A mass meeting called to protest West Germany’s inaction on extension of the statute of limitations for the prosecution of Nazi war criminals adopted a resolution last night warning of the urgent need for such an extension. If no action is taken, the statute will go into effect next May 8.
The resolution said that, if that happened, “criminals will escape trial and responsibility for their crimes” and “inevitable consequence must be to encourage a revival of the growth of anti-Semitism and racialism not only in Germany but throughout the world, a grievous setback to German democracy.”
Speakers included several members of Parliament and Sir Barnett Janner, all of whom castigated the West German Government on the issue. Sir Barnett, however, was the only speaker who also denounced West Germany for its action two weeks ago in halting arms shipments to Israel. Other speakers attacked West German officials for “reluctance” to prosecute Nazis, for permitting the existence of a Nazi underground aiding fellow-Nazis to escape arrest, the presence of former Nazis in government positions and for tolerating anti-Jewish propaganda in right-wing newspapers.
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