Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-15

reaching of the provisions of the ene-
my act" says an ofic.ai statement
explaining the law, ARE those dealing
with the taking over by this govern
ment Of the custody and control OF
Enemy property within the United
States.
The property affected by these pro-
visions is that which is located in the
United States and belongs to any per-
son or corporation that Is an enemy
or ally of enemy within the definitions
of the act referred to above, except
those licensed to continue to do bus
mess in the United States. German
subjects Of her allies resident in the
United States do not from the mere
fact OF their nationality, fall within
these definitions. The act makes 1t the
duty of every concern within the
United States issuing shares of stock
within 60 days after the approval OF
the act to report to the alien property
custodian the names Of such Of its Of
ficers. directors. stockholders as are
known to be or reasonably believed to
be enemies or allies of enemy and
the amount of stock or shares owned
by each.
THE act provides under severe pen
alties that every person in the United
States holding any property for an
enemy or ally of enemy or for any
person whom he may have reasonable
cause to believe to be an enemy or
ally of enemy must report the fact
to the alien property custodian within
so days after the passage Of the act.
So also any person in the United States
indebted IN any way to an enemy or
ally of enemy or to a person whom
| he may have rea sonable cause to be-
lieve to be an enemy or ally of enc
my must make a similar report
The enemy property custodian may
require a transfer to himself of any
property held for or debt owed to an
enemy or enemy ally and any person
so holding any property or so owing
any omney may transfer such property
or pay such money to the custodian
with his consent
Property or money transferred to
the alien property custodian will be
held until the end of the war and then
dealt as congress shall direct. All
funds or ready money may be invested
in Liberty bonds and held in such
form.
The President has delegated to the
attorney general the power to direct
the payment Of claims against enemy
property in the hands of the custodian,
upon the consent Of all persons inter-
ested
Definitions Are Explicit
The definition of an enemy" or ally
of enemy" is explicit. Any person, re-
gardless Of nationality who resides
within the territory of the German
Empire or the territory Of any of it's
allies or that occupied by their mill
( tary forces is expressly made an EN-
envy or ally of enemy" by the act.
Even citizens of the United States re-
. naming within such territory are re-
garded as enemies or allies of an en-
envy"
An enemy or ally of enemy" do
, ing business within the United States
| before Nov. ) may apply for a license
to continue to do business in the Unit
ed States.
The main application Of these provis-
ions the official statement says, will
be to German or ally-of- Germany con-
Germs which are doing business in the
, United States through branch houses or
agents, such as insurance or re-insur-
ance companies. Such an enemy or ally.
Of enemy may continue to do business
within the United States until such appii-
cations are acted upon"
The license provisions OF the act do not
apply to Germans. Austrians, Turks or
Bulgarians doing business in the United
States and having no business connec-
tons with interests actually operating in
Germany or her allied countries. Thus
thousands of alien enemies having small
business establishments in tie United
States need not apply for license to con-
tinue operations unless they have deal
ings with companies having connections
in enemy or ally-of-enemy territory. The
act authorizes the President to declare all
these alien enemies subject to license
regulations. but he has not extended the
provisions to those persons by his order