Republican farmer., 1918-03-15

ate yesterday approved by Ga to leg
islation authorizing the sale of all
| property in this country owned by
enemies abroad. An amendment en-
towering the President to acquire
title to the Germar-owned docks and
| wharves at Hoboken also was &C
cepted.
A. Mitchell Palmer, Custodian OF
Alien Property, asked for this action
in order to destroy German CONNER
cial influence in the United States.
The Senate tentatively accepted, 3S
| to %, an amendment by Senator ire
| linghuysen of New Jersey providing
for the sale of German property at
public auctions and to American citi-
zens only.
| Official assurances have been given
| that there is no intention to interfere
with the property or money Of Ger
mans or Austrians living in this coun-
| try. The purpose is to sever forever
the hold of Germans in Germany upon
vast commercial and industrial enter
prises in the United States which
have been closely connected with the
Kaisers government, serving as out
posts of the Teutonic movement for
world dominion.
Under the Trading With the Enemy
! Act. the Alien Property Custodian
takes possession of and administers
these properties, but is without au-
thority to dispose of them finally. The
new legislation will empoWe7 him to
place them in American hands,
1-3JS
in yesterdays debate were the posi-
bility of violating the treaty of 1873
between Prussia and the United States
and of too hasty action by Congress.
Expected opposition to the provision
for purchase of the Hamburg Ameri-
can and North German Lloyd docks
at Hoboken failed to materialize.
Prompt approval of both provisions
by the House is expected as, soon as
| the Senate finally disposes of the
S2,OO0,OOO,0O0 Urgent Deficiency APP
| preparation Bill, to which they are
added.
Before the Senate acted. Demo
cratic Leader Martin presented a
memorandum from the State Depart
ment's legal bureau declaring that
| the 1899 treaty was not regarded as
applicable.
| What is to be done with the pro-
ceeds of the sale of German inter-
ests, which some Senators yesterday
suggested are owned in part by En-
porer William himself, is a policy to
be determined later. In making this
clear, Senator Martin vehemently de-
clared that he believed that Germany
| should not receive one dollar until
she compensates Americans for prop
erty illegally destroyed.
Speaking for myself, and, I think
the American people, said the Sena-
tor, "if the German people ever get
| any compensation it will be after they
have compensated the American peo-
pie for the miuions-I would even
say billions-of dollars worth of
! property they have ruthlessly destroy.
| ed
Quoting from statements of A.
Mitchell Palmer, the Alien Property
| Custodian, when he appeared before
the Senate Appropriations Committee
in urging the legislation, Senator
Martin said many of the German
owners had returned to Germany and
now are waging war on this coun-
Try.
Senator Stone of Missouri, Chair
man of the Foreign Relations Com
| Hlittee, said that examination of the
q treaty of 1899 and various authorities
| on international law convinced hirl
that the amendment authorizing tbs
sale of enemy property in asking that
| He said his purpose in asking that
consideration of the amendment when
| called up last Saturday be postponed
was to permit him to make this in
| quiry, for if the amendment conflict
CO with the treaty he did not think
| the United States SHOULD follow q
| t&d example in the treatment Of our
obligations as scraps of paper"
THE proud thing in our history is
the fact that the United States add
heres, even if it might be to it's great
disadvantage, to its solemn faith and
pledges Senator Stone added. 81
wanted to look into this matter. As
a result of my investigations I con-
cluded that this legislation was proper
and hence I was taking no part in the
discussion
Senator Dillingham; objected to the
|
committee had not had time to inves-
tigate the need for taking of the Ger
man property.
| Senator Martin interrupted to say
he had just been informed by Mr..
Palmer that the reason for this legis-
lation was that large expenditures
were necessary in connection with the
docks and he did not feel that such
large amount should be spent until
after title to the property had been
handed to the government.
The amendments were defended by
Senator Underwood of Alabama, who
said the lacking of such measures to
an appropriation bill was the speedy
way to get them through Congress.
Denying that the provision would
violate any treaty, Senator Underwood
said if it had been violated the viola
ton occurred when the original Alien
Property Custodian Law was passed.
1T is no more a violation to sell the
property than to take it," ne said.
Senator Underwood said the treaty
# 1928 with Germany did not revive
the property clauses of the 1893
treaty with the Kingdom Of Prussia,
the latter agreement being the only
treaty now recognized by this gov
| eminent as being in effecr. 1t pro-
| vfdes that property of German Ter-
chants In the United States should;
be taken out of the Coz WITHIN
nine months after the outbreak of
war.
! THE German Emperor demardec
| of our Ambassador as a basis of his
receiving free passports continued
| the Alabama Senator. t'th. he should
| ,l.nr, nrnfoctinn To German rrnr,art 8