Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-14
ENORMOUS EXTENT
OP PROPERTY HELD
BY COL. I: v. MILLER
About $4,000 Trusts, With
Property Located Over Large
Section of Territory.
DISCUSSES HIS PROCEDURE
Special Dispatch TO Every Evening.

SpcStdi SiSpoAeh W IsNtiN GNClitlSs
Washington. Dec. IA. - Colonel
Thomas w. Miller, alien property Gus
todian, previous TO Appearance, yes
terday, before the House committee
on appropriations bearing on the ad-
ministraton policy on alien property
matters. had conference with Presi-
dent Harding at the White House.
during which were discussed the hear
ings before that committee.
In addition, there was a conference
between the acting Attorney-G General,
Colonel Guy ID. Con- and Colonel Mil
Ter with regard TO certain emer-
gency legislation that may be enacted
shortly providing for an extension of
time beyond January .. 1922, in which
suits for return of property may be
filed if they are not allowed by the
Attorney General and the alien prop
erty custodian. 1t is understood that
this matter was also taken up with
the President and that Congress will
be asked to act on the same be-
fore. the Christmas recess.
When questioned by the committee
as 10 the probable policy of the alien
property custodian on alien property
matters, Colonel Miller went into de-
tails. in which he made very COM
prehensive statement.
"The property administered under
the Trading With the Enemy act
Colonel Miller said. consists Of some
$4,000 trusts. scattered from the Phil
ippinc Islands and Hawaii TO the coas,
of New England, and consists OF in
dustrial plants, such as chemical and
WOODEN mills. minority interests in
railroads, steamship lines. banks. land
and cattle companies. salmon factor
| les and gold. silver and other precious
mines of metal and miscellaneous in.
dustrial plants. In addition 10 this
there are thousands of parcels of rea
estate. which in itself would maxi,
a very healthy business for dozer
trust companies. In addition ther,
are thousands of patents and COPY
rights seized by the Alien Propert,
Custodian. Since the Inauguration o
the present administration, all of thi
/ property has been administered will
a view of preparing it for such dis
| position as Congress might authori2,
after the proper treaty is negotiate,
between Germany and Austria Hun
gary. The Corporation Mana gemcn
Division Of the Custodian's Office is II
itself bureau having the supervision
over active corporations such as i
seldom gathered together in one cor
poraiion.
THE following proposals nigh
have the consideration Of Congress
when il comes 20 deal with the return
of this property" Col. Miller polnte
out:
81. Unconditional return.
'2. Holding of property a. securit
for the claims OF American citizen
! against the former enemy countrie
and particularly those against Ger
many prior TO the declaration OF wa
by this country on April 6, 1917.
"S. AS a set-off against America
claims.
a. Confiscation.
Regarding this fourth point. thsr,
OF course. can be no hesitancy be
cause one of the basic principles {
international law is the inviolabilit
OF private property.
THE first suggestion that of uncor
ditional return. should not be sane
toned and is not warranted. The rec
p ords of the State Department sho'
approximately ss15 900. 600. in Amer
can claims against Germany and Gel
man nationals for acts before tn
country declared war. and for proper
- ~ md dAhfS H.,
( Americans. the largest number
claims arising as the result of III
) Lusitania sinking. Our allies reser,
( the right TO retain and liquidate ii
. property belonging to enemy nationa
under Provision. b or article 297
- the Treaty OF Versailles.
ut might be enlightening 10 eta
that our allies have taken advanta,
of the so-called Clearing House Sy
TEN. and that property owned !
enemy nationals within their border
has been sequestered and is beir
liquidated for the purpose of applyiI
the proceeds against the claims he
by their own nationals against &c
. many and Austria Hungary.
Section 8 of the Peace Resoluti,
approved July 2, 1921 provides un
quivocally that all property in III
country belonging to former enemi
and .sequestered under the Tradii
With the Enemy Act, be held un
suitable provision has been made (
the satisfaction of all claims again
the former enemy Governments, al
4 1t will therefore, be necessary TO wo
l. out some system 10 carry out I'll
plan. IT is important that some pr
Il vision be made, so that the poor
classes in Germany whose proper
: has been sequestered, may have
retored TO them with the least posslt
sr delay and expense TO the Ultimate ben
ficiary. AT the same time, It Is per
"a nent TO suggest that those America
ie whose cash is still retained by the &C
ID man Custodian, be protected, so IN
y they will not be forced at the prese
~ time TO accept the return OF th,
IN cash, when in reality their proper
20 was taken over at the pre-war ia
- OF exchange"