The Austrian Government today issued its longawaited communique on the progress of its negotiations with world Jewish groups for a lump sum settlement of heirless Jewish property and for improvement of indemnification and restitution legislation for individual victims of the Nazi regime.
The communique, reviewing the positive results of the talks which have been recessed until the early part of September, stressed that Austrian legislation on these matters does not discriminate against any applicant for property, restitution or indemnification because of his present nationality or present residence.
As proof of this attitude, the communique cited the fact that recently adopted laws restoring certain rights and payments to former civil servants and indemnifying Nazi victims for imprisonment, make no distinction between Austrian residents and non-residents or between persons who have given up their Austrian citizenship and those who retain it.
The communique revealed that a solution to the problem of unclaimed and heirless property, the proceeds of which are to be used for the benefit of survivors, still has to be found. It said that solutions to unsolved problems will be worked out when the talks resume in the fall and expressed confidence that the negotiations will lead to a mutually satisfactory agreement.
Informed sources here stated today that the Social Democrats in the government have withdrawn their opposition to the Jewish demands as a result of an approach made to them by Jewish Socialists at the recent meeting of the Socialist International at Stockholm.
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