New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-20
Asks President to Extend
Ban to All Forms
of Risks
Would Guard Secrets
information of Vital I'm
portance Accessible to
German Agents

The American Defence society,"
through Richard NJ. Hurd. chairman OF
the board of trustees, has written Pres
ident Wilson asking that as matter
of national safety the terms OF his
proclamation barring Germans from
the marine and war risk insurance
field be extended to cover all other
forms Of insurance.
In his letter TO the President, made
public yesterday. Mr.. Hurd summarizes
and answers the charges made by The
Tribune as to German insurance COM
psnies. He charges:
CD That through being permitted to
write insurance Germans are placed IN
possession Of information of vital value
to the United States. and that such in
formation may be used against it.
Aid and Comfort for Enemy
C2) That the payment of large sums
of money to German companies
strengthens the financial position OF
Germany and is directly giving aid
and comfort to the enemy"
Cd That the United States does not
need the protection these companies
are alleged TO give, American and COM
panies of Allied origin being able to
handle all business that may be Of
fered.
IA That any insurance offered by
enemy alien companies IS OF oo1otIuI
value. their assets in the United States
bsing infnitesimal in comparison to
the amount they may be called upon
to pay.
(5l That this weakness is accentu-
sted by the inability Of these compa-
nies to obtain any funds from the nome
Offices in case they are called upon 70
meet their obligations.
German Companies Bankrupt
Cs) That even after peace comes it
is doubtful if any assistance would De
Forthcoming from Germany. lnasmuch
as the companies are bankrupt or SEMI
bankrupt now. Will.
Mr.. Hurds letter to the President
follows:
aThe House Of Representatives has
recently passed H. R. 1850, entitled
AN Act to Define, Regulate and Pun
ish Trading with the Enemy, etc.
which forbids all trading with the en-
envy, except that branches OF enemy or
ally of enemy insurance companies
are permitted to write insurance in the
United States. Your recent proela-
nation forbade the writing of marine
or war insurance by enemy or ally OF
enemy insurance companies, which pre-
vented the Germans from obtaining
much secret information as to csrgoes
Of ships, munirion plants, etc.
"The American Defence Society sub
mits that this prohibition should be
extended against all enemy or ally OF
enemy insurance companies writing
any kind of risks in the United States,
because these enemy insurance compa-
MES thus obtain much secret informa-
ton as 70 the entire industrial and
commercial life Of America, which in
formation can be used against the
United States. Also, the payment OF
large annual insurance premium in
comes to enemy insurance companies
is a source Of financial strength and
announcement to Germans everywhere
and constitutes a direct giving OF
comfort and aid to the enemy
"The only argument advanced fol
this single exception to the Trading
with the Enemy Act'-which in Eng.
land and France has no exceptions-is
that Americs needs the protection OF
enemy FIRE insurance companies. This
is false.
"On December 81, 1918, the thirteen
German insurance companies doing
business in the United States showed
total assets in the United States OF
only S95,144602 10 protect insurance
risks in the United States totslline
s9,563, 792,200. The protection of Ger.
man insurance companies thus seems
to be doubtful, in view of the fac,
that no moneys can be received from
Germany or her allied countries dur.
ing the war, and also because they
probably arc now, or will be after the
war, either bankrupt or semi-bankrupt
German imperial bonds are about
10 approach 100,000,000,000 marks
which bonds have been forced upon
the German corporations, with dis
sstrous effect upon these corporation,
when the bonds are scaled or repudi
sted. There will be no difficulty ir
having the insurance now carried by
German companies transferred Il
American insurance companies or the
companies Of our allies.
The American Defence Society ask,
YOU 70 use your great power 20 pre-
vent the writing Of any fire insuranc,
IN the United States by German fr,
insurance companies"
Thraa Met De.4l