Progress Reported at Hague Reparations Parleys

An acceptable formula on relation of the London conference on Germany’s external debts to the German-Israel discussions here on Israel’s reparations claims against Germany, has been reached, a spokesman for the Israeli delegation disclosed today.

The announcement was made, he declared, to counteract unofficial statements that this issue, dealing with Germany’s capacity to pay, was being passed over. “You can quote me as saying that we have reached a formula on the London conference which is satisfactory but which cannot yet be made public, ” the Israeli spokesman said.

The two delegations, he said, are still at work on various points requiring clarification. At today’s meeting between the German and Israeli negotiators, it was learned, the Israeli delegation stated categorically that there was no relationship between Israel’s global claims and the demands being made by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. It was announced that the German and Israeli delegations had agreed that Israel’s claim was not prejudicial to any individual claims made by citizens of Israel. This agreement will be incorporated in the final draft.

Referring to reports that the German delegation had no power to discuss financial payments to Israel, the Israeli spokesman said today that “Dr. Frohwein (the German spokesman) has said to me that he told reporters his delegation expects to discuss actual sums before Easter.”

The delegation representing the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany reported today that its sub-committees have been engaged in a point by point discussion since last Thursday of the Conference statement. These sub-committees are now drafting a joint report outlining points of agreement and disagreement for submission to a plenary session of the parley tonight.