Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-26
Claims and CountcrClairs

THOSE thousands of American citizens
VINO lost property or members Of their
families through German outtlawry before
and during the war have felt that their
claims for damages were reasonably secure
inasmuch as their government had taken
possession of moro than enough enemy
property 10 meet the allowable losses which
were sustained.
But the views Of governments az we'll as
OF individuals change in passing from war
10 peace Tho views of this government an
par"ntly have changed materially within the
past year or more rega riding the German
property which 1t has in it's custody and tho
use To which that property may be put in
satisfying the just claims OF Americans
growing out of the war.
According TO Washington dispatches II
appears that the Harding administration
rejects the proposition that the assets OF
private citizens OF Germany held by this
government may be appropriated bv the
United states and paid out in settling Amer
Mah claims 1t had been The general policy
oil inc earlier administration that this could
he done on tho theory that tho German
government would reimburse its own sinh
)ec;s for their losses in the settlement of
all claims.
Secretary Hughes. It seems. is nerotia,
ing treaty with Germany under which n
rms commission will consider claims of
Americans against Germany and the cloi,ns
oi Germans against the United States II
VIII strike balance in all probability
h"lanc" which will 10 heavily in favor T.:
the United States. since comparativoIy fow
German claims are outstanding cxcop, those
involving properties seized by this govern,
meet
Instead OF having assets amounting %
Kan
which 10 pay Americans who suffered losses
at III" hands OF Germany. this povornmon,
IN the end may have very little NANCY mr.
property II! hand for such a purpose The
Greater part OF tho property seized under
me "I'h enemy act was property which hc-
longcd to private German interests sop,
OF this already has hcon returned 10 i,s
owners. Much OF IL has been sold a,d tho
proceeds Invested in government and other
securities. much of tho property which was
owned by the German govcramen, i,self
including ships and docks. has been tskon
over by the government Of the United States
for government uscs
Under such circumstances there seena ~
D" !ittl" left which the administration may
apply upon me American claims il il Is
assumed that the assets Of private interests
vi Germany are not TO he attached for
that purpose. II that proves to be the c,s,
Ni'e Americans VINO sustained losses must
wait an indefinite time for their money
Trey may have TO walt az long AS did those
Americans who expected 10 share in tho
French iudemnities following the War Of
1872
The administration has suggested ono
program which may help. II is proposed tina,
Germany turn over 20 this government what
that country would have received in taxes
from tho seized properties. If these propor
ties had not been taken over What this
vii! amount 10 nobody probably knows NJ
his time, but /, is conceivable tina, the
sum Will be considerable enough. perhaps
10 pay % cents on the dollar represented in
American claims
At'cr all. 1t Is the business OF Congress
'o dispose OF tn" German property held by
this government Tho administration. af-
ter negotiations with Germany. NAV merely
recommend measures Congress NAV decide
that all the assets needed be used 10 nav Tho
Just claims, putting ii mp 10 Germany to
satisfy is own subjects who lose thereby
jndging by some OF the material the West
sends TO tho Senate. MinnesOta's woman can
G!datc would be Better Ole-sen."