The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-09-20
SENATE is DIVIDED
ON PALMER INQUIRY
Calder Brings Up His Res6lu.
ton and Lively Debate
Is Precipitated.
FUND HANGS ON TREATY
Pact Alone Makes Legal the
Seizure of German Prop
erty, Hitchcock Says.
Special Despatch to TIE suN.


WASHINGTON, Sept. 19.-The effort to
force>an investigation Of the Alien Prop
ertv Custodian's administration was re-
newod in the Senate to-day, when Sem
ator Calder IN. " brought up his
resolution directing such an inquiry
and at once precipitated a lively dis
cussion. A strong opposition developed
on both sides of the chamber to an
effort at reviving this controversy, but
1t also brought out that several Sena-
tors strongly favor It. Also It devel-
oped some interesting views of the re-
lations of the peace treaty to the status
Of the $3.50, 200, 900 of German property
seized since this country went into the
war.
When Senator Calder called up his
resolution Senator Jones IN. M op-
posed it and moved its reference to the
Judiciary Committee.
Senators Borah (Idaho) and Under
wood (Ala.) Joined in opposing the
resolution. the latter declaring that the
Alien Property Custodian had been in
vestigated and that the experts are,now
examining the office, a proceeding that
would have to be duplicated IL a Senate
committee also made an investigation.
THE Alien Property Custodian has
taken over $750.000,000 worth of prop
erty in some 10000 estates" declared
SOhdtOi tdlucI, anu IL d QudTleT VI lio
charges that are heard are true, there
should be an investigation"
All this was the subject Of an IN
quiry before the judiciary sub-commit-
tee that considered Mr.. Palmer's nomi
nation for Attorney General" said SEN
etor Underwood, "and 1t declared In
favor of his nomination"
Many of the charges that are made
were not investigated at that time" re-
al i.
were not of character that could be
considered in that inquiry"
This fund which the Alien Property
Custodian has realized from the sale Of
German properties is a trust fund to
meet all pre-war claims of Americans
against the German Government, such
as those arising out of the claims of the
Lusitanic and other outrages," said Sen
ator Lodge (Mass.). "It should GER
tainly be safeguarded with all care"
There is no doubt that the German
Government is trying to break down the
status of the Alien Property Custodian's
Office" Senator Underwood then said
THE report of the custodian was sent
TO Germany, translated into German and
published as a propaganda document.
Among other things, 1t attempted to
excuse the transfer of German property
in the United States to American cit-
zens In anticipation OF the war as a
means to protect It It declared also
the hope that the Senate investigation
would lead to a review of the subject, to
the advantage of the owners of German
property. The Germans have admitted
their desire to destroy this trust fund
from which American claims are to be
paid do not believe that It can be
accomplished, but I do believe refiec-
tons on the conduct of the Alien Prop
erty Custodians office are calculated to
play into their hands"
"If the treaty is not ratified" inter-
jected Senator Hitchcock (Neb.). 'the
United States will be deprived of the
great benefit which is conferred upon IT
In the treaty in Germany's agreement to
validate all the acts of the Allen Proper
ty Custodian. There is no law under
which these things could have been done
and our only protection Is the German
agreement to accept them.
"In 1928 Germany and the United
States entered into a treaty which was
renewal of a treaty of 1898 setting
forth the methods of handling in each
country, in case of war, the property of
nationals of the other. 1t provided that
the nationals OF each country should
have all protection. be permitted nine
months in which to leave and that their
property should be sacred. from seizure.
Under that treaty provision we have no
right to take this fund for the claims
OF Americans against Germany, and only
the agreement which has been written
into the treaty could make this legal"
No action was taken on the resolu-
ton.