The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-26

Harding because Of his remarkable exec
utlyes ability. He won his military rank
over Fe;fs, having enlisted as a private and
working up to the staff of General Kuhn,
of the 18th division. President Harding
felt that in appointing Colonel Miller,
who has been active in the affairs of the
American Legion, there could be no sus-
piciOn of pro-German leanings in any of
his decisions. Anybody who talks with
colonel Miller on the subject of enemy
property, however, will find that he be-
lieves the time is ripe to give back to the
German owners the property that was
taken from them. He is lOath to criticize
his predecessors in the alien property Gus
todian's office, but he has already insti-
tuted some sweeping changes.
The new alien property custodian has
found, Tor instance, large lawyers fees
charged TO the yearly proceeds of certain
companies now held by American trustees
and has made up his mind that all Excess
Republican or Democratic law firms are
involved.
Practices Square Deal.
Colonel Miller believes that it is the
American spirit to be fair To individuals,
even though they be Germans Already
there have been many cases settled, which
would have required prolonged litigation.
The policy of the new administration Is
to spare litigation and bring about early
settlements. 50 that business may proceed
for, while many concerns are of enemy
ownership. they employ American citizens.
The revival of trade and commerce de-
ponds to no small extent upon the reStOra-
ton of millions of dollars worth of prop
ei'ty to their lawful owners. OF course
the transfer of all this property back to
the Germans is predicated on the assump-
ton that the German government win pay
the claims lodged by American citizens
who lost relatives in the sinking of the
luSitanla. or who lost property in Ger
many during the war. The expectation
is that Germany will settle these claims,
but if not, then il is planned to liquidate
a. much of the assets of Germans in this
country as possible and use the proceeds
to pay American citizens who suffered at
the hands of the Germans. One of the
difficulties, however, from the German
viewpoint Is, that France and the allied
powers have prior claim on any money
that Germany may have available to pay
war claims. and unless America can reach
an agreement with the associated powers
on that point, the only way the United
States government can avoid using the
German assets in this country is to make
a loan to Germany, out of which claims
would be paid.
Make Property Loan Collateral.
This, however. will be developed def
nitely when the American government be-
gins negotiating with Germany on the
settlement of all questions growing out of
the war. Congressional action will neces-
sarily be delayed somewhat until foreign
relations are cleared up. Meanwhile.
banking groups in New York are back of
plan, whereby the assets of the Germans
held in this country shall be used as a
basis of credit for the immediate resumn-
ton of trade with Germany, when peace
is finally made. Assuming that the Berlin
and Washington governments have
reached settlement on war claims, the
early return may be expected of the Ger
man property or the use Of as much of il
as collateral as may be sanctioned by the
German citizens in cooperation with the
German government.