Evening star., 1922-07-20
GERMANS
PAY j. S. CLAIMS
Senator Underwood Calls for
Quick Action in Bill Intro
duced in Senate.
ASKS FOR COMMISSION
Would Sell German Property Here
Unless Payments Are Met
in Other Ways.

The first bill for the payment of
American claims against Germany
ives introduced In the Senate today
by Senator Underwood OF Alabama,
democratic leader Of the Senate. -
The Underwood bill Is 4 comprehen-
sive measure. 1t makes disposition of
all the German property in this coun-
try taken .oSer by the alien property
custodian and the proceeds of the
sales Of such properly. American
claims are to be adjudicated by COM
mission. and. unless they are other
wise satisfied. paid out OF the German
property in accordance with the pro-
visions of the Versailles treaty and
the separate treaty OF peace between
the United States and Germany.
Commission Favored.
Provision is made for commission
to be known as the enemy property
claims commission, to be composed
of six commissioners to be appointed
by the President by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate. IL
will sit in Washington, have practi-
cally all the powers of United
States court to settle and determine
all claims made by the government OF
the United States and by American
citizens against Germany. growing
out of the destruction uf life and
property or otherwise before and ait
er we entered the wa which were
secured by the treaties mentioned.
and al! claims of German subjects for
the return Of property taken over by
:he alien property custodian.
The German property in the hands
I@ ..1~ RI
and American claims paid out of the
several classes of property in their
order, each class 20 be exhausted be-
fore the funds of another class are
touched. Under this plan the prop
erty of the German government it
self viii! be first used to pay Ameri-
can claims and only when that is eN-
hausted viii the property of German
subjects =bc used to satisfy American
claims. Claims of American citizens
against Germany have been filed with
the State Department to the amount
OF nearly $1,000. 100000. Some of
these claims may, be exaggerated, but
ii is believed that just and proper
claims amount to at least 100000
coo.
-, Scores Long Delay.
Discussing his bill Senator Under
wood said:
.The treaty of Versailles, as well as
the separate treaty of peace, contem-
plated that the German. property In
our hands should be used as pledge
to secure the settlement OF American
claims against Germany, 1t has been
nearly. three years since~ President
Wilson brought the Versailles treaty
back to the United States and more
than a year has elapsed since sep
arate peace with Germany was de-
clared. So far as know. no step has
been taken by this government 20
protect American claimants and to
provide for the liquidation of their
claims.
I'VE hear a great deal about the
lust, rights OF the German claimants
to the funds in the hands of the alien
property custodian. and various bills
have been introduced to return the
property to thcm. and think 1t about
time that something was done to re-
imburse the American citizens for
their Just and proper claims against
the German government. At the rate
at which the claims have been al
lowed against the funds in the hands
Of the alien property custodian 1t Is
doubtful IL there stilf be enough
property left to secure American
claims unless prompt action is taken.
I shall press my bill upon the Senate
for early consideration"