New-York tribune., 1922-07-21
EnerlnyProperty
Held Pledge for
I,usitania Debts
underwood Offers Bill Pro-
viding for Commission
to Adjudicate American
Claims Against Germany
Time to Collect, He Says
Versailles Treaty Declared
10 Justify Use of Seized
interests for That Purpose

wAsHIN GToN. July .2o.-Seeking
.. farce settlement for the Lusitania
.,.,srs and other claims against Ger
v.nv. Senator Underwood, of Ala
s,ma. introduced in the Senate to-day
: bill to provide for the payment Of
.r.rican claims against Germany
sl.:ne out of the war. The bill pro-
voked sharp debate and promises to
r.ke the question of adjustment Of
,se,s matters acute in Congress. SEN
..o, Underwood served notice he
roald press the bill. He intimated
.bat the government was doing moth
Ing to protect American claimants.
The Underwood bill would apply to
.ss pre-war period as we'll as during
aud after the war. 1t provides for a
commission to be known as the enemy
nroperty claims commission, consist
by the President by and with the ad-
riee and consent Of the Senate. This
commission would sit in Washington,
practically as a court, to settle and
determine all claims of the United
states and its citizens against Ger
nsny and all claims of German sub
isets for the return of property taken
ever by the Alien Property Custodian.
Seized Property to Pay Claims
A feature Of the bill is that it pro-
eides American claims are to be sat
ished out of the property in the hands
o! the Alien Property Custodian.
First, the German government prop
erty will be utilized for settlement Of
American claims and after that the
property of German nationals.
Senator Underwood said the claims
against Germany filed with the State
Department amounted to more than a
billion dollars, but that this was prob
sbly an exaggeration. He believed a
Just and proper valuation of the
claims would bring them to at least
s4oo,o00,000.
Indicating a belief there has been
undue delay by this government in
taking steps to protect American
claims, Senator Underwood said:
"The Treaty of Versailles as we'll
as the separate treaty of peace with
tsn property in our hands should be
ued as a pledge to secure the settle
nsnt Of American claims against Ger
rsny. Three years have passed since
ts Treaty Of Versailles was placed
More the Senate and more than one
Nar has elapsed since the separate
treaty with Germany was declared in
force. So far as l know no step has
been taken by this government to pro-
teet American claimants and to provide
Tor the liquidation of their claims.
we hear a great deal about the
funds In the hands of the Alien Prop
erty Custodian, and various bills have
bsen introduced to return the property
70 tne Germans, and I think it about
time that something was done to re-
'nourse our own citizens for their Just
snd proper claims against the German
s'vernment. At the rate at which
claims have been allowed against the
iunds in the hands of the Alien Prop.
efsy Custodian it is doubtful if there
Will be enough property left to secure
American claims, unless prompt actor
is taken"
Lusitania Issue Raised
Can the Senator say whether any
arrangement has so far been made fol
The adjustment of claims of American
citizens growing out of the sinking OF
the Lusitania?" asked Senator Robin.
son, Of Arkansas.
Nothing whatever. That is included
In the bill and under the provisions
Of the bill the families and represen-
tatives of those who were murdered in
the sinking of the Lusitania will have
the opportunity to present their
claims" Senator Underwood answered
why has no action been taken tc
ADJUST these claims 2" asked Senator
Robinson.
II do not know" answered Senate,
Underwood. ut was contemplated anc
expressly stated in the treaty of Yer.
sailies that the property in the hand:
OF tine alien property custodian should
oe heid in trust by the United States
government to secure payment of those
n The question really passed beyond
ne domain of international considera.
Non'' said Senator Underwood, "be
cause Germany has made treaty
recognizing the disposition of this
property. 1t is no longer question
o eor alplomatic negotiation, and if the
oeate Department seeks to evade this
question by further diplomatic cor
.espondence, it will be going in the
'eesh OF Its own treaty.
"a. say the Congress is derelict II
=; rs duty to these American citizens who
,es, their lives and property by the
.toient conduct of our late German
;saemies unless we take some actor
..%a.n'eaiately ~. by providing a tribunal t.
act on their claims"