Anti-Semitism No Longer a Problem
in Germany, Adenauer Tells JTA Reporter
BERLIN. (JTA) — In an ex-
clusive interview with the Jew-
ish Telegraphic Agency, Dr.
Konrad Adenauer, Chancellor of
West Germany, expressed the
view that anti-Semitism is no
longer a problem in West Ger-
many and explained his hopes of
achieving a "reconciliation" be-
tween the German and the Jew-
ish peoples and is working to-
ward a "normalization" of rela-
tions between West Germany
and Israel. The interview, in the
form of questions and answers,
follows:
Question: What does the
Chancellor think of the status
of anti-Semitism in the Ger-
man Federal Republic?
Answer: I am convinced that
there is today no anti-Semitism
in the Federal Republic. The
anti-Semitic pestilence which
poisoned relations between the
Jews and Germans during the
Hitler regime was a temporary
development restricted to Na-
tional Socialism.
Certainly, from time to time
some individual instances of
anti-Semitic utterances are re-
ported in and knocked about by
the German press. But these oc-
curences are few and should
not be generalized upon. I am
certain that the German people
as a whole disapprove of anti-
Semitism, anti-Semitic discrimi-
nation or excesses.
The Federal government has
made it an item of its program
to achieve reconciliation be-
tween the Jews and the German
people. Not only did we sign
and fulfill the restitution agree-
ment, but for all our Jewish
fellow-citizens who returned to
Germany We also created bases
for them to feel they are full
citizens and so to become ac-
customed to life in Germany.
Not only through laws, but
through measures of enlighten-
ment such efforts have proven
really successful.
In conclusion, let me say
again: here and there a single
case of anti-Semitic attitude may
be observed, but in the main
there is neither a mass appear-
ance of anti-Semitism nor dan-
ger of it in Germany today. That
doesn't exist anymore.
Question: What are the
prospects for relations be-
tween Israel and the Federal
Republic?
Answer: From the very be-
ginning, it has been one of the
targets of the Federal Repub-
lic's policy to achieve a recon-
ciliation between the German
and Jewish people. From the
beginning, the Federal govern-
ment knew very well that such
an aim would not be easily
achieved in view of the terrible,
monstrous crimes against the
Bill to Curb Political
Work by Civil Servants
Introduced in Israel
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—A bill
prohibiting Israeli civil servants
from participating in any politi-
cal activity was introduced in
Parliament. The measure is evi-
dently intended to keep civil
servants out of next summer's
national election campaign.
Civil servants, under the
draft, would be prohibited from
organizing public demonstra-
tions or from soliciting or re-
ceiving funds for purposes other
than the State treasury. They
would also be prohibited from
criticizing the government in
press conferences, in press in-
terviews or in print.
The bill would also strength-
en general civil service proced-
ures by establishing a civil serv-
ice board and making it manda-
tory that no appointment to a
vacancy in a government post
be made before there had been
public announcement of the
vacancy.
Jews of which the regime which
fell in 1945 had been guilty.
To manifest as rapidly as pos-
sible its goodwill in speedy and
visible form, the Federal Re-
public was interested in mate-
rial restitution and signed the
well known agreement of Sep-
tember 1952 with Israel, and
caused the adoption of restitu-
tion laws which were already in
preparation.
The Federal government
hoped that in doing so, it would
create an atmosphere whose
beneficial effects would spread
beyond the scope of these ac-
tions. This hope was not false.
Relations between Israel and
the German Republic have im-
proved visibly.
However, the final aim —
complete normalization of rela-
tions on both sides — has not
yet been achieved. We must and
will always keep in view this
aim. We shall work for its reali-
zation patiently and indefatiga-
bly.
Replying to a question
whether the Federal Republic
will do everything necessary
with regard to discussion and
getting down to the problem
of the years 1933-45, Dr. Ade-
nauer said:
"Just as there is no anti-
Semitism worth mentioning in
the German Federal Republic,
so there exists no longer Na-
tional Socialism. Each Parlia-
mentary election has shown that
the adherents of right-radical
groups at the most never amount
to more than one or two percent
of the constituency taken as a
whole.
