Minutes of Plenary Session June 24, 1953 4 p.m.

Minutes of Plenary Session
June 24, 1953
4 p.m.
Present:
for Joint Executive Board for Jewish Claims
on Austria:
Mr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Mr.
Mr.
Dr.
Mr.
Dr.
^."vV. Beckelman
F.R. Bienenfeld
J. Guvrin
E. Hevesi
J.J. Jacobson
W. Krell
E. Maurer
S.J. Rubin
G. We is
for .Austrian Government:
Dr.
Mr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
Dr.
DE. LLEIN:
G. Klein, Bam. f. Finanzen
0. Hellwig, BKA, Verb.Stelle
Jurkowitsch, Bdra. Inneres
Lang, Bdm. Soz. Verw.
Mentasti, Ban. f. Justiz
Nestor,. BL«, AH
Raschauer, Bdm. f. Finanzen
Villgratner, Bdm. f. Finanzen
(Note English translation appended at end)
Sie haben bereits vor geraumer Zeit den Wunsoh ausgesproohen,
Ihre Forderungen der Oesterr. Regierung direkt mitteilen zu
koennen. Durch verschiedene Umstaende war dies aber damala
nicht moeglich, sodass die Regierung erst die 2. Haelfte Juni
als noeglichen Termin bezeichnet hat. Ich begruesse es unge:nein, dass es nan moeglich sein wird, diese Forderungen saohlich
zu besprechen, v.'aehrend bisher lamer nur einzelne Forderungen in
Veroeffentlichungen erschienen, die aus dam Zusammenhang gerissen
Aalass zu unerfreulichen Eroerterungen gegeben haben.
Diese Forderungen sollen, wie Sie selbst betonen, vor allem die
Erfuellung moralischer Verpflichtungen bezwecken und es wird
sicher von Nutzen sein, Yienn eine derartige Fundierung dieser
Forderungen nunmehr ermoeglicht wird. Ich bin ueberzeugt, dass '
die bisherigen Nachrichten vielfach darauf zurueckzufuehren sind,
dass jene Personen, von denen sie stammen, entweder die Verhaeltnisse waehrend der Zeit dcr deutschen Besetzung Oesterreiohs
ueberhaupt nicht aus eigener Anschauung kennen, oder nur den
«nfang dieser Antwicklung mitgemacht haben und ihre Erinnerung
durch emotionale Honente getruebt sind. Eine Klarheit ueber
die damalige Zeit zu schaffen, ist schwer; auoh bei Leuten, die
unaittelber an den damaligen Ereignissen beteiligt waren,
zeigten sich bei verschiedenen Prozeasen Erinnerungsluecken,
die auf versohiedene TJrsachen zurueckzufuehren sein koennen.
0
Diese -^rozesse haben aber auch mit voll6r Deutlichkeit g e z e i g t ,
dass die Tatsaohen mit der deutschen Iropaganda in k e i n e r Welse
• ushereingestlmr.it haben. Diese wollte naemlich d i e Bevoelkerung
OM-1
/...
- 2 glauben machen, dass ihre Massnahmen nur gegen Juden im Sinne
der Nucrnbcrger Gesotze gerichtet sind. In Wirkliohkeit setztc
aber bald nach der 3esetzung bereits eine Verfolgung der
oesterr. P-trioten ein, eine Verfolgung jener Personen, die zu
ihrer Religionsgescllschaft hielten und die Moralbegriffe hoehcr
schaetzten, als das Partciprogramm. Fragen Sic die Insassen von
^onzentrationslugern, wieviele Personen dort vielfach Jahre hindurch sohmachteten, die in keinerlei Wcise mit den Nucrnberger
Gosetzen in Konflikt gekommen waren. Aber auch von den durch
die Nuernberger Gesetze betroffenen Personen vertreten Sie nur
einen Tell.
Sie haben in Ihrem Memorandum darauf hingewiesen, dass sish in
der Behandlung dieser Fragen eine Unglcichheit vor dem Gesetze
zeige, ohne das naeher auszufuehren; Sie haben aber voEkommen
Recht, wenn Sie darauf hinweisen, dass unbedingt eine derartige'
Ungleichheit vermieden werden muss. Wenn es sich darum handelt,
Gesetze zu schaffen, urn das TJnrecht zu beseitigen, das waehrend
der deutsohen Besetzung Oesterreichs geschaffen worden ist, dann
muessen alle Opfer dieser Verfolgung in gleicher Welse behandelt
werden. Der von Iimen vertretene Personenkreis laesst sich genau
abgreazen, dann Sie vertreten diejenigen Personen, die an einem
bestiaaten Stichtag, ueber den noch zu red en. sein wird, einer
bestimmten Religion angehoert haben. Sie duerfen aber nicht
vergessen, dass es auch and ere Verfolgte gibt.,. die auoh ihrerseits, besonders im Hinblick auf die Nachrichten von den mit
Ihnen beginnenden Verhandlungen ihre Forderungen teils in unmittelbaren Eingaben, teils auf publizistischen Wege geltend
gemacht haben.
