Austria Urged to Honor Jewish Claims; Sen. Wiley Stresses Issue

The Austrian Government was urged today to honor the “just claims” of Austrian Jewish victims of Nazism and “not to seek to enrich itself” at the expense of these victims.

The call to the Austrian Government was issued at a memorial meeting here marking the 16th year since the Nazis marched into Austria. Principal speakers at the gathering included Senator Alexander Wiley, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency and president of the Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria; Congressman Jacob Javits and Dr. Gustav Jellinek, vice-president of the American Federation of Jews from Austria, which arranged the meeting.

By honoring the claims of surviving Austrian Jewry, “our friend Austria can play an expanded role in the family of nations,” Sen. Wiley said. “The stake is not just the right of the victims. At stake is Austria’s own prestige in the family of nations. As a sovereign nation, Austria’s responsibilities as well as obligations must be fulfilled. Time is an important factor. The days pass into months, and the months into years.

“Already there has been delay unfortunately,” Sen. Wiley continued. “The United States Government, through the Department of State in Washington as well as through our Ambassadors in Austria, has again and again firmly indicated that surely the victims of Nazism could and should receive consideration prior to consideration shown to those who engaged in Nazi activities.

“Our delegation, headed by Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, did everything it could in furtherance of Austria’s full sovereignty. Now it is only fair to point out, in turn, that Austria, in the exercise of its sovereignty, should honor just claims upon it,” the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee stated.

GOLDMANN HOPES FOR “REASONABLE, EQUITABLE” SETTLEMENT

Dr. Nahum Goldmann told the meeting that “the negotiations between the Committee for the Jewish Claims on Austria and the Government of Austria, begun on June 17th, 1953, were suspended through no fault of the Jewish negotiators.

“We were ready to resume negotiations on schedule in the Fall of 1953,” Dr. Goldmann said. “However, to our surprise, the Austrian Government decided, in December, to remove from the agenda, indefinitely, the subject of heirless Jewish property. Before we ever entered these negotiations, it was clearly understood between the Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria and the Austrian Government that heirless property was one of the items to be discussed and settled.

“Several weeks ago, the Austrian Chancellor announced that his government was considering resumption of the negotiations. To this date, we have received no invitation for resumed talks. However, it is our sincerest hope that a formula will be found to enable the Jewish organizations to reenter these negotiations. Our demands certainly cannot be called unreasonable. The actual losses of the Jews under Nazi rule in Austria cannot be computed. They amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.

“What the Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria asked for is only a small percentage of the losses,” Dr. Goldmann pointed out. “On the other hand, we wish to make it clear that the Jewish organizations would not be satisfied with an insignificant token amount, if such were offered.

“In our efforts to obtain a settlement, we had the good fortune of the support of the Western Powers for our moral claims, for which we are profoundly grateful. As Americans, we are particularly proud of the support of our government. The Jewish people is not seeking a permanent conflict with Austria, and the Committee for Jewish Claims on Austria will certainly be glad to resume negotiations on a reasonable and equitable basis acceptable to all parties,” Dr. Goldmann emphasized.