262.84A41/7–351: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Embassy in the United Kingdom 1
priority
36. On Jun 29 Israeli Amb called on Dept re Israeli reparation note of Mar 12 1951 and left aide-mémoire2 giving supplementary info on econ conditions in Ger and Israel.
Amb reported recent mtg between Horowitz Director Israeli Fin Min and Adenauer in which suggestion Israeli Govt was made to Adenauer that FedGovt might make voluntary gesture of assistance to Israel in recognition of burdens which Israeli Govt carried due [Page 742] to Nazi persecutions. According to Amb Adenauer was sympathetic but said that he anticipated opposition from Schumacher and also felt that the needed specific approval US. Amb stated that he had also reported this to McCloy.
Amb requested therefore that if reply to Israeli note is not favorable reply shld not be so drafted as to preclude possibility of voluntary contribution by Ger to assist Israel.
Dept assured Amb that reply wld not prejudice such developments.
Dept proposes to tell Israeli Amb on Jul 5 at time that reply to reparation note is delivered that contents of reply will not be divulged to FedRep or be made public, unless released to public by Israeli Govt, or unless subsequent developments make release necessary. Dept requests Emb London and Emb Paris to suggest to UK and Fr Govts that their replies also be kept confidential. In our view publication note might create erroneous impression in Ger to effect that OCC Powers have decided not to favor voluntary action on part FedGovt. Pls advise whether this suggestion concerning lack of publicity is favorably received.
- Drafted by Mr. Margolies (GEA); cleared with Mr. Reinstein (GER) and in substance with Mr. Waldo (NE); authorized for transmission by Mr. G. W. Lewis (GER). Repeated priority to London and Paris and for information to Frankfurt and Tel Aviv.↩
- The aide-mémoire of June 29, not printed, is in file 262.84A41/6–2951.↩