Evening star., 1922-07-30

ecutive III dealing with the matter Of
these claims, since the enactment OF
the bill into law would make II nee.
essary to abandon present plans.
sage of the bill. may say that 1t
seems to me entirely appropriate that
the usual practice should be followed
in the determination Of international
Claims and that Germany should have
appropriate representation upon = .
amount of these claims shall be as
sessed. The bill seems to deal with
the settlement OF claims as II " were
purely a domestic affair. But tho
claims are those OF American citlzAas
against Germany. Austria and Hun
templated. as the joint resolution OF
Congress approved July ., 1881,
makes clear, that these governments
shall make suitable provisions for
the satisfaction OF these claims. But
II these governments are to make
proper that they should have the OPP
portunity Of being represented on
the claims commission by which the
amount of the claims is to be fixed. ::
Against Excluding Germahy.
II do not see that any different
principle should be applied because
we hold the private property OF
former enemies in pledge, but this
situation. should suppose. would
have referred, II possible. still more
important before resort were had to
such property for satisfaction. To
undertake to exclude nation In Y
case like the present from any par
tieipation or voice in matters thus
vitality affecting it's interest and to
aeai with such matters by ex parte
action would be. in my judgment, at
variance with the principles and
practice generally observed by ma
ttons in their relations with each
other, and / should think 1t unfortu-
nate II such a course were initiated
by this government
Il shall not discuss the plan which
the bill sets forth Of confisca1ing the
property in the hands of the alien
property custodian by providing for
Its application not only to the pay
zens, but also to the claims of this
government for pensions and allow
ances as described in the bill While
the latter class of claims Is to be
postponed in payment to the FORMER,
all are to be satisfied under the pro-
visions of the bill, and it is manifest
that the entire private property of
former enemy nationals in the hands
of the alien property custodian will
not be sufficient for the purposes
stated.
Property Held In Pledge.
$50 far as the claims of American
citizens are concerned, the properties
in the hands of the alien property
custodian. or their proceeds II liqui-
dated. are to be held virtually In
plodge until Germany. Austria and
Hungary. respectively, make suitable
provisions for the satisfaction Of
these claims. When the amount
of these claims has been determined:
the question of the satisfaction can
be tkaen up at once. Congress, OF
course. reserving its authority to deal
with the question in the light of the
event. I should hope that in any
case no measure of confiscation would
be adopted until there had been. q
failure, after reasonable opportunity,
to provide for the satisfaction of the
claims OF American citizens duly-as-
certained."
Senator Underwood said he regret
ted very much that Secretary Hughes
had taken the stand he did especially
as it is in direct contravention of the
treaty of peace that he negotiated
with Germany and that was signed at
Berlin"
This separate treaty of peace en-
braces all Of the terms of settlement
that were included in the Versailles
treaty in regard to the property in
the hands OF the alien property Gus