FRANCE La Mission d’études sur la spoliation des Juifs de France de 1940 à 1944 (la Mission Mattéoli) [The Study Mission on the Spoliation of Jews in France from 1940 to 1944 (the Mattéoli Mission)] This commission began work in February 1997 and submitted its final report to Prime Minister Lionel Jospin on April 17, 2000. The commission, under the leadership of Jean Mattéoli, head of France’s Economic and Social Council, was to determine the fate of missing valuables, the identity of those who benefited from them, and whether any public authorities still possessed property seized during the war. A detailed summary of the report (in French) may be found at: http://crdp.ac-reims.fr/memoire/enseigner/memoire_vichy/11spoliation.htm A copy of the final report may be purchased from la Documentation Française: http://www.ladocfrancaise.gouv.fr Jean Mattéoli, Chair of the Economic and Social Council, President of the Mission 1 rue de la Faisanderie 75016 Paris Telephone: +33 1 45 05 14 41 Fax: +33 1 45 05 14 30 La Fondation pour la mémoire des victimes de la Shoah [The Foundation for the Memory of the Victims of the Shoah] Recommended by the Mattéoli Mission and decreed on December 26, 2000, the Foundation has as its mission the development and diffusion of research and knowledge regarding anti-Semitism and human rights violations in France during World War II. It acts to assure that unclaimed assets and inheritances are restituted and that the victims of the Shoah receive the moral recognition they deserve. The Foundation will make annual contributions to humanitarian and social organizations in France and abroad. Additionally, there will be an establishment of a fund, (Le Fonds) of 2.4 billion Francs, donated by the government and private banks that profited during the War. The fund will be used to help needy victims of the Shoah and anti-Semitic legislation. Professor Ady Steg, Vice President of the Mattéoli Mission Commission pour l’indemnisation des victimes de spoliations intervenues du fait des législations antisémites en vigueur pendant l’Occupation (CIVS- Commission Drai) [Commission for the Compensation of Victims of Spoliation Resulting from Anti-Semitic Legislation in Force during the Occupation (CIVS- Drai Commission)] Founded in November 1999, this Commission reviews the claims submitted by victims of spoliation, considers and recommends the appropriate reparations, restitution, or compensation based on their three principles of equity, diligence, and pragmatism. As of October 31, 2001 the Commission received 7,725 individual claims for compensation, and adopted 1,276 recommendations for compensation totaling 26.43 million Euros, of which bank-related spoliation account for 200,000 Euros. Pierre Drai, President 1, rue de la Manutention 75016 Paris Telephone: +33 1 56 52 85 00 Email: webmestre@civs.gouv.fr http://www.civs.gouv.fr Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations [Register of Deposits and Consignments] The Register investigated its own role and behavior during the Occupation, particularly regarding the spoliation of French Jews. The investigative committee studied these questions from 1990 until November 2001, when it filed its final report. The report can be found in French at: http://www.caissedesdepots.fr/fr/upload/Rapport-definitif-spoliation-Nov2001.pdf Daniel Lebègue, Director Pierre Sargoussi, Counselor of the Director 56, rue de Lille 75007 Paris Telephone: + 33 1 40 49 79 51 Fax: +33 1 40 49 44 32 Service des archives Caisse des dépôts et consignations 15, quai Anatole France 75007 Paris http://www.caissedesdepots.fr Conseil du Patrimoine Privé de la Ville de Paris relatif aux spoliations [Council of Private Inheritance of the City of Paris relating to Spoliations] The City of Paris created this commission in the fall of 1996 to determine if any of the numerous private properties owned by the city were acquired through spoliation during World War II. Noël Chahid-Nouraï, President Bernard Hatoux, Vice-President Mairie de Paris Place de l’Hôtel de Ville 75004 Paris Telephone: + 33 1 42 76 40 40 Commission d’enquête sur la spoliation des familles juives, à Lyon, durant la seconde guerre mondiale [Investigative Commission on the Spoliation of Jewish Families in Lyon during World War II] This commission was created to investigate the city of Lyon’s acquisition of plundered Jewish property during World War II. It finished its work and submitted its final report, “Aryanisation économique et restitutions dans le département du Rhône” to the mayor of Lyon on July 3, 2001. Jean-Marie Chanon, President of the Commission Virginie Saugey, Press Attaché & Contact Person Telephone: + 33 4 72 10 30 41 Fax: + 33 4 72 10 30 49 Email: virginie.saugey@mairie-lyon.fr Commission extra municipale d’étude de la spoliation des bien juifs à Bordeaux et Merignac durant la Seconde Guerre Mondiale [Extra Municipal Study Commission on the Spoliation of Jewish Assets in Bordeaux and Merignac during World War II] Created in November 1998, the Commission is in charge of analyzing the act of spoliation of Jewish assets in the towns of Bordeaux and Merignac. The commission is supported by the organization, structure, and materials of “Mémoire de Bordeaux,” which was created in 1987 to research and preserve the testimonies and documents of Bordeaux’s Jewish community and to shed light on the plundered assets and reparations in this region. Michel