Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the Conference Bonn Parliament’s ratification last night of the West German reparations pact with Israel and the Jewish organizations for $822,000,000. Dr. Goldmann declared:
“Final ratification of the German-Israel agreement is to be heartily welcomed. It justifies the faith in the sincerity of Chancellor Adenauer’s and his government’s willingness to see the agreement through.
“The big majority which voted for ratification strengthens the significance of this act of the Bonn Parliament. It is especially satisfactory that the opposition party of Social Democrats has also voted for ratification which makes the agreement a policy decided upon not only by the ruling coalition but by the whole people of Western Germany.
“The fact that despite considerable difficulties ratification would take place before the end of the budget year of 1952 is due primarily to the insistence of the Chancellor on early implementation of the agreement. For Israel, ratification opens up an important new source of income which will facilitate Israel’s serious efforts to consolidate its economy and financial position.
“It is to be hoped that the second part of the Luxemburg agreement referring to unified legislation on individual restitution and indemnification will also be acted upon without delay so that Bonn Parliament should be in a position to conclude these legislative measures before the election of a new parliament this summer.”
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