Ich glaube, dass es in dies em Zusaamenhang auch notwendig waere,
ueber die Presseverlautbarungen ueber diese Verhandlung zu einer
Vcreinbarung zu gelangen. Bereits die kurzen bisherigen Mitteilungen haben in einem Toil der Presse koine sehr freundliche
--ufnahme gefunden und auch im .r-uslande eine gewisse Aufregung
verursacht. Es kocnnte sein, dass ungoschickte Nachrichten eine
Bewegung entfachen koennten, die Ihren '<.u onsen on ksheswogs
guenstig waere.
Wir werden ueber die Grundlagen Ihrer Forderungen zu sprechon
haben, und ich moechte Sie bitten, alle emotionalon Momente
ausser *.cht zu lassen. Wean Sie gegen die oesterr. Regierung
von 193& den Yorwurf erheben, dass sie nicht im Stande gowesen
sei, ihre Buerger vor TJnrecht zu schuetzon, so muss ich hierbei
auf die Tatsache verweisen, dass die oosterr. Regierung sich in
don sohicksalshaften Maerztagen des J^hres 1938 urn Hilfe an die
Grossmaechte gewendet hat, diese aber gegen die Machtentfaltung
des N^tionalsozialismus keine Massnahmen ergriffen und Oesterreioh schutzlos gelassen haben. Forderungen aus diesem Titol
also koenntcn vielleicht auch von Oasterreich selbst und von
seinen Staatsbuergern erhoben werden.
Welters darf nioht ausser A e M gelasson ^vorden, wer die Schaeden
zugefuegt hat, der en wiodergutmachung Sie obenso wie wir anstreben. Naheres darueber zu sprechen, wird auch bei den Verhandlungen Gelegenheit sein.
/...
Ein wichtiger Bunkt Ihres Ford erungspro grammes i s t auch das
erbiose vermoegen« Ich b i t t e S i e , daran zu denken, dass die
Tatsache der Erblosigkeit vor. uns aus ueberhaupt n i c h t f e s t gestel.lt worden kann, scndorn nur die Tatsaohe, ob in oinera
bsstifluaton Zoitpunkto Ansprueche auf siii ontzogenos Vermoegen
niuht erhoben worden s i n d . Eg kann also nicht von. h e i r l e s s ,
sondorn nur von unclaimed property die -'ece seitie Urn aber
davon radon zu koennon, muss v o r e r s t einmal d i e F r i s t zur Erhobung der Rucckstoilungsanspruccho abgolaufbn seine Diese aber
muss fortwaohrond verlaengort woi*den und duerfto nicht fruehor
end en, a l s 6 Monato nach Rdtifizierung des S t a a t s v e r t r a g e s mit
Ocsterroicho Erst dam wird ca nooglich s e i n , oine Ucbcrsicht
zu bekommen, welches Vormoegen t a t s a o c h l i c h nicht boansprucht
v/ordon i s t „ Ausserdem e a t h a e l t Artikol i.lr dos S t a a t s v e r t r a g s entwurfes die Fordcrung, dass ueber das b i s dahin n i c h t r e klamicrto Vormoegon d i e Hoolikonmissaro entscheidon; auch d i o s bezuoglich koonnto die ocstorr* Regierung e r s t dann bindonde
Abmaohungon t r e f f e n , wenn s e i t e n s a l l o r A l l i i o r t e r auf diese
Fordorung v e r z i c h t e t wird.
Ich weiss forner n i c h t , ob Ihnen bekannt i s t , dass ein g r o s s e r
und goredo der wertvollo Coil des entzogenon Vermoegens n i c h t , '
wie die doutsche Propaganda immctr wleder Glaubon macnen w o l l t e ,
In die Hund der bodenstaendigen Bovoolkorung gelangt i s t ; s i e
v/urde vielmehr Rcichsdeutschon, die nach Oesturreich e r s t zugezogen sind odor sich h i e r l e d i g l i c h . w i r t s c h a f t l i c h betaotigen
wollt;.:.., in die Hand g e s p a l t ; dieses Vermoegen i s t aber der
Verfuegung dor o e s t e r r , Regie-rune entzogen und insbesonders
eine Bocatzungsmacht wahrt diesbcsuoglich sehr genau die. ihr
durch die Potsdamer Bcschluosso zugokommonon Rechte. Forderungen
auf dieses Vermoegen muesstcn sich also gegen d i e s e Bosatzungstiaeht rich t e n ,
Sie cehen aus d i e s e r kurzen Uobersicht.,- mit wlehea Schwierigkeiton Ocstorroich be:', dicson verneallungen rechnen muss, s o lange cs nicht so:'DO vo.i.lc Suveraenitaot h a t .
