands of individuals will benefit thereby. I am hopeful with regard to it,” Dr. Goldstein declared.