The State Department issued an announcement today stating that Communist East Germany opposes Jewish reparations claims. The announcement said that Albert Norden, former deputy Soviet zone press chief, speaking for the Soviet Zone Government, told a press conference that East Germany does not recognize Israel’s right to reparations.
Israel, according to the State Department version of what Norden said, is a “military base of the United States” and not a legitimate successor to the millions of Jewish victims of Nazi tyranny. It was indicated, the State Department said, that the Soviet Zone Government would oppose recognition of reparations arrangements between Israel and the Bonn Government at a future all-German peace conference.
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