Dr. Adenauer's Policy
" The Spectator's" German Correspondent, Herr Ernst Fried- laender, has monthly broadcast discussions with the Federal Chancellor, Dr. Adenauer, on current German policy. " The Spectator " will publish extracts from them from time to tune. The passages which follow are taken from last week's discussion. The first question concerned the German indemnity to Israel.
Herr Friedlaender asked if, in view of the protest from the Arab League in Cairo, the German GoNiernment might change its attitude. Dr. Adenauer replied : " I have already signed the agreement with Israel, and I stand by my word." His Government, he said, had offered to talk the matter over with the Arab States, but it would not make an idemnity to Israel conditional upon favourable Arab negotiation. He continued : " The agreement with Israel is different from the usual treaty between two States. Behind it is a compelling moral duty. The German Government has decided to make good, as far as it can, Hitler's treatment of the Jews. Our own conscience has forced us to this. It would be shameful to hesitate because trade 'discrimination is threatened. There are higher things than good business."
When Herr Friedlaender pointed out that the Arab States considered the agreement an offence against neutrality and a danger to the trade-balance of the Near East, Dr. Adenauer said that Germany was not delivering any goods of importance in war, and had given the Arabs guarantees of this; and that the tradd-balance might best be preserved by the Arabs them- selves making a treaty with Germany. They had building plans, he knew, and Germany could offer material and engineers. As for an Arab boycott, it could only harm those taking part and was politically ineffective.
Previous page