"Furthermore, I must stress
the 'time' factor. In spite of the
fact that the German people still.
have to carry the heavy burden
of the consequences of National
Socialism, that disastrous period
is already in the past for as
long as the period that it ex-
isted. Meanwhile, youth have
grown up who do not at all
remember the time of National
Socialism."
Dr. Adenauer said it was
"very interesting and often
noted, that the growing gener-
ation shows no, or very little,
understanding when Hitler's
name is mentioned. All this
leads to the conclusion — and
rightly—that National Socialism
has been nothing but an unbe-
lievably frightful event, the
happening of which can be ex-
plained only through the ter-
rible suffering and misery which
followed the First World War.
"Today, our politics of col-
laboration, known to us in the
West, also provides the German
people with sufficient work and
bread, a fact that I believe to
be the simplest and by far the
most effective means to defeat
National Socialism forever."
This week in Dusseldorf,
Chancellor Adenauer pledged
that all outbreaks of anti- Semit-
ism will be dealt with by Ger-
man authorities with "utmost
severity." The statements were
delivered before the Central
Council of Resistance Fighters
and VictimS of National Social-
ism, which cheered the message.
Dr. Adenauer also declared
that the fact that a relatively
large number of indemnification
claims have not been granted in
recent weeks "should not be
misconstrued." The high rejec-
tion rate, his message continued,
was not a sign of ill will but
rather to the fact that a larger
number of claims were being
processed currently. These
cases, he underlined, are the
"difficult ones" which the au-
thorities have been putting off.
In Bonn, Ludwig Zind, the
German high school teacher con-
victed of public anti-Semitic
statements and defamation of
the memory of the dead, disap-
peared from his home in Offen-
Action by UN: 'Human Rights
and World Order,' by Moskowitz
Moses Moskowitz represented world."
burg within 24 hours after the the Consultative Council of
He states that "what the
Federal Supreme Court at Karl- Jewish Organizations at the framers of the 'UN Charter in-
sruhe had rejected an appeal United Nations since March tended was to encourage and
against his conviction and sen- 1947, when it was admitted to facilitate international cooper-
tencing.
consultative status with the ation for the promotion of its
Zind was convicted last April UN Economic and Social Coun- economic, social and human
after a trial which followed a cil (UNESCO). In that capacity rights objectives by means of
he has acquired information objective study and analysis,
wave of protest throughout Ger-
that gives him authoritative sta- full and free discussion, the for-
many. He was convicted of hav-
tus and has come in good stead
ing told Kurt Leiser, a half- in his writing of his book, "Hu- mulation of a general consensus
of opinion and by means of mul-
Jew, during a quarrel that the
man Rights and World Order—
Nazis had not gassed enough The Struggle for Human Rights tulateral treaties and conven-
tions."
Jews.
in the United Nations."
The author adds: "The cove-
Border guards and police
In this book, which was pub-
thrOughout Germany have been lished by Oceana Publications nants will have substance and
warned to be on the lookout for (60 4th, N.Y. 3), describes the reality only if they emerge
Zind, though the Offenburg implementation of UN Charter pragmatically from the recon-
prosecutor believes he has al- provisions and the emergence ciliations, compromises and mu-
ready fled the country. When of the Universal Declaration of tual accommodations reached in
open debate and discussion. For
questioned by the authorities, Human Rights.
this reason, there appears to be
his wife said he was visiting a
General programs that were
friend. It was subsequently dis- pursued, the importance of cov- no alternative to the General
covered the friend had been enants and the rights of indi- Assembly as the most appro-
priate forum for the conclusion
dead a year.
viduals to petition under the of the covenants."
In addition to upholding the Geneva Convention of 1922 are
A warm tribute is paid to Mo-
conviction, the Supreme Court evaluated by the author. He
also ruled that his suspension makes comparisons of the pres- ses Moskowitz, his "rare inde-
from the teaching post by civil ent status with those under the pendence" in compiling the
facts for this book and "his ded-
service officials was justified. League of Nations.
ication
to the cause of human
It rejected a defense contention
In his conclusions, he states rights • and the ingenuity of his
that Zind's statements were that maintenance of peace
made under the influence of among nations is "contingent contributions" in a preface to
alcohol and should not there- upon the growth of real democ- this volume by Rene Cassin, for-
mer chairman of the UN Coin-
fore be held against him.
racy in every region of the mission on Human Rights.
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