Canadian English-Jewish Weekly
VOL. XXXIV
MONTREAL, FEBRUARY 22, 1952
No. 21
German Polls Show Attitudes That May Thwart Restitution To Victims
Most Germans would like to pay off claims for Hitler's ravaging of Jewish property and persons but few of them think the West German Government can afford it. While the announcement by the Federal Government that it wished to negotiate a settlement of the Jewish restitution problem has been approved, West German Government 'leadeirs insist the treasury has not the money to make good.
These attitudes, disclosed in surveys of German public opinion as well as in interviews with leading German officials, were expected to have increasing pertinence as German-Jewish restitution negotiations drew near, says the New York Times.
Dr. Nabum Goldtnann, chairman of the World Jewish Congress, is expected as the head of a delegation representing Jewish organizations abroad and the State of Israel in response to an invitation by the Federal Government. A Bonn spokesman denied a report the conference would take place in Brussels in March. Dr. Goldmann is expected in Bonn "in the next few weeks."
German editorial comment on this subject has been marked by a tendency to place restitutions below western defense, care for German refugees, equalization of war burdens and care for relatives of those who were involved in the July 20, 1944, plot against Hitler.
Involved in the discussion of
Jewish restitution are the Israeli
Government's claim of $1,500,000,-
000 and other Jewish claims that
would total an estimated 8,-
000,000,000 Deutsche marks.
However, a B o n n Government
J official said recently 3,000,000,000
'
Dezrtscfee marks irouW be sotffl-
, _ __ settlements and Jewirf leaders have expressed �*tisfpttion with various pension proposals now in force for Jewish victims of Nazism.
Investigation of German attitudes toward the problem of Jewish restitutions discloses certain basic ideas with which Dr. Goldmann will have to contend: While Germans believe the idea of restitution fe good, many of them have no idea how to make them and to what extent. Many Germans do not admit any responsibility, moral or otherwise,
for the plight of the Jews during the Hitler regime. Some express the opinion that persecution of the Jews was -their own fault, reports the Times.
These opinions, given in polls of Germans of various financial and professional interests in varying age groups, contrast sharply with the resolution of the American Jewish Committee in New York January 27 that "German moral responsibility is not subject to 'negotiation'."
Poison pen letters and other types of threats to persons who went to Germany in an effort to reclaim their property are not infrequent. A letter received by a person in Berlin is typical of others:
"The practice exercised by you in connection with restitution has caused many people who acquired the former Jewish houses and businesses in . an honest manner to strongly disapprove and has created a lot of enemies for you," the letter reads. "Your procedures, often near to extortion, have been creating the purest and most fervent anti-Semites ... Some house owners who have been very much injured by yon ... have assembled and have sworn vengeance against you and your co-workers . . . They intend to hire some strong-arm men from certain quarters who would beat you and your colleagues in such a manner that you would not be able to carry out your activities any longer ..."
A� a result of the restitutions to Jews, an organization has been formed of those who were forced to relinquish property to them. In many cases these involved persons who had purchased such, property in ffDod.lafth., In, many eases it ivwved person* .' who knowingly took advantage of Nazi laws. This organization is known as "The League of Loyal Restitirtors" and is increasingly active.
However, there is another movement known as "Peace With Israel," which holds rallies calling upon Germans to condemn all anti-Semitic occurrences and to send petitions to Jewish leaders offering their cooperation against anti-Semitism.
In testing German public opinion on restitutions, investigators have
(Continued on Page Twelve)
FRANK ROUND & SON LTD.
Floor Cowing 8p�dattft*
GL 3511 Now located at 1860 St. Catherine Street, West,
in more spacious premises
Offering a complete floor cowing Mnric*
Carp**, Unotarm. Rubber Til*, Aiphalt Tito. Sold end
hirtcrilsxi. Rags washed, rapairwL and mothproofed.
Wan to Wall Carpeting end Upbolifertd Fmiftm cteazwd
FOR PERSONAL ATTENTION
Gill Bernard
UN. 6-7424 - 6-7425
Marcel Le Mat
Flower Sbep
1114 St. Catlwrfee ft. W.
Call Margie
EX. 3163
�. MSI
Margie's Flower Shop
5*9 Qoee* Kary fc�d VUh ft. Uwwt, IT. 7*�
FANCY FRUIT BASKETS, WEDDING AND IAR-MITZVAH DECORATIONS, FLORAL DESIGNS
SU
Unit' Jewi
Jewish Unionism Led Way For U.S. Social Security Ad
Pioneering by Jewish-led garment unions paved the way for aent of the Social Security voder President Franklin D. and resulted as well in ead attainment of old 18 for workers. This by Prof. Selig Perlman, jversity of Wisconsin's M Economics, came in une f a detailed historic of .i/wrish unionism in the Sfertes, delivered at The Museum at the 50th annual Aeeting of the American Jewish Historical Society.
