Evening star., 1922-10-29
BIG TASK TO ADJUST
CLAIMS ON GERMANY
Commission Now Beginning Work
Likely to Be Kept Busy for
Number of Years.

ested. since July 81, 1914, as con-
sequence of. the war.
3. Debts owing to American citi-
zens by the German government or
by German nationals.
Many of these claims have been
filed with the State Department for a
long time. The addition in the
agreement reached by the two coun-
tries of debts owed by Germany and
Germans to American citizens. is
bringing in many additional claims.
however.
Lusitania Gains $15,5O0.oO0.
The claims are many and varied
in character. Not unnaturally. the
claims Of the Americap victims of the
Lusitania and other summarized ves-
sells recall themselves first to the at
tention of the public in considering
the matter of claims against Ger
many. 1t is seven years and a half
since the Lusitania was sunk, with
1877 American citizens aboard. Sixty
nine Of them were saved and the
rest were lost. The claims arising
from the Lusitania sinking amounted
to about $15,5O0. 900. and may be raised
to a higher figure still. But the
American claims due to submarine
warfare against Germany run into
many more millions. American pri-
vately owned cargoes of the value of
nearly $60,Oo0.000 were reported lost
through submarine warfare. Most of
these cargoes were insured and pay
ments by insurance companies have
been made. including those made by
the war risk insurance bureau. In
surance was paid by American life
and accident insurance companies in
the case of many Americans killed
through the submarine warfare Then,
too. many Americans and American
concerns paid out large sums in pre-
miums to insure them from loss
through destruction of their property
while in ocean transit
American Property Seized.
Property Of American citizens, both
in Germany and in other countries,
was seized by the German govern
ment after the outbreak of the war,
and the claims arising from such
seizure will. under the agreeemnt en-
tered into, be settled by the commits
sion. A great deal of valuable prop
erty was seized in Belgium. in north
ern France and in Rumania owned
by American citizens. when the Ger
mans invasion was at it's height.
American losses in Rumania were
mostly in connection with oil prop
erty held in that country.
Several hundred claims relating to
the loss of registered letters or par
cells sunk in submarine attacks have
been called to the attention Of the
State Department. But these claims
are not large. The United States
government itself, however has a
very considerable number of claims
against Germany. For example. forty
eight vessels owned or operated by
tn United States Shipping Board.
w lost through submarine war;
ia
Depreciation of the Mark.
American citizens have complained
regarding losses which they suffered
as a result of the depreciation in
the value of the German mark. and
have indicated desire for indemnifi-
cation for these losses. They had
funds on deposit in German banks,
mostly in marks. Also there are
debts owing to many Americans in
marks. German securities payable
in marks are held to the credit Of
many others. It is easy to see that
If these debts were paid of now in
marks the loss to the Americans
would be very large.
Claims have been presented to the
American government on behalf of
American seamen for wages from the
date of the capture Of the, vessels
on which they were serving until
their release by Germany. Members
of the American barkentine John H.
Kirby were interned at Kiel. and one
Of the members of the crew is seek
ing to recover compensation for his
detention by the German government
from November 30. 1917, to January
80. 1919.
1t may be remarked in passing that
alone with the claims Of the United
States and American citizens against
Germany. No claims of Germany or
German citizens against the United
States, If there be any. are included.
The American claims have been safe
guarded in the treaty Of peace ne
gotiated between, this country and
Germany, August 25, 1921. and pro-
claimed by the President, November
IA, 1921.