Unable to reach an agreement on the question of the restitution of Jewish assets in Austria and on the companion issue of what constitutes German property under the Potsdam Agreement, the Big Four deputies at their meeting here today decided to refer these problems to the conference of Foreign Ministers in Moscow.
On the question of restitution, France, the Soviet Union and Britain favor fair compensation for losses suffered by Jews and oppose the U.S. proposal which provides merely for the return of the confiscated property, regardless of its present condition.
Regarding German assets, which might cover some of the property seized from Jews, France, Britain and the U.S. oppose the Russian definition of what constitutes such assets on the ground that it would enable the Soviets to legitimize their occupation of certain property in eastern Austria.
On the question of including a clause guaranteeing human rights in the Austrian treaty, all four powers are in agreement and it is expected that the clause will be adopted at Moscow. The deputies expect to complete their work tomorrow and the Moscow parley is due to open on March 10.
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