-Caveat Lector- Lawyer: Germans Reject Labor Payment By DAVID BRISCOE .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - A lawyer for Eastern Europeans forced into slave labor by the Nazis said Friday that German industry and government representatives have rejected a sharply reduced assessment of victims' claims, leaving little hope for future negotiations. East European governments and victims' representatives had reduced their claim for damages from $28 billion to $12.5 billion before the rejection conveyed Friday by German envoy Otto Lambsdorff, said attorney Michael Hausfeld. Meanwhile, Lambsdorff said in Berlin that there were efforts to boost the government and industry offer from the $3.2 billion proposed at Oct. 7 talks in Washington, ``It's tragic,'' Hausfeld said of the rejection of the $12.5 billion offer. He said in an interview that he had just received a written communication from Lambsdorff that not only rejected that figure but said even a $5.4 billion offer suggested as a compromise is ``nowhere near'' anything the government side would offer. ``That's pretty pathetic,'' Hausfeld said. The German side's position makes it unlikely that talks scheduled for Nov. 16-17 in Bonn will take place, he said. In Berlin, Lambsdorff told a news conference the government is seeking more industry participation and may postpone the talks so it can push more German companies to contribute to a proposed compensation fund. ``I know that the ($3.2 billion) we offered in the last round can't lead to a successful outcome,'' Lambsdorff said. ``So we are studying how to improve the offer.'' An estimated 12 million workers, mostly Eastern Europeans, were forced to work in German industry and agriculture during World War II. Some produced equipment for the war, and some took over jobs that would have been held by German soldiers. Several companies that were sued recently in the United States for wartime injustices have agreed to contribute to a foundation that would handle claims from victims and survivors. On scaling back the victims' claims, Hausfeld said, ``We made a reassessment, and instead of engaging in some form of bizarre negotiating where everybody goes down one or two cents, we decided to go directly to a number we felt reflected almost an absolute minimum'' - $12.5 billion. ``It was made in an effort to get a meaningful dialogue to achieve a quick resolution,'' he said. ``Apparently, it has been rejected ... despite the dramatic movement on our side.'' He said the proposal was detailed and based on a rational assessment of damages per person as well as total damage caused by the slave labor practices. He accused the German government and industry of having no rational basis for their offer. A German Embassy spokesman said it was not possible to confirm anything about the government negotiators' position Friday, and offices in Germany were closed when Hausfeld was interviewed. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has defended the German offer as ``worthy'' and a spokesman for German industry, Wolfgang Gibowski, said recently in Berlin that German companies were not prepared to pay more than the $3.2 billion offered, calling it ``our best and final offer.'' Under the plan, industry would finance two-thirds and the German government one-third of a fund for former slave laborers and other ``forgotten victims'' of Nazism who have not been compensated by other actions. Companies that face legal action in the United States on forced labor and related claims include Bayer pharmaceuticals, carmakers DaimlerChrysler and Ford Motor Co. and chemical conglomerate Hoechst AG. Negotiators have not disclosed all companies that have pledged contributions. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
