Evening star., 1921-03-25
MAY. SOON RESTORE
ALIENS PROPERTY
U. S. Action Is Dependent on
Congress- Approval and
American Claims.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE

The early return to their rightful
owners of vast amounts of German
property held in the United States
appears to be in prospect. Congress
sional action is necessary before the
transfer can be made, but the trend
of opinion in the Harding admins
tration is toward giving back what
was seized as a war measure.
Meanwhile the policy of the new
alien property custodian. Col. Thomas
w Miller. as explained to the writer
today, is to settle up as quickly as
possible all questions for which au-
thority is vested in him under exist
ing laws.
There are some enemy insurance
companies" he said. which viii
probably have to be operated by us
for some years to come, but most OF
these companies can be liquidated at
once and the proceeds returned to the
German owners. 1t is unlikely that
they would wish to operate as Ger
man concerns again, anyway.
Drafted for Position.
Col Miller was drafted for the job
of alien, property custodian by Presi-
dent Harding because of his remarkable
executive ability. He won his military
rank overseas. having enlisted as pri-
vate and working up to the staff Of Gen.
Harding felt that in appointing Col
Miller. who has been active in the af-
fairs of the American Legion. there
could be no suspicion OF pro-German
learnings in any of his decisions.
Anybody who talks with Coz I,iiiler
on the subject of enemy property. how
ever, will find that he believes the time
is ripe to give back to the German own
ers the property that was taken from
them. He is loath to criticse his pre-
decessors in the alien property custo-
dams office. but he has already insu-
tuted some sweeping changes.
The new alien property custodian
has found, for instance. large LAWYERS
fees charged to the yearly proceeds OF
certain companies now held by Amer
lean trustees, and has made up his
mind that all excessive charges shall
be reduced, whether republican or
democratic law firms are involved.
Col. Miller believes that it is the
uaIs, even though they be Germans.
Many Cases Settled.
Already there have been many cases
prolonged litigation. The policy of
the new administration is 10 spare lti-
CATION and bring about early settle
ments, so that business may proceed,
for while many concerns are of en-
emy ownership they employ American
citizens The revival of trade and
commerce depends to no small extent
upon the restoration of millions of
dollars worth of property to Lawful!
owners
or course, the transfer of all this
property back to the Germans is pre-
dicated on the assumption that the
German government will pay the
claims lodged by American citizens
who lost relatives in the sinking Of
the Lusitania or who lost property
in Germany during theS war. The
expectation is that Germany will set
tie these claims. but If not, then it is
MANNED to liquidate as much of the
assets Of Germans in this country
as possible and use the proc eeds 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 a
prior claim on any money that Ger
many 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 loan to Germany
out of which claims would be paid. :,
This however, will be developed
definitely when the American govern
ment begins negotiating with Ger
many on the settlement of all ques-
tions growing out of the war.
Some Delay Expected.
Congressional action will necessarily
be DELAYED somewhat until foreign re-
lations are cleared up. Meanwhile
banking groups in New York are back
of a plan whereby the assets of the
Germans held in this country shall
be used as basis of credit for the
immediate resumption of trade with
Germany when peace is finally made.
Assuming that the Berlin and wash
incton governments have reached 4
settlement on war claims. the early
return may be expected of the German
property or the use of as much of it
as collateral as may be sanctioned
by the German citizens in cooperation
with the German government.
Copyright, 1921