Israel is expected to communicate with the West German Government within two weeks on the Israeli claim for reparations, it was reported today in the press here. The report stresses that the Israeli note will be delivered through John J. McCloy, American High Commissioner for Germany, and will agree to negotiations but will insist that they be held in some neutral country.
The report, emanating from Tel Aviv, says that Israeli Cabinet Ministers are optimistic, but Foreign Ministry officials “are anxious about the technical difficulties.” The report predicts that Israeli delegates to the negotiations will have to insist that Germany, able to pay reparations only in goods, should not give consumer goods, but products that can be used for long-term development of the Jewish State–such as agricultural tools and machinery, irrigation pipes and prefabricated houses. “The Israelis consider it equally essential that the reparations are delivered over a period of eight to ten years at most, when it is hoped that the country’s mass immigration will have been accomplished. “the report concludes.
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