Newspaper Page Text
*«*y, Jo* 17, m*
III'IODIIIIN III AILITI
Israeli Officers Begin
Questioning of Eichmann
JERUSALEM. (JTA) — Israel
police officers last week started
direct questioning of Adolf
Eichmann—Nazi leader who di
rected the annihilation of 6,000,
000 Jews—in hia cell in a jail in
the Northern part of the coun
try. He will be questioned from
four to five hours a day. Until
now he has been writing his
version of his Nazi career or
dictating it on a tape recorder.
Eichmann was reported to be
answering all questions without
resistance and was .understood
to have no special requests for
his interrogators. His spirits
were reported to be very low.
The Government Press Office
published for the first time a
picture of Eichmann taken in
the Israel prison. His Israel
photograph resembles those re
cently published in American
newspapers but he appears some
what older.
Pinhas Rosen. Israel’s Minister
of Justice, confirmed that sev
eral months will be needed to
prepare for trial the case against
Eichmann. Speaking to a group
of visiting West German journ
alists. Mr. Rosen also hinted
that an attorney from abroad
will have to be Eichmann’s de
fense attorney. It had previous
ly been reported that two lead
ing Arab Israeli attorneys had
been approached to handle the
defense assignment and had
turned it down.
The Knesset. Israel’s Parlia
ment. defeated a motion by the
right-wing Herat party express
ing opposition to Justice Minis
ter Pinhas Rosen’s request to
the Israel press to avoid com
ment which might prejudice the
forthcoming trial of Eichmann.
The vole was 29 to 20.
Mr. Rosen spoke against the
motion, declaring that the Nazi
war criminal must be tried in
accordance with the law. He
added that the law made no
distinction between criminals
accused under regular or extra-
ordinary circumstances. The
Cabinet Minister added a warn
ing that the press could be liable
to contempt charges it it con
demned Eichmann before con
viction.
Threatening letters in connec
tion with Eichmann’s arrest con
tinued to arrive addressed to
various members of the Israel
Cabinet. More than a half dozen
have been received at Prime
Minister David Ben Gurion’s
office written in various lang
uages, some from France and
some from Germany. Some of
the letters were mailed in Is
rael and while these also were
turned over to the Security Ser
vice. it was believed they were
the work of pranksters.
The Israeli press published a
report, which it said was baaed
on the notes Eichmann is writ
ing in his cell in a jail in north
ern Israel, that as Nazi Gen.
Erwin Rommel’s troops advanced
on Cairo during the second
World War, the SS political sec
tion prepared lists of leaders of
the Palestine Jewish community
for execution on the first day
of entrance of German troops
into Palestine.
According to the report, the
lists were prepared in coopera
tion with Nazi agents then in
Palestine. The SS also had pre
pared lists of those to be arrest
ed on the first day and was
working on an “overall plan” to
deal with the Jewish population
of Palestine. Tbis latter plan
was developed in cooperation
with the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem,
the war criminal Haj Amin
Husseini
i m age
EICHMANN
Portrait of History's Cruelest Butcher
“I’ll Jump Into my grave
laughing, because the fact that
I have six million lives on my
conscience gives me extraordin
ary satisfaction.”
Thus Adolf Eichmann summed
up his career as Heinrich Himm
ler’s personally selected hench
man in charge of the implemen
tation of “the final solution to
the Jewish problem" before' h&
vanished from sight 15 years ago.
When Eichmann reportedly
made the statement to an aide
in 1944. he already knew that
he would never assume the
office which Hitler was holding
in store for him, as soon as the
United Nations were defeated:
World Commissar for Jews.
At that time, the interior of
Germany had already been
turned into an iriferno by the
Western Allies, and the Red
Anny was approaching the gates
of Auschwitz, from where, the
inmates were reminded from
time to time, after one of them
had unsuccessfully attempted to
escape. "You do not walk out
You leave Auschwitz only
through the smoke stack.”
Eichmann was worried. Now
always surrounded by body
guards. carrying—as all Nazi
dignitaries were expected to—a
supply of poison for the grsuid
finale. Adolf Eichmann moved
By MOBHE KOHN
(Reprinted from the Jerusalem Poet)
from place to place, counting civil liberties and the forced
the toll of his accomplishments, labor camps. But Eichmann had
seeking just one more gambit a suggestion which seemed rea-
to execute before the gotter-
dammerang.
In April. 1945. Eichmann
Israel Ponders Eichmann Case
JERUSALEM, (JTA).— Israel
leaders moved gingerly this
week to retain custody of Nazi
e Minister David
on consulted at length
* pn a sjwrp note
thu demanding th*
pf Eichmann within a
to 1
orya) charged
pean Jews,
oiled i
P|en
I*Jj
ffom
re
week,
raise
ations
yield the
with
of
The
implied prom-
ann was re-
if
fo
im
6.i
no:
ise
turned- the Argentine Govern
ment would consider an extra
dition reauest.
