New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-28
Hughes Seeking
Pact to Adjust
Lusitania Debt
Demand of Underwood for
a Commission on Ameri-
can Claims Brings Out
Fact Treaty Is Discussed
Senators to Oppose Plan
Palmer and Caravan Assert
No German Should Have
Place on Proposed Board

FROM The JTfbuHfe WofNfnptoH hNFSNN
WASHINGTON, July 27.-That
treaty with Germany bearing on Amer
lean claims and the German property
in the hands Of the Alien Property
Custodian is being negotiated by Sec
Rotary Of State Hughes was brought
ont in the course Of an argument to
day before the Senate Judiciary Sub
Committee over the Underwood bill foi
purely American claims commission
Senator Underwood believes that thiI
treaty will provide for n Joint claimi
commission and will be more lenien'
toward Germany than his plan. NJ
served notice that there will be much
difficulty in getting such treaty rati'
fed. This with the statements Of A
Mitchell Palmer and Francis p. Gar
van. former Alien Property Custodians
before the subcommittee. point 70
bitter controversy ahead Of Congress
on this question.
While IL became clear that the pro
posed treaty will encounter difficulties
I Il also became plain that the sub-eom
\ nittee is not likely 20 make favorable
report on the Underwood bill. Senate
/ Republican leaders are not favorable
70 Il. Senator Cummins, who 10 chair
! r-sr Of the subcommittee, said AZ IN,
.lo Of ,he meeting to-day that u
1ably would be necessary 70 call
Secretary Of State Hughes.
Mixed Commission Favored
Senator Cummins pointed out that
I there were those who favored settle
ment Of the questions surrounding
American claims through diplomatic
T channels. and that those who took this
view favored a mixed commission
com posed Of Germans a. well as Amer
icans-instead Of an American commits.
sion, as provided by the Underwood
bill.
Il was expected there would be an
airing Of views on Chemical Founda-
ton matters to-day, but Senator Cum
minis headed this of and confined the
arguments 10 the bill before the COM
mittee.
The two former alien property 4ls.
todians. A. Mitchell Palmer and
Francis p. Garvan, and Colonel Thomas
W. Miller, the present Alien Property
Custodian, as well as Senator Under
wood. testified. Mr.. Palmer and Mr.
Garvan Endorsed the Underwood bill
Colonel Miller would not commit him
self. and suggested the Department Of
State and the Department Of Justice
be consulted.
Senator Underwood has charged on
the floor Of the Senate that unless
there is an carly settlement Of Ameri.
can claims the property in the hand,
/ Of the Alien Property Custodian will b
/ depleted so that these claims cannot
be met. Colonel Miller gave the as
sets in the hands Of the Alien Prop
erty Custodian as S345,000,000. HI
said this would be adequate TO NEE
American claims.
Claims Total s415,OOO,0OO
Colonel Miller said the claims agains
Germany fled up TO March 2. 1921
amounted 70 Sil5,OOO,00O Senator In
derwood thought they ran much above
that Colonel Miller pointed out tha
about s200,O00.00O Of the claims are
tort claims, for loss Of life, and tina
according 70 presidents Of past wars
tort claims generally were settled o.
about per cent on the dollar.
I'VE ought 20 get 10 the end Of thii
business" said Mr. Palmer in thu
course Of his testimony. IL can SCI
no way 70 get 90 the end Of IL withou
some such measure as Senator IN
oerwood suggests. We ought not q
be impeded by any fancied considera
tion for the property Of German sub
jects.
There has been and there is NJ
confscation. We are taking the prop
erty Of German nationals by agree
ment Confscation is not done b.
agreement. The property Of American
nationals was swept away from then
not by conhfcation. but By piracy. Tn
death claims are claims growing on
Of murder on the high seas"
He told how Germany In most case
has returned the property Of American
subjects and was now Boosting Of tina
fact and advertising IL in the Unite
States for the purpose Of getting thi
country 20 return the German prop
erty. But he pointed out the propert.
Of Americans in Germany was abou
one-hftieth Of the German property II
the United States.
Investments a War Move
He charged that most Of the prop
erty held by the Alien Property Gus
todian was that Of the ruling and com
morcial class and that investment
were made with hostile intent" an
Gin pursuance Of her well-laid plan q
conquer the world He said German.
expected long before April 8, 1917 q
get into war with the United States
and the heads Of great commercial con
Germs here were party Of her spy sys
TEN.
As 20 patents. Mr.. Palmer said Ger
many violated the spirit Of the Amer
can patent laws. used patents TO keci
American industries down and that tn
United States should do as Great Brit
ain has done and tell her people TO s.
ahead and use German patents"
Mr. Garvan Endorsed the views o
Mr.. Palmer He urged that II a com
mission was created 10 be given powe
ludiciaily % investigate the alleged IN
fairness Of the Alien Property Custo
dian. lie declared German propaganda
was az active here as before the va
and Germany was spending hundred
OF thousands Of dollars 90 bring abou
the return OF this property"
she has the departments honey
combed with her spies and her repre-
sentatives," said Mr.. Garvan. "She ha
the opportunity OF spreading her prop
uganda through the newspapers AM
should be exposed"
Custodian Holds $4,000 Trusts
Colonel Miller said the custodian hat
$4,000 active trusts in charge, but Their
had been great fuctuation In values
much Of the property being in stock
and bonds Also. he pointed out, Con
gfess had ordered return Of mucl
property, such as 10 nationals Of sew
eral countries not now a part OF Ger
many or Austria and American womel
who married German nationals.
Colonel Miller made h clear thu. !