Ich hoffe, dass Sie dioson Tatsaohen Rochnung tragen worden und
.hi:. Sinno mcinos Appells unter Aussohaitung a l l o r omctionalon
Moments in acchlichcr Weise Ihre Fordorungon pr.uefen uudbe~
gruendou wcrdenc Wir worden uns ben^.ehc^ , ffcstzustellon, "inwieweit Ihron V.'ucnachen im Rahrnn dor bostohenden oesterr-,
Rachtsordnuns Rochnur.g gctragon warden kanu e Gemaesa unsaror
Torfassuag darf d i e gesamto vorwaltung nur auf Grand der G-csotze
erfolgenj wenr- '-:oino Gejatze sind,. muesson soich3 o,-3t ">schaffen
werden. ...iorzu i s t aber nach unsar^r Terfassung das Parlament
berufon und es maeht gewiss keinen guten Eindruck, wann einem
v/unavhe dea IarIaaioii'.<cp nach information ueber die Meinung einer
dureh ein nouco Gesets batreffen^'; Gruppo van d i e s e r aicht Folgo
geleisfcet wird, '-fir s i ' d b i e r Iedigl5.c£] ein Zomitee dor zustaendigen Referenton der oborsten Verweltungsbehoerden* Wir
koennen nur die Rechtslage pruofon und dor P^cgiorunr a i l f a o l i i g o
Aen-acrungen vorsohlagen; hierboi aber muo^aen b e r e i t s vor BeschlU33fassung der Rogjeruag die zustaendigen I'-o.z&.'i'sm bei'^agt
"jrdeuo Die Boschlussfassuag obli^gt Jedenfalls Ow. A.. •,"^••-'nlo.a,:•r, •,
Ich hoffe, daws unter Boobaohtung dieser O-jd^aken u:i.scre Arbeit
zu oinom aefriodigonaea ."ndc golangon Icann,
/ P . .
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it
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MR, BZCICS1MA11;
I do not know whether it v;ouId be ap; ropriate to request a
translation for the benefit of my colleagues of what you havo
said, I believe that- I personally, while J do not speak German
fluently, have understood tho import of what you havo saido
With your po rails si on, however, I wonder whether I could asx for
a few moments during which ono of my colleagues can summarize
in English for vhe benefit of the rest, tho very important propositions you have jivit madeu
(translation by Dr, Biononfold)
MR. BECKELM.&N continues:
If -1 nay comment briefly en this very now stabono.nt you have
given usj I want to begin with expressing for my colleagues end
myself my appreciation for tho very full and franc statement; you
have given us. If you allow us, I would also like to say that
I find tho form in which it has'boon givon rather surprising,
1 think it is entirely logical to draw from those remarks two
propositions:
{lj
That any negotiations are premature since Dr« Klein has
vary carefully e?:plained ail the reasons why any points
which wo havo always regarded as material to bnose negotiations cannot new be dealt with..
(2) I an puzzled by tho fact that when at tho request cf the
Federal Chancellor and a group of his Ministers wo submitted the brief no.Toro.ndum to which reference has been
cade, wo './ere subsequjntly told by the Ministers concerned
that obviously tho brief memorandum which wo had submitted
required fuller development and oareful anamination. It
was therefore their proposal bhat detailed nogotiations
should begin, in the course of which our Committee should
submit for study end examination by the {appropriate depart- '
mont o.'' the Austrian Government tho daba available9 However,
it was clearly understood cha. o a.O ' points raised by our
Com&ittoe in this Memorandum were the subject of negotiations.
•!- hare iherofore assumed that in pointing out the difficu.lt.ios
which are to be foreseen - they are real. and the ^istenco
of which we are aware cf - that it must be Dr. Kle.in's motiiv
and purpose to st:.ess the existence of difficulties and not,
us perhaps a somewhat hasty English translation any lead my
colleagues to believe, to alter our understanding with tho
Austrian Chancellor and Ministers,
.1 fully share tho proposition that the discussions should be conducted" so far as their subject matter permits, frou cf emotions
and also free of political coniidorations and polemics. I fully
agree that thoro should be in advance consultation concerning
pross communiques* Consequently, on tho assumption which I am
sure is justified and which I am pointing out in such detail lest
afciastytranslation mi gat have given some cf my colleagues bhe
impression I menb.io.ned, I toco myself on the belief bhat Dr,
T 1
-" eints statement doos :io"G negate tho reported declarations made
/ •> v a
-5 to us in the past'week by responsible public representatives
of tho Austrian Government; that it is their desire to bring
these negotiations to an agreed, speedy and mutually satisfa c tory c onelusion3
(Mr* Beckclman's remarks wore then translated
into German)
D2, KLEIN:
I want to point out and s t a t o once more t h a t i t was my wish
only to point cut a t the beginning of those n e g o t i a t i o n s the
d i f f i c u l t i e s which a r e i n t h e i r way,. I t would have been a
f a u l t if those d i f f i c u l t i e s would not have beon pointed out
a t t h e i r beginning, To overcome d i f f i c u l t i e s i s no o b s t a c l e
but only moans delays* I want to point out, f u r t h e r , t h a t i t
i s impossible f o r mo t o a l t e r e x i s t i n g laws or to enact new
ones i n A u s t r i a , or to influence t h e i r enactment. This i s the
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of parliament,
MH« 3SCKEHOT:
I wish to thank Dr. klein for this very useful exchange of views
'which makes the position clear, I want to say a word about the
matter of legislation,- All of us here understand that neither
bhe Committee nor the Austrian representatives con guarantee
legislation- On the other hand, a committee entrusted by its
government with conducting negotiations looking to a positive
conclusion in legislation doubtless must havo government support
for proposals on legislation which, if acceptable to the government , the government in turn will sponsor in parliament. Wo
also know from practical experience that a government which
carries a substantial majority has reason to expect adoption of
its legislative proposals,
I believe that DrP Klein is entitled to make tho observation
which he put forward. However, this will not bo a difficulty
if other matters are brought to a satisfactory conclusion.
