New-York tribune., 1919-08-29
France Will Pay
AOO, 100000 for
A. b. F. Property
Baker Announces Sale of
Greater Part of Army's
II Holdings, To Be Met by
len-Year Gold Bonds
Nem York Tribune
Pd-SHtn atom pur.or

Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Aug. France
VIII pay to the United States govern
ment 100000, 900 for American nron-
erty left in that country by the Amer
icah Expeditionary Forces, Secretary
ol war Baker announced to-day. The
PaSlheht Will be made in French bonds.
dated as of August 1, 1919, and BEARING
interest of 5 per cent from AUGUST I
1871. The bonds will mature in ten
years and the interest and principal are
payable to this government in gold
coin or in French francs, if the latter
payment is desired.
lhe property sold to the French
government includes all the docks and
wharvcs, railroads, storage and ware
house buildings, refrigerators, bar.
racks and every known structure util-
lzed by the American army in France.
as we'll as quantities of automobile,
alrplanes and parts. machine tools,
clothing, textiles, subsistence stores
and miscellaneous building materials
which the War Department has found
would be inadvisable to return TO this
country.
The sales to the French government.
however, do not include the total pos
sessions of the American Expedition
ary Forces IN France. Secretary Baker
SAID, as large quantities of supplies
and stores already have been disposed
of at public sale to Allied countries
and hospital supplies and chemicals
tt1l,,1 II - ~ =,
Cross in quantities.
France Takes Over Leases
Under the contracts of sale made
with France, as quickly as the Amer
lean forces leave any OF the large
situated, the property becomes the
possession Of the French government
and all leases, rents and claims are
assumed by the new purchaser.
Secretary Baker explained that the
United States Liquidation Commission,
headed by Judge Edwin B. Parker,
which negotiated the sale Of the Amer
lean property to the French govern
ment, had estimated the total value of
the property turned over to the French
at $749 ,000 900 on July 8. This figure
was termed the wholesale price of the
materials and property. From this sum
% per cent was deducted for dateiora-
ton. leaving a total valuation of $685.
100000.
Judge Parker's report shows" Mr..
Baker explained, chat had we under
taken to sell the properties in the open
market in France, we would have been
compelled to pay $15ooOO,00o customs
duty, and the task Of disposing of the
property would entail the employment
of force of approximately 10000 men
as salvage corps for period Of be-
tween six and eight months"
Gets so Per Cent of Value
Secretary Baker estimated that the
payment OF $400.e00,000 by the French
government represented 50 per cent of
the total valuation Of the property sold
to France. He explained that the cost
of returning the property to the United
States would mean an enormous ex-
pcnditure, and he declared that diff
Guilty may be found here to market the
remaining material to any advantage
Secretary Baker was not prepared
20 say definitely how much of thu A
Il. f. materials would be returned TO
this country. However, materials valued
at s106, 100000 have been reserved for
utilization of the American forces
abroad or for private sale.