Moses A. Leavitt, head of the delegation representing the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany in the recent negotiations with the West German Government at Wassenaar, the Netherlands, reported today that “the Germans apparently want to do something on the matter of restitution, but it may not be enough.”
Mr. Leavitt, who is executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, returned to the United States aboard the Queen Mary. He said that he expected a second round of the negotiations to begin in the latter part of May. “To our claim of $500,000,000 on behalf of organizations caring for victims of Nazi persecution,” he said, “the West German delegation raised the question of Germany’s capacity to pay. It is our position, however, that capacity to pay depends largely on willingness to pay.
“Germany is today one of the few nations in Europe with a favorable balance of trade. Germany’s expanding economy will mean that its capacity to pay will be greatly increased during the next few years,” Mr. Leavitt continued. He added that “whether the Germans are really to undertake reparation, will be shown not by their words but by their deeds.”
Mr. Leavitt indicated that some progress was made in regard to the C.J.M.C.A.G’s second demand–legislation to help individuals to obtain restitution. The German representatives seemed favorable toward the legislation proposed by the C.J.M.C.A.G. but the Bonn Parliament must now enact these agreements into law, he stated.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
