770 Foreign Relations, 1958-1960, Volume IX



proximately $5 million or less than $200 each for the 30,000 claimants
around the world. He scarcely needed to recall to the Chancellor the
large measure of sympathy in the United States for the claimants. He
believed it would be an advantage to Austria to settle the matter; he was
glad that the Chancellor was meeting with a delegation of Jewish lead-
ers; and he hoped that the Chancellor would be able to give them some
satisfaction.
    Chancellor Raab inquired about the $5 million figure and was in-
formed that it represented the United States estimate of the total of all
categories of claims. If the negotiations now in progress between the two
governments resulted in a satisfactory settlement, the United States
would be prepared to deliver a formal note stating that the United States
would no longer intervene diplomatically on behalf of claimants under
Article 26. Chancellor Raab broke in to say that Austria was ready to set-
tle the claims under Article 26 and reiterated there must be an end to the
Jewish claims. The Secretary pointed out that the settlement would
eliminate further representation by the United States Government, but
the Government could not prevent private persons from advancing
claims or arguing with the Austrian Government. The important thing
would be that the United States would not support any such action after
a satisfactory settlement was reached.
    Chancellor Raab said that he would be glad to look into the negotia-
tions and see what could be done about them. Austria was drafting war
damage compensation laws, and the Jewish emigrants would be treated
in the same manner as Austrian nationals in Austria with regard to any
such compensation.







297. Despatch 1297 From the Embassy in Austria to the
     Department of State


                                             Vienna, June 16, 1958.

    [Source: Department of State, Central Files, 763.00/6-158. Secret. 5
pages of source text not declassified.]