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90_HJ0018
LRB9005452KBkbA
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, Recent published reports have indicated that
3 before and during World War II money and assets taken from
4 Jewish captives of Nazi Germany were deposited into Swiss
5 bank accounts; and
6 WHEREAS, An attempt is being made by the Swiss government
7 and the banks of Switzerland to establish a foundation to
8 make amends for their country's dealings with Nazi Germany;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly welcomes the
11 establishment of a Humanitarian Fund for Holocaust Victims by
12 Switzerland's three largest banks; their action represents a
13 hopeful sign of Swiss determination to resolve fully and
14 fairly the matter of missing Jewish assets deposited into
15 Swiss banks before and during World War II; and
16 WHEREAS, A full page advertisement in the Swiss press is
17 recent testimony to the wish of many citizens that their
18 nation move firmly in the direction of compensation; the
19 advertisement, a petition by more than one hundred Swiss
20 academics and artists demanding that Switzerland and its
21 people acknowledge their moral obligations toward Jewish
22 groups, reportedly generated an outpouring of support from
23 Switzerland's leaders to address the issue of public
24 attitudes towards Jews, the Holocaust, and the past in a
25 serious way, including education which raises issues
26 concerning the moral dilemmas facing Switzerland during and
27 after the war; and
28 WHEREAS, Two commissions have been established by the
29 Swiss government to investigate Switzerland's wartime
30 dealings that can illuminate the process; the General
31 Assembly believes the establishment of these commissions
32 further reflects Swiss recognition of a moral obligation to
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1 uncover the truth, especially in light of the advanced age of
2 the Holocaust survivor population; therefore, be it
3 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
4 NINETIETH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
5 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we call for the Swiss
6 government to make clear, unequivocal, and forceful
7 statements to the Swiss citizenry condemning any expressions
8 of anti-Semitism in Switzerland; and be it further
9 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly, along with the
10 United States government and the organized Jewish community,
11 welcomes the establishment of a Humanitarian Fund for
12 Holocaust Victims by Switzerland's three largest banks; and
13 be it further
14 RESOLVED, That the General Assembly joins with the United
15 States government and the organized Jewish community in a
16 call for a full and honest accounting concerning unclaimed
17 funds and for adherence by all to the highest ethical
18 standards in advancing a just and moral resolution that will
19 serve the interests of all parties involved; and be it
20 further
21 RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
22 presented to the Illinois Congressional delegation, the
23 United States Secretary of State, and the Counsel General of
24 Switzerland located in Chicago, Illinois.