Taking as fcifr subject "Jewish Unionism, Its Birth Pangs and Contribution to the General Am-erican \Labor Movement," Prof. Perlman\traced the history of Jewish unionism from its timid beginnings�V'pathetic even in the eyes of wefll-w.ishers"�to the larger movement which brought labor's influence into wider spheres of American life. Prof. Perlman said that "tftese two labor mentalities, the Jewish and the general American, fWted (in a later period) so skrprisfcigly to converge, indeed Ibiur i irung in as unlike environjfjeatj *.</ttie human
-" -' the indivi-an working-the orthodox, con-of raiiitantly anti-monopoly v/a;'iety, sprang from a consciousness of opportunity abundance.
mind can dualism of man, whether" servative, o
beneficent contact ish unions with the was with the Social workers," continued ,n. These cultural Jrora the older and ,ted American stocks that beneath the ohaotic exterior of was imbedded, in , reciabi* minority a passionate com-jVsame high humane 'hich they themselves nally been moved to go rttVv tfhe people.' This friendship never cooled and culminated in the Neijv Deal era when native American i idealism sat in the highest pli K� in the nation. In the meantime, the strangling Jewish unions had been getting comfort, advice, and a chance for an adequate hea\rio� in the court of (Continued on Page Twelve)
"The of the larger A Settlement Prof. Per colonizers better si soon, di alien Ghetto at of mi ideal*
Reforms) To S Israel' On New ITrac
k
For Your Money Why Not Get The Finest ?
0�r exquisite bor-mitzvoh coke, with Toroh en top or with a little boy reeding hts prayer-book.
Other originals, such os: SHOWER CAKE - CARNIVAL CAKE - TELEGRAM CAKE
QUO* mo�y other styles, sfcopet end colors. MOST MONTREALERS ORDER THEIR CAKES FROM
Order yours today I
UN. 6-9851 I
City Wide Delivery I
Outsiders May Explore For Oil In Israel
Economic and fiscal reforms covering a wide range of affairs were announced to the Knesset (Parliament) Jbr Prime Minister David Bea-Gorion. The measures, adopted bv the Cabinet last week, after fouij weeks of discussions are designed io check inflation, stimulate the flow of foreign capital and goods tqi Israel, and increase pro-
i
tright currency devalua-included. But Mr. Be�-announced there would be three rates of ex-
Briad and other essential foods will /continue to be sold at prices " on the current official rate
___ for the Israeli pound.
Totfrista, diplomats and charitable jipisatiorm operating in Israel I;ret the rate of $1.40, which ilso be the rate in the pricing eat, fish, coffee, tea, medical lies, fertilizer and other cora-
_____ies. Investors will get �1,
In id, for fl.
The reform measures are calculated to encourage investment and capital transfer in the form of goods and it is hoped that tourists who have been changing their money on the black market will be induced to obtain their Israel currency legally.
The system of official pricing is being amended in a manner calculated to restore an element of competition to industry and agriculture. The present method is the cost-plus system, whereby the Government estimates costs of production, makes allowance for profits and fixes prices accordingly. This system benefited old, outmoded plants and offered no inducement to manufacturers or farmers to increase efficiency and improve quality.
Mr. Ben-Gnrion announced that frice� would henceforth be set to a manner calculated to benefit tnterFrises with the highest output These enterprises win also get priority in the allocation of
Production of potash at the Dead Sea works is "on the eve of resumption," Levi Eshkol,. Minister of Agriculture and Development, disclosed in a speech at Haifa. He said production would be "on a much larger scale than-carried on by the old enterprise." Mr. Eshkol also disclosed that companies with international capital wished to explore for oil in Israel. Since "we ourselves cannot provide the tremendous resources needed to explore for oil, we shall not close the door to those who are able to explore for us," he said. This was the first statement by a Cabinet Minister that Israel would welcome outside capital in exploration of the country's oil resources, says the New York Times. The new potash company, in which the Israeli Government has a 51 per cent interest, was formed at the end of last year to take over the old Palestine Potash Company's plant at the southern end of the Pead Sea. The Israeli Government has facilitated loans totaling 13,500,000 to the new company. The plant, at the northern end of the Dead Sea, was destroyed during- the Arab-Israeli war. It is now in Jordanian hands.
Another basic raw material, of which encouragingly good supplies have beeni found in the Negeb, is iron ore, Mr. Eshkol reported. Phosphates for making fertilizers and glass sand and kaolin, which needed for the glass and ceramics industry, are already being shipped in commercial quantities from the Negeb to Israeli factories, Mr. Eshkol said. Surveys indicated that manganese and sulphur could soon be mimed in exportable quantities. "When we fought to liberate the road to Elath (Israeli port at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba)," Mr. -^fikol recalled, "we did not know what we w�re �e%uaUr*�figAtfog for." Since then Israeli scientists have discovered treasures that in ten or fifteen years are expected not only to supply domestic industries but to earn millions of dollars each year as exporta.
Abraham Dor, chief engineer of the Israel Mining Industries, the Government company exploring the nation's mineral resources, has summed up the company's activities since its foundation last March. In a recent article he made these points:
The northern Negeb area, in which the presence of phosphate rock has been proved, is "very extensive," bringing known reserves to above 100,000,000 tons. The quality "almost equals imported rocks" and can easily be mined by open-cast methods.
