The attitude of the German delegation here toward the claim of $500,000,000 presented by the delegates representing the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany was reported today as being “friendly and sympathetic.”
The German delegates declared that they would set up a sub-committee to study the details of the claim. Joint sub-committees may be set up by both delegations within the next few days to study individual phases of the claim and thus expedite a decision, it was indicated.
Moses A. Leavitt, head of the Conference delegation, today told a press conference that his delegation takes the position that Germany must be willing to make sacrifices to meet in full the Jewish claims for restitution and indemnification. The Conference delegation, he said, has made that clear to the representatives of the West German Government.
Replying to a question on Germany’s ability to pay the $500,000,000 asked by the Conference, Mr. Leavitt said: “The capacity to pay depends also on the willingness to pay, and willingness calls for sacrifice on the part of Germany to seek to atone for the wrongs done to the Jews. The Conference claim for $500,000,000 was based on laws existing in some of the German states enabling individuals to file claims for damage done to them by the Nazis, including deprivation of liberty, loss of economic opportunity, loss of unidentifiable property, payment of discriminatory taxes, etc.
“Those who died, however, cannot make such claims, “Mr. Leavitt continued. “And we, the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, are acting as their successors and heirs. The sum of $500,000,000 is a modest estimate of what is coming to them under those laws if they are applied, as we hope they will be, to all Western Germany. The money received would be spent on projects designed to help Nazi victims.”
Asked why the Conference set a five-year time limit on payments, Mr., Leavitt stated: “We want this help to be brought to the surviving victims as soon as possible and while it can still do them some good.”
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