State Department Policy on Germany Criticized by American Jewish Congress

“The near-sighted and intransigent campaign of the State Department and elements in the U.S. High Commissioner’s Office for Germany to thwart any responsible and objective review of occupation policy in the Western zone of Germany,” was scored here today by Rabbi Irving Miller, president of the American Jewish Congress, following a meeting here of the Congress’ national executive conmittee.

Rabbi Miller labeled as the “height of official nonsense” the statement of an official in High Commissioner McCloy’s office who defended the return of former Nazis to civil service jobs on the grounds “that it is better to have these many thousands of white collar people working under supervision than to allow them to become a disgruntled free-lance class.” By the same logic, Rabbi Miller asserted, all the subversive elements in America should be rounded up and enrolled in the civil service of this country.

In another resolution, the A.J.C. executive committee expressed its growing concern over the delay of action by the U.S. Government on Israel’s request for permission to purchase arms in this country. “The Secretary of State has again reiterated that Israel’s request has not been rejected and still is under consideration,” said the resolution. “However, Israel’s request has been ‘under consideration,” for three months while the Arab states have been and are continuing to be systematically armed by Britain,” the resolution charged.