Naud, Director of “La Mémoire de Bordeaux” Stéphane Barry Mémoire de Bordeaux 1 Rue de Cursol 33000 Bordeaux Telephone: +33 5 56 52 59 19 Fax: + 33 5 56 52 92 33 Email: memoire@mairie-bordeaux.fr http://www.mairie-bordeaux.fr/memoire-bx/r1recherche.htm Décret 2001-243 du 21 mars 2001 : L’Accord entre le Gouvernement de la République française et le Gouvernement des Etats-Unis d’Amérique relatif à l’indemnisation de certaines spoliations intervenues pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale [Decree 2001-243 of March 21, 2001: The Agreement between the Government of the Republic of France at the Government of the United States of America relating to the Indemnification of Certain Spoliations Committed during World War II] This agreement between France and the USA summarizes recent actions taken by the French government to research stolen assets, indemnify the victims, and publicize these efforts globally. The agreement stipulates that the two countries will exchange notes and banking records to assure that plundered assets and bank accounts are properly restituted to their rightful owners or claimants. Francis Lott, Ambassador charged with French action for the indemnification of Shoah victims 19, avenue Kléber F-75775 Paris Cedex 16 Telephone: + 33 1 43 17 74 27 Fax: + 33 1 43 17 62 70 http://www.csfe.org/docs/decrets/2001-243.htm Décret 2000-657 [Decree 2000-657, Decree of the Jewish Orphans] Signed on July 13, 2000, this decree stipulates that anyone whose parents were deported from France as part of the anti-Semitic persecutions during the Occupation and who died during the deportation is entitled to reparations. In order to qualify for compensation, the claimant must have been younger than 21 at the time of their parents’ deportation and cannot be receiving an indemnity from Germany or Austria for the same event. Applicants outside of France may file claims with the French Embassy or Consulate in their country of residence. The complete decree may be found in English at: http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2000/decret2.asp or in French at: http://www.csfe.org/docs/decrets/2000-657.htm Ministère de la Défense Direction des status, des pensions et de la réinsertion Sociale Quartier Lorge Rue Neuve de Bourg l’Abbé BP 6140- 14064 CAEN Cedex Telephone: + 33 2 31 38 45 21 + 33 2 31 38 45 17 (for people living overseas) Fax: + 33 2 31 38 45 84 Statut d’interné politique [Statute of the Political Internee] This statute concerns people who were interred in a camp for at least 90 days and children who were housed in orphanages run by the UGIF (Union générale des Israëlites de France). The identification card of the political internee is granted by the Ministry of War Veterans (ONAC). Interested persons must furnish documentation of internment, for which it may be necessary to contact the Archives and History service of the OSE (Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants). Ministère de la Défense, Service Statuts Ile de France 10, avenue du Val de Fontenay 94 135 Fontenay-sous-Bois Telephone: + 33 1 49 74 34 00 Archives et Histoire Oeuvre de Secours aux Enfants Telephone: + 33 1 53 38 20 Email: ose@ose-france.org Pension de Réforme [Reform Pensions] A reform pension may be obtained under certain conditions, even to civil victims who were not political internees. The claimant must furnish a medical file demonstrating that the deterioration of his state of health is concurrent with harm inflicted during the war. Ministère de la Défense, Service Statuts Ile de France 10, avenue du Val de Fontenay 94 135 Fontenay-sous-Bois Telephone: + 33 1 49 74 34 00 Les Musées Nationaux Recupèration [The National Museums of Recuperation] The French Museum Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of France maintains a database of the nearly 2,000 artworks that were recovered in Germany at the end of World War II and have not be reclaimed by their rightful owners. The Ministry of Culture has published an illustrated catalogue (searchable online) in an attempt to aid research and recuperation efforts. Marie-Renée Courty Isabelle Phalippon-Robert Email: marie-renee.courty@culture.fr Isabelle.phalippon-robert@culture.fr http://www.culture.fr/documentation/mnr/pres.htm Barclays Bank and JP Morgan & Co. French Bank Settlements Barclays Bank and J.P. Morgan & Co. have agreed to pay $3,612,500 and $2,750,000, respectively, in U.S. dollars to settle legal claims relating to World War II era conduct of their and their predecessors' operations in France. A website contains information about a proposed Settlement Agreement intended to settle and resolve Holocaust-related legal claims against J.P. Morgan & Co. and Barclays Bank regarding their banking activities in France during World War II. Potential claimants have until September 30, 2002 to submit applications. To obtain a claims form or determine if you qualify to make a claim, call the following toll free number: + 1 800 169 8318 (Toll Free) Conferences France participated in the London Conference on Nazi Gold. France participated in the Washington Conference on Holocaust-Era Assets. Proceedings of the Washington Conference may be found at http://www.state.gov/www/regions/eur/holocaust/heac.html. France participated in the Vilnius International Forum on Holocaust Era Looted Cultural Assets. Proceedings of the Vilnius Forum may be found at http://www.vilniusforum.lt/proceedings/index.htm.