Newark post., 1921-09-14

her to deliver to the Alien Property
Custodian all property belonging to
her son, or in which he held any in
terest. Among such undelivered prop
erty is what remains Of the gold com
taken from the Treasury Department
before Bergdoll made his notorious
escape from the Federal authorities
and fled to Germany.
Thomas w. Miller, Alien Property
Custodian, stated today that notwlth-
standing the repeated extensions OF
time and grace allowed Mrs. Bergdoli
since the seizure, she or her attorneys
had, through delay, made, it necessary
for the Government to take this action.
cat the time of seizure, Mrs. Bergdoll
had not at that time been sentenced
as result of her trial for aiding and
abetting the escape of her son, and
for conspiracy to evade the draft. She
was also under examination by the
Special Committee of Congress which
has since made it's report, and it was
felt by the Custodian's Office, that un-
der these circumstances, they should
be lenient at that time in insisting
upon immediate compliance by Mrs.
Bergdoll with the demands of the
Government. Under the terms OF the,
Peace Resolution signed by the Presi-
dent on July End, all demands made
before that date by the Alien Prop
erty Custodian, in accordance with
the law, are enforceable.
at is our intention to insist on
Mrs. Bergdoll's compliance with the
terms of the Trading with the Enemy
Act, and in accordance with our de-
mands made hereunder. We are pre-
pared to go to the full extent Of the
law in causing her to do so, if it be-
comes necessary. The Department OF
Justice is aiding us through the
United States District Attorney in
Philadelphia, and as in our original
seizure last May, we will proceed
vigorously, but fairly"
In conference held between Presi-
dent Harding and Thomas W. Miller,
the Alien Property Custodian, ques-
tions dealing with the formation of
policy governing the ultimate disposi-
ton of German and Austrian prop
erty seized during the war, was dis
cussed.
Colonel Miller stated that under
the provisions Of the Peace Treaty
with Germany recently given to the
public, it was indicated that property
now in the hands of the Alien Prop
erty Custodian will be held by this
Government until provision has been
made by Germany and Austria for
the satisfaction of claims of American
citizens against these Governments,
arising before the United States en-
tered the war, the most outstanding
examples of which are those for the
Lusitania sinking. 1t is understood
that such claims aggregate in total
around S400,000,000, and this office
will recommend that the enemy prop
erty now held by this Government be
used to satisfy these claims, or held
as an offset until they are settled.
In any event, additional legislation
will be necessary in order to Dispose
of enemy property in this country, al
though under two amendments adopt
ed by the last Congress, the Alien
Property Custodian is empowered to
return property belonging to citizens
of the new nations formed out of a
portion of the old Austria H Hungary
Monarchy, as well as property be-
longing to American women who mar
ried enemy subjects prior to the
entry of this country into the war.
The property holdings in this coun-
try consist not only of industrial es-
Establishments which are being operat-
ed by the Alien Property Custodian,
but many million dollars worth of
securities, which at the present state
OF the market, are at their lowest
value, but which will increase in value
If the security market advances.
1t was also recommended that
proper provision be made in forth
coming negotiations with Germany
and Astria, so as to enable the Alien
Property Custodian or his agents to
obtain information in Germany or
Austria for use in litigation pending
IN this country. This is necessary in
number of cases thot ,ro Loe