Th« note added that, if Eich
mann were extradited on geno
cide charges, he would have to
be triad either in Germany, the
site of the crime, or before an
international tribunal in accord
ance with the UN Convention
on Genocide, to which Argentina
and Israel are signatories. Is
rael’s explanation that volun
teers seized Eichmann consti
tuted recognition of responsi
bility by Israel for “the viola
tion of Argentine sovereignity,”
the note added.
“This Government understands
perfectly the sentiments which
Jewish people may habor toward
a man charged with extermina
tion in the con
the note state
tins recognized
had been living in Argentina
under false documents, an “evi
dently irregular situation” which
"was in no way in conformity
with conditions for asylum or
territorial refuge.” But all of
these circumstances, the note
asserted, did not alter the obli
gations of UN member states to
abide by internatipnal law.
The Israel Government was
expected to reject the Argen
tine demand and the problem
was how to do sp without risk
of a complete deterioration in
the traditionally friendly Israel-
Argentine ties.
Israelis were reported to feel
that the Argentine reaction,
however understandable in a
vas exaggerated
the Eichmann
normal case, was
o, **■<
here also dampened somewhat
wan begin nihg to be k'. mount-
mann’s capture. The criticism
was directed particularly at the
text of thk Israel note, and the
reference to “volunteers” as
having tracked down and seized
the Nazi criminal.
Evening newspapers here car
ried statements Oh the Argentine
demand headlined ’’NO”! in
large type. Maariv declared that
“it is every Jew in Israel who
would say iust one word in re
ply to Argentina — no.” The
newspaper added that Eichmann
should hot be returned to the
country where he found a quiet
shelter for so long.
"Even If the prjoe for this is
high, as it nt«y be. it is not only
Israel’s right to try Elchmanh
but also the obligation giveri to
Israel by the 6,000,000 Jews who
cannot say anything now.” the
newspaper, which has the larg
est circulation jn Israel, stated.
Israeli experts on interna
tional law asagrted that Argen
tina was in Ofror in saying, in
its note demanding Eichmann’s
return, that Eichmann was be
ing charged by Israel with geno
cide and. therefore, he should
be tried in the countries where
he committed his crimes or be
fore ap international tribunal.
The experts emphasized that
the charge against Eichmann. as
stated before Haifa Magistrate
Alfred Bach, were crimes against
humanity under the law for
Film Planned
In Hollywood
HOLLYWOOD. (JTA)—Three
producers were reported last
week to be planning films based
on the trackdown and seizure of
Adolf Eichmann. Hitler’s mass
murder specialist-
Bryan Foy. in his first film
for Paramount plans to produce
“The Eichm ann Trackdown,”
with filming to start in about
eight weeks. The Mirisch Com
pany is planning “The Adolf
Eicbmgna $torv” for United
Artists- TwepUeth-Ceptury Fox
will make Adolf Eichmann.
Nazi Wfr Criminal.” for which
it has put in a bid (or film rights
to the story of TUvig Friedman,
head of the Haifp war crimes
documentation center.
in family “l.OOQ^feac
ave labor that they
island of
sonable”: the establ
Central Office for Jewish
gration. which would clear the
turned up at Terezin (Theresien Jews put of Germany gad the
stadt), where a “model ghetto’ territories «
had been set up. Here inmates many tt **.
lived "normal” lives,
units, to be displayed
gators as proof that
German-sponsored slave labo
and death camps were nothin
more than “Jewish atrocity pro
paganda.”
Here Eichmann had brought
Jews who had beeen working in
German heavy Industrie
throughout Europe, to
together with original
of the ghetto.
The Russian advance thwarted
this plan, however, and Eich
mann vanished into paythdom
until his reappearance yester
day as the first arch'
Jewry in history
be gassed
al inmates
Jeyrish population, sypy “re-
irance vester-
arch-enemy pi
to be brought .
before the bar of Jewish justice, mypt lor Jewish AfteJjg (the
as Meir Argov put in the Kneg- notorious Section IVtf), Eich-
settlenaent kptiap."
Now. in the Gestapo s Depart -
set.
The little personal details the
“human
Adolf 1:
t” aspects, of
$ life are lack-
Ucity. It is
in Sol-
rman. on
that the
Austria.
punishment of Nazis and their
collaborators, which is an Is
raeli law.
It was also noted that the
I s r a e 1-Afgentine extradition
treaty, which signed shortly be
fore Eichmann’s capture, has
not yet been ratified by either
country. Moreover. Israelis were
becoming doubtful that Argen
tina would have extradited Eich
mann. noting that Argentina
has not extradited various ex-
Nazig wbose return has been re
quested by various countries, in
cluding West Germany and Yug
oslavia.
Israel Discusses
Argentine Ultimatum
JERUSALEM. (JTA)—Israel’s
Capinet. after discussing the
Argentine Government’s ulti
matum. which calls for the re
turn to Buenos Aires within a
week of Nazi killer Adolf Eich
mann. decided last week to in
struct Arieh Levavi, Israel’s Am
bassador to Argentina, to con
tinue' contacts with the Argen
tine Foreign Ministry on this
issue. He was ordered to keep
pursuing the matter on the
diplomatic level, in an effort to
negotiate a modus vivendi.