0 0 0
~ 6MR. BECKELMAN continues:
As you know, wo have come hare at tho invitation of the Austrian
Governmento I assume that the representatives of tho Austrian
Government hero present have had the memorandum delivered by
tho Chairman of tho Joint Executive 3oard for Jewish Claims on
Austria, Dr0 Nahum Goldmann,- to tho Federal Choncollor of the'
Republic of Austria, and i shall theroforo not repeat it hero.
I wish only to underscore tho face that my colloaguos and I
como here as representatives of froo Jewish communities throughout tho world, inoluding Jewish victims of Kazi persecution in
and from &astria, Wo como here on behalf of tho survivors of
tho tragic ovents that took placo in Austria aftor March 13, 1938.
Tho dimonsions of that tragedy aro too groat adoquatoly to bo
describod here and aro too "well known to roquiro presentation
by mo. It should, howovcr, bo mentioned that ono"third of tho
Jewish community in Austria perished and the rost, doprivod of *
their human rights and civic status, had to floe for thoir lives,'
leaving bohind their r'ghts, opportunities, homos and possessions.
Thoir places of worship wore desecrated and dostroyod." It is
unfortunately a matter of historic record that those acts wore
porpotratod on Austrian soil regrettably with tho assistanco of
elements of tho local population.
It is not my dosiro nor do I feel that it would servo any usoful
purposo to our common aim to dwell further upon the past. I
should now like to explain tho basis for tho proposals we have
como hero to mako 0
Basis, of Claim: In putting forward the proposals wo havo como
£o make it is not, as I have indicated, our intontion to raise
any question v/ith respect to the legal responsibility of tho
Austrian Stato as such for that which has happened in tho past.
Our proposals are based on tho proposition that a state, which
bases its existence and its functioning on tho principles of
law and justioo, will not wish to tolerate the perpetuation of
ovil censoquoncos of illegal acts, Thcro is no need to olaborato
on tho fundamental fact that tho persecutory moasure3 appliod
against Jows in /.ustria for the sole reason that they- woro Jows
constitutod acts of tho most flagrant and oxtromo illegality and
violated tho most elementary concepts of human justice and modern
civilization. It is, therefore, self ovidont that those wrongs
call for remedy.
Tho individual victim of such wrongs cannot diroctly seok recourse against statos under international lav/. Ho oan and in
fact must turn for redress to the state whoso duty it was to
protect him from wrongs. The relationship of tho individual
and the stato is based on tho pri.nci.plo of mutual obligations;
tho citizen is os.pootpd to dischargo his civic dutios and is
ontitled to rocoivo from tho stato oqual protoction without
*iscrimination for his person, rights and property.
•'hat tho Jowish population of Austria had fulfillod thoir civio
dutios is a matter of public and historical rocord which I nood
not belabour. I am not only referring to outstanding Ohu •-. ?"''
famous individuals who in dccada3 past havo mado inestimablo
contributions to tho cultural lifo of Austria, but to tho fact
/...
- 7that Jews in -ustria gonorally as an organized religious group
had a long and proud history of achiovemont. I know that all
of us, and ^ustrians moi.t of all, regret and fool deeply the
unfortunate fact that at a critical moment in history the Austrian
state Was uneblo to fulfil its concomitant obligations of protecting the Jews in Austria in tho hour of their greatest danger.
"Wo construe the invitation of the Austrian Government to-mean
that that government basing itself, as it obviously does, on
the concepts cf lav/ and justice, recognizes the obligation and
feels the desire to do justice to the limit of its possibilities.
