Germany’s Obligations to Jews to Be Embodied in Western Accord

Western Germany’s obligations as regards Jewish material claims and other matters of Jewish concern will be embodied in the new accord between the Western allies and the German Federal Republic, according to assurances given the World Jewish Congress by both the British and French governments. An announcement to this effect was made here today by the European executive of the WJC, which expressed satisfaction with the assurances.

Representatives of the WJC have discussed the matters of Jewish concern with the foreign offices both here and in Paris. The assurances, the WJC here declared, are particularly gratifying in view of “disquiet” felt by many Jews around the world about resurgent, neo-Nazism in Germany. WJC executives declared they feel that the agreement between the Western allies and Western Germany should contain specific provisions binding future governments of the German Republic on the following points:

1. West Germany must assume an obligation to observe the principles of the United Nations and the aims of the Council of Europe; 2. The Federal Republic must pledge itself not to repeal or amend legislation enacted by the Allied Control Council during the occupation; also, to implement fully all measures relating to internal restitution of identifiable property to victims of Nazi oppression, and to compensation to victims of Nazi persecution; 3. Continuance of the operation of the International Tracing Service must be pledged.

Germany must also pledge to provide proper care and maintenance of civilian war victims; must obligate itself to keep in force all legislation backing the Bonn agreement providing for restitution; and must undertake to uphold the judgment of allied courts in respect to war criminals.