The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1920-07-16
ALIEN PROPERTY
TO BE RETURNED
Over s15O,O0O,OO0 Reverts to
Owners Under Amendment
to Trading Act.
AIDS AMERICAN HEIREssEs
Creditors In the United States May
Pursue Debtors-Suits in Equity
Are Allowed - New Law
Passed June 5.
New York-More than s15O,OOO,OOO

New York.-More than $150,0O0,OO0
Of enemy property taken over by the
alien property custodian during the
war will be returned to its original
owners by virtue of the amendment TO
the trading with the enemy act passed
by Congress ON June 5.
This property is part Of the more
than half billion dollars worth OF
enemy property now in the hands of
the alien property custodian. 1t In
cIudes the fortunes Of many American
heiresses who married foreign noble
men, property of the German embassy,
enemy diplomatists, all aliens who
were interned, citizens of new nations
and states created by the treaty OF
peace and women Of allied or neutral
countries who married enemy subjects.
Many Americans who were unfortu-
nate enough to be held in Germany be-
cause of illness, insanity or any other
reason can now recover their property,
no matter where resident.
With certain limitations the Presi-
dent was authorized before the amend
ment of June to return property
where it was found to have been taken
over wrongfully and to allow Ameri-
can creditors to pursue their enemy
debtors by bringing claim against their
property so taken over. The amend
ment, however, extends the privilege
to pursue enemy debtors In debt cases
to creditors Of allied and neutral ma
tions where such nations will grant re-
ciprocal rights to American creditors.
Also citizens of all free cities, states
and new nations created by the treaty
of peace and which are no longer a
part Of Austria, Hungary or Germany
and who were heretofore considered
enemies under the terms of the trading
with the enemy act may detain the re-
turn of their property subject only to
the condition that their status of Ger
man or Austrian citizenship has chang
ed by virtue of q treaty which has
been or may be made between Ger
many or Austria and the United States
and, or, three or more Of the following
powers: Great Britain, France, Italy
treaties made between said new terri
tories and the United States and, or,
three or more Of the above enumerated
powers, either ipso facto or through
the exercise of option on the part Of
the Individual. Under the amendment,
however, the claimant Is required to
obtain q statement from an authorized
official of his government to the effect
that by virtue of one or more Of these
treaties he has become a citizen Of
such country or state or free city, as
the case may be-
In general, those who are not now
citizens or subjects of German or Aus
tria or Austria Hungary may obtain
the return of their property by appli-
cation to the President and notice Of
claim to the alien property custodian,
both of which forms with instructions
will be forwarded on request to the
alien property custodian, Washington,
D. c.
Besides the right to make applica-
ton to the President for the return of
property afforded the privilege to in
stitute suit in euitqy is likewise given.
Where a person deceased would have
been entitled If living to the return of
property his legal representative may
proceed for the return Of such proper
ty, subject to certain conditions by
way of security or otherwise which
the government may require.
In claims filed by allied citizens
based on debt there is, besides the re-
quirement Of reciprocity by the respec-
tive allied governments, a requirement
which likewise applies to neutrals,
that the debt must have arisen with
reference to the money or other prop
erty held by the alien property GUS
todian or the treasury Of the United
States. The requirement that the debt
shall be allowable only If 1t was owing
to and owned by the claimant prior to
October 6, 1917, is a general one and
applies to every claimant, including q
citizen Of the United States.