Tho only remedies which aro available aro inovitably of a material
nature. The dead cannot be rcsurrectod and there is no compensation possiulc for the pain as well as the moral, spiritual and
mental agonies of tho surviving victims. What oan be done, and
what we understand it to bo the desire of the Austrian Government
to do, is to remody to tho extont possible the harm that has been
done to tho perplo who lived within its jurisdiction and for whom
it had responsibility and who wero compelled to flee from Austria
through no fault of their own. Such remedy involves restoring that
which can be restorod and compensating for that which cannot be
restored but for which com. ens at ion by tho payment of money oan
be made, to the survivors of Nazi persecution in i.u'stria.
Statement of Losses: I boliove that it will bo helpful for a
proper understanding of the nature and purpose of our proposals
to have some idea of tho losses suffered by Jows in Austria as
a result of Nazi persecution. Only part of those enormous• Iceses
can be expressed in figures. It is impossible and, indeed, abhorrent to try to evaluate tho lives of tho tens of thousands of
Jews from Austria who were killed. It is likewise impossible to
assess what each murdered life moant to the family which depended
on the victim for subsistence, where the family in fact survived.
It is impossible to translate into figures the full meaning of the
mutilations inflic ted upon body and soul and the lasting damagj
to health. Such compensation as can be mado to widows and orphans
and to those who suffered harm and which must bo made can nevertheless novor make good the damage sustained.
As the memorandum submitted to tho Eoderal Chancellor indicated,
calculations made by us with rospoct exclusively to tho economic
losses suffered by Jews in Austria as a result of Nazi porsecutir
give a figure of approximately 30 milliard Schillings, It doos
not scorn necessary or usoful to develop in dotail the calculations
by which this figure has boen arrived at. It is not our intention
to claim reimbursement for these losses in these dimensions, nor
do wo make this figure of lossos the basis of the proposals we
are putting forward nor tho basis of those negotiations. We regard it as important, howevor, that tho scope and extont of theso
lossos bo understood as a background against whioh our proposals
shall bo comprehended and examined, and I shall therefore at tho
close of this sossion tako tho liberty of leaving with tho representatives of the Austrian Government a copy of a brief paper
whioh wo havo prepared on this subject.
/• •. .
,
Nature of Claim: Legislation: I come now to the proposals which
we have to make "with' respect "to indemnification and compensation
to the extent that ouch indemnification and compensation is
possible to surviving victims who suffered from the Nazi persecution in Austria, ,j-'he legislation already adopted by the
Austrian Government since the end of the war clearly demonstrates
that the Austrian state regards itself, as I have already said,
as a state bused on law and justice; therefore'concerned within
the limits of its possibilities to do what can be done to redress
the wrongs suffered. Unfortunately, in our view the laws which
have thus far been enacted leave soricus gaps both in their
drafting and in their administrative implementation. These
gaps have tho result of excluding from receipt of compensation
many persons who suffered equally at the hands of the Nazis with
those to whom compensation is in fact being paid. It seems to
us, therefore, that the full intenb of the Austrian'Governments
desire to do justice, so far as justice can be done, is in fact
thwarted by these defects and inadequacies.
Our purpose here, therefore, is to speak not on behalf'.of the •
organizations we represent but for the individual men and women
to whom some redress and compensation for the losses they-suffered
can still be made by the mediivi of amendments and extensions and,
to the extent necessary, by recasting of Austrian legislation on
this subject. Our proposals under this heading fall under seven
main categories which I shall list end briefly explain.
(1) Compensation for wrongful imprisonment, loss of life,
damage to body, limbs and healthJ
•We propose that all compensation paid under this heading
shall be available without discrimination"to-all persons resident
in Austria in E-r.ch 193#, or to their"widows, surviving children,
and other dependents, regardless of their prosont rosidenco or
nationality.
(2)" Compensation for loss of income and occupation:
We request that following the example of the Federal
e-orman Republic, tho Austrian Republic agrees to pay - within
tho limits imposed by the Austrian economic situation - lump
sum compensation or annuities to those members of tho liberal
professions and to businessmen and employees who havo nover
boon ablo to reestablish their occupational positions or have
been barred from them for periods of time and who have not boon
able to obtain a substitute employment socially and economically
equivalent to their previous position.-.
(3) Compensation for loss of furniture and household effects,
valuables and all forms of savings:
We roquest that the Austrian Republic - again within the
limits imposed by the *>ustrian economic position - agrees to pay
com. onsatlon for loss of the foregoing assets, whether this, loss
resultod from outright confiscation or was oxtortod through 1*c
oriminatory taxes or levies.
0,5
9 (4) Rodress of inequities and hardships resulting from inadequacies of -mstrian post-war legislation and administrative
measures:
We refer here to pensions for former government officials
and other public servants who in our view should receive suoh
pensions without regard to thoir present nationality or place of
residence. It is our understanding that tho explanation for the
fact that such pensions are not now paid is the existence of a
lav/ passed many years b of ore 1938. ^inco this law was intended
to apply to circumstances altogether different from those in which
tho persons in question wore forced to leave Austria in and after
1938, we regard the necessary amendments to this law to give effect
to our request as an olementary roquirement of justice.
