Dr. Ludwig Erhard, former Chancellor of West Germany, told newsmen here tonight that he did not believe anti-Semitism in “democratic Germany” had any chance of becoming contagious or a force. The West German leader and his wife came here 10 days ago on the invitation of Premier Levi Eshkol. They are due to leave tomorrow.
Responding to sharp questions from some newsmen, Dr. Erhard said his record proved beyond doubt that he had been consistent in his fight against the Nazis and that he had foregone many academic positions and honors because he refused to join even Nazi fellow-traveling academic groups. He also noted that it had been his personal decision to extend suspension of the statute of limitations for murder until 1969.
He also said that he had been very well received during his stay here, adding that he was not so naive as to mistake small demonstrations against him, such as one by students at Bar Ilan university, for an expression of the people’s attitude. Evading political questions, he said only that he wished Israel a permanent peace based on mutual recognition with the Arab states.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