Ip spite of official secrecy on
the Cabinet meeting—the regu ;
larly scheduled Sunday session
of the Cabinet-—it was learned
that Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurlon’S letter to Argentine
President Arturo Frondizi was
adopted as the basis of the Gov
ernment’s policy regarding the
Argentine ultimatum. The pol
icy. in brief, is to arraign Eich
mann in Israel. Members of the
Cabinet reportedly accepted Mr.
Ben-Gurion’s letter to President
Frondizi as the Government’s
last word on the Argentine de
mand.
Israeli circles still reportedly
hope that a wav may be found
out or the apparent Israeli-Ar
gentine impasse. However. Is
rael’s determination not to re
turn Eicnjnann to Buenos Aires
seems firm. Public opinion
thoroughout the conutrv is over
whelmingly opposed to the
thought of surrendering Eich
mann. even at the possible cost
of the deterioration of Iaraeli-
ArgenKne relations.
Mr. Ben-Gurion’s meeting with
the Cabinet was his last session
prior to his departure for a
Adoi
ing; hp
known
ingen.
March 19.
family jnf> v
W H e ?
school in Linz „ w ,
died for two rnrs at the local
Technical College. Then he was
reportedly a student of theology
at a Protestant institute. He was
manager of the Linz
Company and then went to work
for the Vacuum Oil Company
Soon after joining the Nazi
Party iir 1932, Eichmann was
activity. ^JSTe'Sefif'W
many. After receiving training
in the German Army, he joined
the S.S. and was assigned to
Austria.
When, after the murder of
Dolfuss in 1934 and the failure
of the attempted Nazi putsch in
Austria, tbf Austrian Axis had
to go underground. Eichmann
was transferred to Berlin head
quarters. There he was assigned
to the Middle East Department
of the Nazi Party’s intelligence
service. He was posted to the
Jewish Affairs Section, where
received his “Jewish educa
tion”: Yiddish languages, a
smattering of Hebrew, Zionism,
Jewish history, etc.
In September, 1937. he visited
Palestine (where there was con
siderable pro- -
the German
but had to leave
bv order of the authorities.
Germany did npj know pi 193§
how arastic a “solution
Jewish problem” tne w o
mann found bia
country to country
from city to city,
meticulously organizing tfef “re
settlement” of Jewt U Wind's
death camps.
And always there to refnind
him pf his mission, after they
met ip Berlin in 1942. VH Haj-
Amiii el Huaaeini. fee Mtfti of
ye finished Jerusalem,
have stu- It #as Eichmann.
Hr
■Jtittillz
Hudolpt
h
i. that poison gas was the
most expedient way of disposing
in Eichmann’s
VBtJS£3.
This was the deport ati—. during
m lew * ** °* r
Germany was
Eichmann was
continue to the _
the Jewish problem. At this
time,
bre
KZLu, Jewry, and one of
i doomed, but
determined to
endL^Wing”
iblem. At this
Eichmann hal sacs-
Eichmann
12
and
!ee
nee millon Hungarian Jews at i
and soap.
The “offer” was never finally
ready deported, perished.
sraek Eichmann was vanously
a soiuti
ilem” th<
t. Thep
against tl
% the
w o r I d
had begn
e burning
wopld accept.
some protest against the burning
of synagogues, the denial of
tq Fi
The Netherlands and Bel,
The Premier was due to start his
visit in France Tuesday. Dipring
Mr. Ben-Gurion’s gnpepce. me
Acting Premier will be Finance
Minister Levi Eshkpl. The JfJJer,
presumably, wjlj *L*q
temporary Foreign Mims'
since Mrs. Golda Mete
on a visit in the United
TEL AVIV. (JTA)—;
fo Garcif Arja$
bassador to Israel
os Aires Sunday. He has been
summoned homo for consulta
tion on the case of Adolf Eich
mann. the Nazi specialist in the
mass murder of Jews, who is In
an Israel jail awaiting trial as
a war criminal, after being cap
tured in Argentina.
Prior to his departure. Dr.
Arias conferred with high offi
cials of the Israel Foreign Min
istry. At the afrbort at Lydda
he told reporters: “The difficult
situation that
Eichmann bro
. left for Buen- Foreign Office
Argentina Refused
Tq Extradite Nazi
BONN, (JTA)—The Bamberg
public' prosecutor revealed last
week in conpgetion with the con-
■rsv over the Israeli seizure
\qpjf Eichmann, that Ar-
5"X
ganti
f
PVto
How
ever. he waa believed here to be
indicating that he has not beep
'.•te
Aire*."
leaving flay E'
r. he wi
that he has not
recalled.
years ago re-
rman request for
former German
ice official accused
of participation fh the wartime
maaa murders of Jews.
The Federal Republic had ask
ed Argentina for the pxtradi-
tion of Karl KUngenflab. • coun
sellor in Hitler's Foreign Minis
try- Inquiries into Kmqtenfusa’
case were opened in 1962 on the
basis pf information obtained in
Ute prosecution of Fritz Rade-
enced to three years and five
iWttJBWTCLJ&'S
bap! > from the sentence was
pending.