Makhtesh Hagadol, or great mortar, a huge hollow thirty miles south of Beersheba, is the site of extensive deposits of ceramic clays and glass sand. This is also where iron ore has been found.
Copper and manganese ores occur extensively in Waldi Menaiah, sixteen miles north of Elath. While the value of copper deposits is still uncertain, the proved reserves of manganese ore exceed 2,000,000 ton*.
raw materials.
Special emphasis is placed in the new plan on encouraging manufacturers to produce for export. Hitherto, the home market has absorbed anything, regardless of quality and price. The new measures permit export enterprises to retain part of foreign exchange they earn for acquisition of raw materials, instead of turning in all such foreign exchange to the State Treasury.
Another important announcement was that next year's ordinary budget would be balanced by internal revenue, for the first time since the State was created. Until now, Israel h�* had an ordinary budget covered by taxes and a secret security budget covered by credits. The new announcement means the security budget will be included in the ordinary budget Mr. BeA-Gerion saki th� budget mast be balanced "no matter what" At least 1,000 Government employes were being dismissed as pan of the administra-tire irtr<*�liinfBt plan, he said.
The budget will still b� covered mainly by foreign grants and credits. Mr. Bert-Gurion said no more Treasury bills or Stale bonds, two of main causes of inflation, would be issued.
On wace policy, the Prime Minister hedged somewhat Re expressed satisfaction with the His-taxrrut (Labor Federation) resolution that wages should be Naked to output, bat he did not eosstaent �o tfce put �f that ns*h�tie� farads* some pay rise* of 10 to 15 per cent
Israeli Police Fight Black Market By Raid And Searches
Israeli police and Ministry of Commerce inspectors have launched an all-out struggle against the black market, which now involves all the luxuries and most of the necessities of life. On roads approaching Tel Aviv and other towns they have set up check points at which they search trucks and pagsen^er cars and even ask travellers to open parcels, says the New York Times.
In Tel Aviv during the last ten days they have carried out half a dozen raids on a food markets where potatoes, onions, apples, eggs and other foods have been openly displayed for sale without ration cards�and at four or five times the ration pi-ices. When inspectors appeared, some dealers Humped their goods and ran. Inspectors confiscated several tons of vegetables for distribution to hospitals and old-age homes. On one occasion they succeeded in rounding up unhappy venders and forced them to sell all their black-market supplies at official prices.
The police also have repeatedly raided parts of Lilienblum and Rothschild Boulevards, where black marketeers congregated to deal in currency and other valuables. The police on each occasion arrested several hundred men. As a result, black marketeers have now posted lookouts to warn them of approaching police agents. Several inspectors have beerwbeaten.
The black mar| steers .have started to decentr -e and1 approach likely lookir* ustomers in cafes and on the Streets in all parts of town. In certain |arts of Tel Aviv they make home deliveries of meat, of which there
have been* only 200 grams (seven ounces) on ration in the last four months.
In Galilee recently, the police uncovered a clandestine slaughterhouse dealing in cattle and camels smuggled across the border from Syria. In Jaffa they closed a black-market butcher shop. This situation has developed in a country that prides itself om the high level of its civic morality, in which taking tips is frowned upon and official corruption is almost unknown. Two years ago there was no black market and a year aj?o very little.
Even now there are still people who refuse to buy on the black market. Among these is an idealistic magistrate. His family had a supper of buns, tea and a little cheese.
Supplies of rationed goods maybe a sufficient diet over a period of a month, as Ministry of Supply officials point out from time to time. However, distribution is irregular. As a result, ahnost everyone who can afford it buys some goods on the black market Black-market supplies come first from farmers, many of whom say they could not stay in business if they sold all their produce at the officially controlled prices.
Food parcels from abroad are the second source. Many a recipient of food parcels dells the items he does not like to get something he does like, according to the New York Time*. More serious is the racket by which panels recently have been brought in on * large scale under the guise of gifta from Europe, but actually for sale on (Continued on Po$r�
MEET YOUR FRIENDS AT
nnnitiaccflfe
50 Lagottcftetiert St. West For o tasti thrill � ordtr
Chicken Pineapple Chow Mein
Moo Koo Guy Kew (breaded and fried boneless
chicken with mushrooms)
Private dining rooms, orong Ian, Prev p|
Parties our specialty. Bill Wong, Mgr. ��-�
LAURENT1EN HOTEL
LOWER LOBBY
MONTREAL
TEL UN. 6-8580
Jacques besner
No finer salmon in all the world!
Tim famoe* Pacific Oetoii seafood comes in three rerieties :
� FANCY RED SOCKEYE � FANCY RED CO HOE
� FANCY PINK
Ask for Hwm ot jro*r grocer*
CLOVER LEAF SALMON
Latest American Samples From The Chicago Furniture Show
BEDROOM SUITES
TABLES
Mahogany Leather Topped Marble Topped
French Provincial
CosmopflUTfln HOUSE FURRISHERS
(MEYER AND AfTNUt SCHECTH)
890 St. Low St.,
Tti NB*� 5-0556
i
1
