The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-20
PACT DEMANDS
BERLIN TOPAY
CLAIMS OF us.
Americans Hold Bill of
$3.50, 900, 900 Against
Germany.
SINKING OF SHIPS
AMONG THE ITEMS
May Retain Seized Prop
erty Until Wirth's Gov
ernment Settles.

Ratification of the peace treaty
with Germany opens the way for
settlement of the claims Of Amer
lean citizens against that country,
which total more than $3.50, 600, 900.
The state Department, 1t is
learned, is now engaged in discus
sions with Germany on the subject.
The problem is a complicated one,
involving as it does the disposition
Of s500,00O,0o0 worth of sequestered
alien property, and the adjudication
OF hundreds of claims which for
more than three years have been on
file In the State Department.
The peace treaty provides for the
retention Of the alien property un-
til all claims are satisfied, but there
is agitation and pressure for its re-
turn to the $4,000 persons from
whom 1t was seized.
Must Pay LusitanIa Loss.
The treaty of commerce which the
government is now negotiating
with Germany will set up ma
chinery for settling the claims.
They arise chiefly from the sinking
Of ships in the unrestricted subma-
rine warfare. including the Lusi-
tania Secretary Hughes is said to
incline to the belief that the prop
erty should be restored to its pri-
vate owners as expeditiousIy as
possible, and would like TO see this
done II Germany could make salts
factory assurances that claims
would be met
cussed:
/. Utilization of the property TO
fprovide fund in this country to be
used by Germany in the purchase
of needed supplies, the German
government to compensate its own
nationals. This would be done
when claims were settled, or suit
able assurances of settlement were
given go =
Fund to Guarantee Claims.
| e. Restoration OF the property
after Germany has deposited a fund
to guarantee the claims, a pro-
cedure made difficult because of the
fact that Germany is virtually
without funds.
.. Restoration Immediately, with
out regard to claims.
Immediate restoration is favored
in some quarters, on the theory
that confiscation or prolonged re-
tention of private property Is
morally and ethically wrong, and
Is in contravention Of traditional
American policies. Senator King.
of Utah, has a bill pending which
would accomplish, restoration. He
said yesterday he would seek a
hearing on the measure, which is
now before the Judiciary Commit
tee.
Would Create Tribunal.
King argued that seizure of the
property during the war was justi-
fed. but that failure to return II
constitutes a violation OF a treaty
with Prussia and demolishes the
principle. of the sanctity OF private
property.
His measure would create a
tribunal to make restoration Of the
property.
! Thomas w. Miller, Alien Prop
erty Custodian. Is opposed to re-
turn until claims are settled. He
said he considered II significant
that a reservation offered by King
to the peace treaty was rejected
without serious consideration or
the formality of q roll call" This
reservation would have declared II
was not the purpose Of the United
states to conhscate the sequestered
property.
This is an indication that a
portion of the Senate, at least, be-
lieves that the American people
want to see their fellow citizens
compensated for their property
losses, as well as damages paid for
the lives of their relatives lost In
the Lusitania and other sinkings,"
said Miller.