Urge Human Rights Guaranties in West’s Contract with Germany

Contractual arrangements now being negotiated with the Federal German Republic by the Western Powers should include specific guarantees for the protection of basic human rights in Germany, the American Jewish Committee declared today in a memorandum submitted to the State Department. The memorandum includes recommendations for specific measures to assure this end. A copy of the recommendations was also handed to Secretary of State Dean Acheson in Paris today by a representative of the organization.

The memorandum warns against giving Germany a “blank check” when its sovereignty is re-established, asserting that “no such act of blind confidence is politically warranted or morally justifiable.”

It recommends the inclusion in the contractual agreement with Germany of undertakings by the West German Government: 1) to accept the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 2) to prevent discrimination by government and individuals on grounds of race, religion or national ancestry, 3) to adhere to the Convention on Genocide, 4) to insert such rights and guaranties in the basic law or future constitution of Germany, 5) to adhere, when it enters force, to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights adopted by the Council of Europe, including recognition of the jurisdiction of the Commission on Human Rights and of the International Court of Human Rights provided by the convention, 5) to agree to “specific procedures of an internationally guaranteed character” for implementing the human rights provisions, and 6) to allow for the right of petition by interested national governments, aggrieved individuals and groups within Germany and groups outside Germany having consultative status before United Nations organs.