Reparations for German and Stateless Jews Asked by American Jewish Committee

A request that a certain percentage of the inperations exacted from Germany should be set aside for the partial compensation of damages suffered by German, stateless and non-repatriable Jews under the Nazi regime has been presented to James F. Byrnes, Secretary of State, by the American Jewish Committee, it was reported here today.

In a letter signed by Jacob Blaustein, chairman of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee, it was suggested that the claims of Axis nationals, stateless or non-repatriable persons who have been expropriated on the grounds of racial discrimination should be represented by a United Nations Trusteeship on Indemnification and that German and stateless Jews should have a right to claim compensation from this Trusteeship, just as other sufferers can present their claims to their own governments.

The American Jewish Committee pointed out that, under the present arrangements reached by the Big Three at Potsdam, the German Jews, although they were the first to be expropriated and have for more than a decade lived under the Nazi terror, will be without any rights whatsoever, and that those Germans who had benefited from the Nazi racial legislation will continue to enjoy the fruits of the Hitler regime.

The stateless Jews who have been deprived of their citizenship, largely because of Nazi legislation, are in a position similar to that of the German Jews. Not being citizens of any state, they will have no claims against any government.

STATE DEPARTMENT GETS COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS ON AID TO DISPLACED JEWS

Three recommendations for dealing with the problems of relief and resettlement of the displaced Jews in Germany and other European countries were submitted to the State Department yesterday by Mr. Blaustein and Dr. John Slawson, executive vice-president of the American Jewish Committee. In an audience with Dean G. Acheson, Under Secretary of State, the Committee representatives urged:

1. That the State Department immediately establish American consulates in Germany or make other effective arrangements to facilitate the emigration of displaced persons to the United States.

2. That the forthcoming meeting of the UNRRA Council continue aid and assistance to all displaced and non-repatriable persons "who have suffered because of racial discrimination and who have refused to return to their countries of origin."

3. That the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees be given the necessary means and authority to promote practical and immediate emigration plans for displaced and stateless Jews.

Discussing the situation of the 100,000 displaced Jews now in the American-occupied zone of Germany, Blaustein and Slawson stated that some of these Jews have relatives in the United States who would be only too willing to furnish all the necessary guarantees for their immigration. The Committee representatives pointed out that the Jews now in Germany are mostly of German, Czech and Rumanian descent and that only a very small percentage of American immigration quotas for these countries have been utilized in recent years. "Without any change in our existing legislation," they declared, "a considerably larger number of people from these countries could be admitted to the United States."