Similarly since the end of the war, a number of regulations have
been issued which to all intents and purposes deprive thoso who
v/ere forced to emigrate because of N zi porsocution of their rights
and prospects in rospoct of old ago, widowhood and disability
ponsions. Hero, too, having regard to tho circumstances under
which theso people wore forcod to leave Austria, elementary justioo
requires that tho restrictions which exclude them at presont should
be romovod and that they should be able without further sacrifice
to exorcise their rights and expectations in this regard.
(5) Loss of living quarters:
We roquest immodiato and offectivo moasures of help
specifically for those rofugoos from Nazi persecution who have
returned to Austria and who havo until this day not boon able to
find appropriate living quarters.
(6)
Further l e g i s l a t i o n :
Taking into account the fact that existing restitution
legislation is in various respects unsatisfactory from the standpoint of tho victims of Nazi persecution, we roquest that at least
no changes further disadvantaging them shall be introduced. We
further request that during the course of those negotiations no.
legislation shall bo changed, enactod or undertaken whioh impinges
upon the outcome of thoso negotiations. Wo assume, as set forth
in paragraph 8 of tho memorandum to the Federal Chancellor, that
tho agroed outcome of these negotiations will be put forward by
tho Austrian Government as quickly as possiblo in appropriate
laws, docreos and administrative orders, and wo regard that occasion
as tho proper time at which to givo offeet to agroed desirable
changes.
(7) Bamago and destruction to roligious and cultural objects:
We roquest that compensation bo paid for destruction and
damage to places of Jewish worship in ...ustria and for tho destruction and looting of ooremonial objoots and scrolls of the law.;
and that the status of Jowish comotorios be olarified; as well as
tho'; restitution to the extent possiblo of libraries and'other
oultural possessions which, aocording to our information, may still
be available.
/...
-10 Tho foregoing represent our more urgent r e q u e s t s for j u s t compensation and e q u i t a b l e troatmont for the surviving victims of
Nazi p e r s e c u t i o n . There aro a number of other points which aro
not touched upon hero - I montion by way of example tho emigration
f l i g h t tax and'Vaiious discriminatory t a i o s - and which may bo
dovolopod in more'detailed discussion l a t o r . With respoct to tho
p o i n t s I havo t h u s - f a r -raised, I s h a l l bo glad to leave a b r i e f
explanatory paper with tho r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of tho Austrian Government at the close of t h i s s e s s i o n .
Nature of Claim: H e i r l e s s and Unclaimed Property: I come now t o
that section of our"proposals which deals with h e i r l e s s and unclaimed proporty. From preliminary conversations which wo havo had
with o f f i c i a l s of tho . u s t r i a n Government, i t scorns oloar t o us
that the dosiros of tho Government and of our Committee for Jewish
Claims on ,.ustria aro, s i m i l a r , in t h a t we both agree t h a t tho
concept of justiceFlnjl equity r e q u i r e s t h a t the h e i r l e s s and unclaimed assGts of Jews who porished under Nazi persecution in
•»nstria should not boccmo in effect an unjust enrichment *or
the Austrian s t a t o but should r a t h e r be dedicated to tho purpose
of a l l e v i a t i n g and improving tho u n s a t i s f a c t o r y l i v i n g conditions
in which thousands of surviving victims Of Nazi persecution find
thomsolvos booause t h o i r ago or t h o i r physical condition prevents
thorn from earning a s a t i s f a c t o r y independent l i v e l i h o o d .
Though, as I havo s a i d , it i s c l e a r t h a t with rospoct t o tho use
which s h a l l bo mado of tho h e i r l e s s and unclaimed property in
Austria for victims of Nazi persecution wo aro in agroomontj i t
i s equally cloai t h a t tho Committoo for Jewish Claims on Austria
and the ...ustrian Govornmont havo d i f f e r i n g views as t o tho n a t u r e
and oxtent of t h i s h o i r l e s s and unclaimed .property. I t is our
understanding t h a t i n tho prosont viow of the Austrian Government
such h e i r l e s s and unolaimed proporty i s limited t o so»oalled r e a l
or tracoablo proporty. In our viow t h i s i s a completely inadequate
and inequitable approach to t h i s quostion.
