The Washington times., 1922-06-14
KING ASKS.
RETURN Of.
ALL GOODS

Policy Of Selling Private As
sets Said to Menace Ameri-
can investments Abroad.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
international News Service.
A Senate investigation of the
alien property custodian's office
and of the four years. delay in re-
turning $4o0,000,OOO worth of
seized German property was under
way today.
Activities to Be Aired.
Launched through resolutions in
troduced by Senator King Dem) of
Utah, the probe will be one of the
most thorough in the Senate's his.
tory. Acts of the alien property Gus
todian in seizing 500, 900, 900 worth
Of alien property. his administration
Of the property under Government
control, sales of seized assets, and
the relations of the Department of
Justice to the seizures. will all be
aired before a Senate subcommittee.
. Charges Of King.
King charged that $50, ,OO0, 900 900
worth of Americanowned property
In foreign lands was being endan.
gered by this Governments failure
to return property seized from aliens
during the war. His efforts are di-
Nrected chiefly to compelling the re-
turn of all German property now
held and an accounting OF this Gov
ernment's stewardship of the seiz-
ures.
'This property was owned, not by
q few individuals, but by tens of
thousands Of Germans and Aus
trians." said King today. '1t con-
sisted of Industrial plants. chemical
and woolen mills, steamship lines,
banks, cattle ranches, canals, securi.
ties and other liquid assets.
"The United States has always
opposed the .confiscation of prop
erty of nationals of belligerent ma
tions. 1t has always insisted that
private property should be immune
from seizure. and the United States
has taken the lead in contending
for an enlightened international pol.
Icy protecting the property of indi-
viduals in time of war. In view of
this policy there is no excuse for
further delay in returning the
property seized during the war.
Sub Committee Meets.
A subcommittee named by Sena-
tor Nelson -Rep) of Minnesota,
chairman of the Judiciary Commit
tee, was to meet today to arrange
Tor hearings in a series of resolu-
tions introduced by King. This com.
hnittee comprised Senators Cum
tnins Rep0 of Iowa, chairman;
Sterling Rep) Of South Dakota
and Overman Dem.) Of North Caro-
lima.
King declared some of the seized
property was returned shortly after
The armistice, but that $4OO,OOO,OOO
was still retained. One OF his res
plutions would authorize the presi-
nent to appoint commission Tor
adjusting and returning the remain
der of the seizures.
"I have also offered a resolution
calling for an investigation OF all
acts of the alien property custodian
and the administration Of his Of
flee" King added This resolu-
ton will be considered by the sub
committee with special attention to
the manner of seizure, possible
waste in its management, costs,
whether sales were made to agents
or officials having fiduciary rela-
tions to the property. 1t also au-
thorized a probe into sales made to
the Bosch Magnetic Company and
further, to investigate the relations
or the Department of Justice to
the business affairs Of the alien
property custodian and whether any
Influence was exerted by Govern
nent officials to prevent criminal
or civil proceedings in relation to
these transactions"
Wants 1t Restored.
King contended 1t was the duty
Of the United States to Immediately
restore all seized property. He
pointed out that Germany had re-
stored to Americans all property
seized in Germany during the war
1--WE now 'have investments Of
nearly 5000 ,000, 900 in other coun-
tries" King added. "It would be
most unwise for our country to adopt
n policy of confiscating private prop
erty of other nationals. The ex-
ample might be used to the disad.
vantage Of our country. The only
honorable and honest course to pur.
sue is to restore to the owners prop
erty now held by the alien property
custodian.
Pointing out that four years have
elapsed since the war, King said the
owners of seized property have al.
ready suffered heavy losses due TO
depreciation. He urged immediate
return of the property to prevent ad
tiitional losses. '1-...- ".y-aF- O.. Il
"American citizens have claims
against the German government"
ne added. That government should
be made to pay all valid claims, but
the United States'has no moral nor
legal right to confiscate private prop.
erty for the settlement of American
claims against the German govern
ment."
II was indicated hearings by the
subcommittee would stant within q
few days.
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