J.r.s.o. Discusses Settlement of Its Claims Against Germany

The successful negotiation of bulk settlements against the German Federal Republic and the City of West Berlin of its claims to heirless Jewish property, remains the outstanding problem facing the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization in Germany, the board of directors was informed today at its eighth annual meeting by Dr. Israel Goldstein, chairman. The successful negotiation of these settlements within the coming year would speed up the completion of the entire restitution program by the JRSO.

The JRSO, which was formed in 1947 by a group of leading Jewish organizations in the U. S. Britain, France and Germany to press claims against Germany for heirless Jewish assets, has successfully settled to date the overwhelming bulk of these claims within the Leander of the U.S. Zone of Germany, it was reported at the board meeting by Benjamin Ferencz, JRSO director in Germany. The board elected Monroe Gold water president for 1955-56 and extended its felicitations upon the occasion of his 70th birthday. Dr. Israel Goldstein was chosen chairman of the executive committee. Other officers elected include: Edward M. M. Warburg, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Jacob Blaustein, Randolph Bohrer, Frederick Borchardt and Dr. Isaac Lewin, vice-presidents; Dr. Herman Gray and Shad Polier, co-treasurers; secretary, Saul Kagan.

In the United States the JRSO was designated as successor organization, under the terms of Public Law 626, for claiming heirless Jewish property vested in the U.S. Office of Alien Property. The JRSO, which prior to the legal deadline some months ago filed 6,900 claims with the Office of Alien Property, faces great technical difficulties in obtaining speedy and satisfactory settlements.