The f a c t of tho matter i s t h a t 60,000 ^ u s t r i a n Jews'were doported
under tho Nazi persecution and perished in d e p o r t a t i o n . Tho c i r cumstances of that d e p o r t a t i o n , i n which generally spoaking whole
family u n i t s were taken away and did not s u r v i v e , i n d i c a t e tiiat
large portions of tho a s s u t s which thoso 6Q,000 porsons porf&roo
l o f t behind i n ^ u s t r i a havo remained h e i r l e s s or unclaimod. Taking
i n t o account various o f f i c i a l r o p o r t s regarding Jewish a s s e t s in
^ u s t r i a a t varying poriods during tho Nazi occupation and making
nocoss„ry adjustments for inoomplotonoss of those r o p o r t s and
corroctions for ohanged monetary v a l u e s , i t so cms t o us a conservative estimate t h a t tho t o t a l a s s e t s of a l l kinds of the 60,000
Jows who were deported and porishod rcprosontod a minimum in excess
of 2 m i l l i a r d S c h i l l i n g s . Thus, oven if only 50fo of t h e a s s e t s
of these 60,000 persons havo remained h e i r l e s s and unolaimed (and
for the reasons I havo given above regarding tho cireurnstonees of
the d e p o r t a t i o n i t is ro^son<..blo t o assume t h i s as a minimum), the
t o t a l amount of a s s o t s whioh in our viow oan bo taken as a basis
for our discussions on t h i s subject i s not l o s s than 1 m i l l i a r d ...
Schillings.
/...
-lil t should bo pointod out, though my colleagues and I do not
r a i s o tho question at t h i s timo, t h a t tho forogoing figure doos
not tako into account the monGtary v^..luo of the 40,000 man years and t h i s again i s a minimum cstimato - of slavo labour performed
in Austria by Jewish victims of Nazi persecution who workod,
oroated and for tho most part died at such labour.
Nor are wo bringing i n t o t h i s discussion tho fact t h a t had the
60,000 persons doportod from Austria survived the concentration
camps u nd raturncd to Austria upon i t s l i b e r a t i o n , I am sure t h a t
the ^ u s t r i a n Government and pooplo and tho Jewish communities of
• the world would a l l havo rejoiced in t h o i r rescue and. s u r v i v a l .
There would then have bo^n involved under e x i s t i n g Austrian law
compensation for t h o i r s u f f e r i n g s .
The main point which my colleagues and I wish to convoy to the
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of tho - u s t r i a n Government on t h i s question of
• h e i r l e s s and unclaimed property is that wo a r c f u l l y appreciative
of the d e s i r e of the -uistrian Government t o avoid the appearance
of unjust enrichment in t h i s m a t t e r . We endorse the viow of the
Austrian Government t h a t the equivalent of tho h o i r l e s s and un. claimed a s s o t s which wcro l e f t bohind by the victims of Nazi p e r secution in ---ustria v/ho porished s h a l l be used for tho s o c i a l wol. fare of the indigont surviving v i c t i m s , but wo emphasize t h a t tho
measure, of t h a t equivalent, if i t is to be meaningful, must bo r e l a t e d to tho enormity of the crimo committed and tho magnitude of
tho lossos suffered. I t i s for t h i s reason t h a t wo regard the
l i m i t a t i o n of tho concopt of h o i r l o s s and unclaimed property to
r e a l and tracoablo property as i n a p p l i c a b l e in tho context of theso
n e g o t i a t i o n s . Just as i t has boen recognized in tho « u s t r i a n l e g i s l a t i o n already enacted with rospect to individual compensation
t h a t the unparalleled nature of t h e wrongs committed during tho
Nazi persecution in *us t r i a roquirod new types of l o g i s l a t i v o
measures, so the concopt of h o i r l o s s and unclaimed property must
bo approached in tho same broader sense. We havo, therefore, i n dicated the considerations which in our view should bo taken i n t o
account in approaching a s o l u t i o n of t h i s question.
- The d e t a i l e d figures which have lod us to the conclusions I have
given above w i l l bo presented i n the course of our l a t e r and more
d e t a i l e d d i s c u s s i o n s . But I havo gone into t h i s question in some
length today becauso ^ do want tho represent at ives of the Austrian
Government to approoiato tho importance whioh we attaoh to thoso
questions in the context of these n e g o t i a t i o n s , and t o huvo an
i n d i c a t i o n of the basis by which wo havo a r r i v e d at tho figure
given in the memorandum submitted to the Federal Chancollor.
Suggested Procedure: Tho forogoing completes tho f i r s t quick
o u t l i n e of tho naturo of the proposals which my colleagues and I
aro p u t t i n g forward and tho basic reasoning bohind thorn. May I
now muko a suggestion as t o futuro procoduro.
In tho preliminary meetings which the r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s of tho
Committoo for Jewish Claims on Austria havo had with t h o ' F e d e r a l
Chancellor and with Ministers of tho Austrian Government, thoro
has boon improssod upon us very forcefully tho earnest dosiro of
tho Austrian Government t l u t theso n e g o t i a t i o n s s h a l l go forward
/*.*
12
aa expeditiously as possible and shall reach a mutually satisfactory conclusion at an early date. Speaking for myself and
ny colleagues as .•/ell as for the organizations we represent,
I should liko to say that we welcome this position on the part
of the -.ustrian Government and fully endorse it. For our part
we are prepared to do everything we can to facilitate its achievement. In addition to our obvious concorn for'the surviving
victims of Nazi porsecution v/hom we represent, there are also
personal reasons why we would wish theso negotiations satisfactorily concluded as quickly as possible. Ky colleagues and
I havo come here from various parts of the world. We have left
positions of responsibility there to which we must return as
rapidly as possible.
