New-York tribune., 1918-03-09
Holdings Of German junk
ers to Go Under the
Hammer First
Will Break Up
Outposts of Kultur
Minor Owners May Not Be
Disturbed, Says
Palmer

WASHlNGION, March S.-PrOpert,
in the United States owned by the Kai
ser himself, former Chancellor vol
Bethmann Hollweg, the German "jun
kers" generally, and the German GOV
eminent itself, will be the first to q,
under the hammer under the plans O.
A. Mitchell Palmer, alien property Gus
todian, to sell German owned PROPERTY
here to the highest bidders.
Mr. Palmer's testimony to the Senate
Appropriations Committee ir. which hs
proposed necessary legislation which was
made public to-day, makes plain thai
properties of merely minor individuals
probably will not be sold, but that the
direct purpose of the move is to break
up the outposts of "Kultur' in Amer
lea.
"The time has come," Mr.. Palmer told
the Senators, "when the ownership of
some of these great German properties
should be permanently separated from
German capital and that the enemy
might as well know tina: the connec-
ton which he has been able to main
tain with American industry and COM
merce is broken, not simply during the
war, but broken never to he restored.
h Break Industrial Chain
The German Empire, through its
o financial operations, has put an indus
trial and commercial chain all the way
across the country and through our
insular possessions. We have become
thoroughly convinced that it would be
wise and highly desirable at this time
if the ownership of some of these prop
{ critics could be permanently taken
away
F., If the legislation be adopted, Mr..
Palmer stated, it was his intention to
, sell principally the enemy properties
in this country in which the German
/ government and the "junker" CAPT
talistic class are interested and not
disturb that of minor individuals.
The Hamburg and North
German Lloyd wharves and docks at
Hoboken, n. j., Mr.. Palmer told Sem
! ators. are "a part of the German
+. Empires commercial grasp upon this
continent"
F., Senator Owen, of Oklahoma, said he
, understood part of their stock is owned
. by the Kaiser, represented by Herr
! Ballin.
There is no earthly question about
the intimate relationship of some sort
: between the German government and
, the Hamburg-American Line" Mr.. Pal
4. mer told the committee "Neither is
. there any doubt about the relations
between the German government and
: large number of other great indus
! trlal enterprises in this country which
have come within the control of the
alen property custodian"
Planned for After War
, Plans Of the German shipping lines
TO hold their dock properties for ex-
tension Of German commerce after the
war were disclosed by Mr.. Palmer,
who added:
That is fair indication of the hope
and purpose of enemy capital that not
DAY shall elapse when the war is over
ne1ore they again put their grip upon
You cannot strike a heavier blow at
the enemy to-day than to make him
Understand that he has lost his CON
nectlon with the industry and COM
merce OF the American continent
1inese large enterprises are closely
animated with the German government.
"nere German subject has an in
vestment over here of private, in
olVidual character, we ought not to dis
turo 1t. But these great industries,
tnese great concerns financed by the
.Deutsches Bank, supported by the
Junker class, are the kind We ought to
Americanze."
German Trust Here
In one city Mr.. Palmer did not name,
ne said seven or eight great mills were
ehalreiy German owned.
!, 1t is part of the German trust in
'nis country" he said. 81 am making
chocolate in Connecticut, rails in Penn
syiVania, woolens and worsteds il
Sew Jersey, chemicals in New York,
lumber IN Florida, raising sugar in
ror'o Rico and Hawaii, tobacco in
many states IN the South, making beer
IA Chicago, lead pencils in New Jersey
ana conducting all these concerns,
many OF which are making enormous
profits by reason of the very conditions
lof which the enemy is responsible
hsar conditions. II / must simply sit
he' hhs.e' with the possibility Of returning
notn principals and profits to the Ger
man owners at the end of the war, /
am dong tremendous favor to the
'srrnan a1n' Empire, our enemy
ne desire s that the title as we'll
ss possession shall be permanently
'@.en away from the German owners"
american interests in Germany arc
.sshgiple, compared to German inter
eSss mere, Ir. Palmer said.
u, sne 1s now doing with us exactly
"1at -, we are doing with her" he added.
IL ~ Is his intention to use the pro-
bonds. 'Np'''9 ~ o0S "
Nh. Palmer issued statement to-
Ign. s.snt assuring enemy aliens in this
Unity tnat there is nothing in the
St.eeposed amendments to change the
s.,,'tson ~ .,on Of enemy within the meaning
IN. me iaw, or TO change the status Of
mueht alien enemies
a.. nnnder the trading with the enemy
49,, ne said, "thc test Of enemy char
rns1is rs1 ~ solely one Of residence. Ma
E.Aaiity cuts no figure in the matter.
AZ. asJon IL contemplated which will
ss,sa..ne me money, bank deposits, postal
oSnxs ~ Or other property of subjects
i,nI.ns1my countries resident within the
DIT