The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-28
.Reparation
for America
IsDiscussed
By DAVID LAWRENCE
(Copyrtsht by The IntsniSsncsr)

Washington, March 2T.-America's
difficulties in collecting sums due her
from Germany are growing. The effort
10 obtain the $241. 100000 for the eH-
peuSes OF the United States army OF oc-
cupatfon on tho Rhine now has drawn
attention TO 4 complication with respect
70 another claim OF approximately $500
100000 due American citizens whose rel
at.res lost their lives in the Lusitania
disaster and Americans whose property
was seized or destroyed by Germany
during the war.
American claimants have been pa
tiently waiting for the German govern
meut to pay them. But II is apparent
now that all GermanyS assets are mort.
Gagged to the allies and even The United
states government seemingly can Sei
= priority on money spent since thei
armistice in maintaining its army. The
legal representative OF the host OF
American claimants who include the
stockholders of such big concerns aS the
American Radiator Company. Standard
OIL Company. National Cash Register
Company. Singer Sewing Machine Com
pany and International Harvester Com
pany, are beginning 10 get anxious about
their claims. Most OF these companieS
were seized or liouldated by the Ger
man custodian OF alien property.
II the German SoSernment cannot pay
American claims because all funds must
first go to satisfy the allied govern
ments. then the American claimants
= must look to the United States govern
ment for satisfaction. The Harding ad-
ministration has been trying 10 evolve
policy which would be in harmony
with American tradition. Il has not felt
kindly toward the idea OF conttscaunS
German property here as means OF
raising the money 10 pay American
claimants against tbs German govern
ment. The feeling OF President HardinS
and Secretary Hughes has been that the
individual owners OF German property
in America were not responsible tor tne
acts OF their government. The American
government doeSe not care 20 cOntiSSatG
German property.
Two Ways Proposed.
But how arc the American claimants
10 be paid? There are TWO ways pro-
posed. One Is that hte United states
government shall directly reimburse the
claimants and collect In the far orr ~.
the German property now held by the
alien property custodian here be retain
cd Indefinitely and that bonds be issued
against II and these bonds turned over
20 the American claimants who could
sell them and realize cash value. Ihus
the German property would De neid IN
tact for many years ana as soon as tne
,ierman government redeemed the oonoS
the property would go back TO the la"tui
owners. Such u scheme Is in effect in
South Africa and has the sanction OF
the British government. Inc hrtt.sh
central government as well as the Aus
,ralian and other colonial governments
are applying a somewhat different S!S-
lerl. All the British claims against Ger
many are satisfied out OF clearing
house fund. This fund Is accumulated
from the proceeds Of liquidation or Ger
man property which. By the terms OF
the Versailles treaty, can be retained or
sold as the case may be, and the Ter
man owners are IN turn rccompensed by
no German governments clearing house
for debts OF this kind. The policy OF the
allies has by no means been uet'niLsLH
. evolved but the allies can apply the GER
man property toward rcparatIonS II thcy
Up to Congress.
American policy depends entirely on
The wishes OF congress by whose author
Nv the German property IN America
originally was seized. While IL is true
that American claims against Germany
ara estimated at S3Q0.QV0.Ov0 mixed
Claims commission Is about TO be SGT up
by Germany and tho United states I"
adjudica,c the claims and. as usual IN
such cases, cNtraragant estimates are
materially cut down. But therce enough
property In America TO offset the Amer =
can claim against Germany. \ very et-
,ectlve campaign has been instituted by
Germany IN America TO persuade con
SreSS 10 give back the property 10 lhs
lawful owners. Officials COnccde that
u congress were TO vote on the issue to-
dav tho property would Dc returned by
An Overwhelming vote as there is no dis
nositIon 10 hold the individual Germans
respons,ble for acts "t war. There Is
no etndenCy on ~ part OF American
claimants against Germany 10 intict
hardship. On German owners OF property
m America, but the people whose reia'
lives lost their lives on the Lusitanta
ara insisting that since the American
rovernment cannot even C".ect money
Sron Germany or the allies FOR sums
naid ont since the armjSttcee 70 main
ain the American army .; occupation
'he only chance OF satisfying American
rlaImants either - 70 appropriate from
,he trratury or TO use tn" German prop
nv indefinitely a. collateral FOR the
jssuarce OF bonds 10 pay the American
claims. ,.,,
,rohlens that has arisen IN the after
'nath OF war and the question has beer
slumberinG white our government inyeS
rtTated the practice OF other countries
Now the Incident over the American
army claim is emphasizing 4 growing
rsiaitonshlp between the claims foi
american lives and property destroyed
nv Germany and the assets OF German
citizens held by the United States gov
eminent