Restitution of Jewish Property Iagging Throughout Europe, W.j.c. Aide Reports

Restitution of Jewish property confiscated by the Nazis or under the Nazi regime is lagging in every country in Europe, particularly in Germany itself, Dr. Nehemish Robinson, head of the Office of Indemnification of the World Jewish Congress, told a press conference today, upon his return from a visit to several European countries.

In Germany, where Jews owned property valued at somewhere between two-hundred and two-hundred and fifty billion dollars as of 1933, virtually nothing has been done to make restitution, Dr. Robinson pointed out. This situation exists in all four zones, although Thuringia, in the Russian zone, has adopted restitution legislation, and a similar law will shortly be promulgated in the U.S. zone.

Virtually all countries in Europe have adopted or are in the process of drafting restitution legislation, but in few cases have the laws been implemented, he added. Dr. Robinson’s explanation for this delay was that the Jews, due to their reduced numbers, represent a negligible factor in the political life of the various countries, while the present holders and administrators of Jowish property are strong and frequently well organized. The generally confused state of many of the war-torn countries is also a contributory factor, he declared.

While in Europe, Dr. Robinson conferred with several governmental leaders on the question of the restoration of Jewish property. He stressed, however, that the only effective solution of the problem is international action, or, at least, the setting up of international standards for restitution. Such a move would weaken the pressure groups combatting restitution and, also, would deprive laggard governments of the excuse that they were delaying the promulgation of legislation until they could see how other governments planned to handle the problem. He strongly urged that the U.S. and Britain use their world-wide influence to bring about such action.