Suchergebnisse

The Agreement which was concluded between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany on September 10, 1952, and went into force on March 27, 1953, is in some ways unique in the history of diplomacy. It is a treaty between two states which do not entertain diplomatic relations and do not even intend to establish such relations for the purpose of carrying into effect their mutual contractual undertakings. Furthermore, it is a treaty between states of which one was not in existence as a state and the other was not yet constituted in its present legal form when the events giving rise to the payment of reparations occurred. These are the somewhat unusual circumstances in which the Agreement was concluded, and they must be borne in mind when considering some of its features which, at first sight, might seem strange. A short account of the history preceding its conclusion may therefore be of assistance in providing the correct perspective.