I would, therefore, propose that we proceed as follows: My
colleagues and I uro prepared to meet all of tomorrow and Friday.
I would suggest that those two d^ys be used for frank and informal
exchange of views betweon the representatives of the Austrian
Government and my colleagues and myself on tho various points we
havo put forw- rd. I am sure that there must be many questions whioh
tho representatives' of tho Austrian Government will have in order
that they may be olear in thoir own minds as to precisely what my
colleagues and I are proposing. I would urge that we use theso
two days for such clarification rather than for any intensive disoussion or argument on the substantive matters of partioular
proposals.
I would, thereafter suggest that we take a throo day racoss and
reassemble on Tuesday next. During that time my colleagues and
I will be available to meet individually with any of the Austrian
Government representatives or any persons whom they may wish to
designate for the purpose of clarifying any question of detail,
facts or figures which may arise.
It would be my hope that when we roasscmblo on Tuesday, tho representatives of the Austrian Government would be in a position
to iudicato which of the major points which I have put forward this
afternoon arc. acceptable to tho -^strian Government in principle.
»<ith respect to those points we might then mutually designate small
sub-committees to work out the details of an agreed proposal designed to give effect to tho agreement in principle.
The rest
of us meanwhile might then continue our meetings to discuss the
aroas of difference or disagreement between us with a view to
seeing whether they coald bo resolved.
I havo now corapletod tho first brief statement which I have to
make on behalf of tho Committee on Jewish Claims on Austria,
/...
-13 In conclusion I • ould simply wish to stress tv/o points whioh
emerged in the preliminary meetings which representatives of
this committee had with leading members of the Austrian Govern-'
mont in connection with tho establishment of these negotiations.
It was pointed out in those meetings that both the Austrian
Government and the Committee for Jewish Claims on *,ustria are
interestod in a speedy and amicablo settlement of the questions
at issue, since such a settlement would have usoful rosults in
*
obtaining for ..ustria its rightful placo in the family of nationst
a result in whioh-all of us wore interested.
In, tho second place it was emphasized that while stressing the
importance of expressing the resolution of Jewish claims on
.uustria in financial terms which were in some measure related
to tho magnitude of the problems themselves, the organizations
conoerned did not regard any amount which might bo agroed upon
as important for their own activities. Tho combinod annual
budgets of tho organizations represented in the Committee
exceod the national budgets of somo small states, and the continued activity of theso organizations is not dopondent upon
the settlement of these olaims on Austria.
(Translation of i-r. Beckolman's speooh)
/...
- 14
DR. KLEIN:
By virtue of yesterday's decision of tho Council of Ministers
oho question of the extension of the Haftontschaedigung and
certain pension benefits to claimants who possess other than
Austrian nationality will be subject to discussion tomorrow
in the appropriate committee of parliament. The restitution
and compensation laws themselves will not be changed. The new
legislation is directed only at creating a possibility for a
swift clarification of determining whether claims from abroad can
be presented for these benefits. At this point I wish to comment
on the argument that the Austrian State should not profit from
heirless proporty. I want to point out that not only heirless
property but any kind of confiscated property cannot dovolvo to
the benefit of the -ustrian Stato booause such assets aro
separately administered.
Parliament will bo in session tomorrow dealing with this now
legislation and thcroforo many of tho competent officials
engaged in thoso negotiations will bo tied up there, ospecially
during the afternoon. For this reason I suggest that those
general discussions should resume on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.
with tho possibility that only a brief session can be hold.
It is likely th«-t no afternoon session will tako place for the
reason stated. Concerning a mooting on Friday decision will have
to await Thursday's mooting.
iiR. 3ECKEII.L.N:
For purposo of c l a r i f i c a t i o n I wish to r e s t a t e my understanding
cf Dr. K l e i n ' s remarks, namely t h a t much of what we a r e r e q u e s t i n g
with r e s p e c t to compensation for l e s s and l i b e r t y , p h y s i c a l harm
e t c . i s presumably covorod by an improved proposal which i s now
in process of p r e s e n t a t i o n t o parliament. This a l s o includes
provision for pensions and other forms of s e c u r i t y compensation.
If that i s c o r r e c t , wo bolicve i t advisable to havo a member of
cur d e l e g a t i o n examine tho parliamentary d r a f t s with a member of
Dr. K l e i n ' s committee to see whether a l l points wo regard '
important aro adequately covered in the now b i l l s . If n o t ,
those two should submit a j o i n t r e p o r t about the s t a t u s of t h e
pending b i l l s i n r e l a t i o n s h i p to our d e s i d e r a t a .
The meeting adjourned a t 6 p.m.