Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-08-19
j. 5. SIGNS PACT
WITH GERMANY
Commission to Adjudicate Amer
lean War Claims
JUSTICE DAY AS UMPIRE
Scope OF Tribunai-German Govern
ment Shows Confidence
In American
Justice.
JUSTICE DAY AS UMPIRE

an agreement between the United
States and Germany providing for the
determination of the amount OF claims
against Germany was signed in Berlin,
was made by the state Department.
The agreement provides for n claims
commission to be composed OF two
commissioners and an umpire.
Associate Justice Day. OF the United
States Supreme Court. II was an.
nounced. has been selected by Presi.
dent Harding as umpire He will have
authority to decide finally upon ques-
tons on which the two commission
ers-one to. be selected by each Gov
ernment--may disagree.
The selection of Justice Day, II was
stated. was made after the German
Government expressed desire 10
have an American citizen appointed as
umpire. The name of the American
commissioner. II was said. will be an.
nounced later.
Under the agreement the commits.
sioners will meet in Washington with.
in two months from the date OF its
signature. and will pass upon %
claims arising from seizure OF. or
damage to. American property within
the former German Empire; (2)
claims arising as consequence OF the
war and occurring since July 81. 1914,
and go debts owed as between the
nationals of the two countries.
The announcement from the State
Department follows:
An agreement between the United
States and Germany providing for
the determination OF the amount OF
claims against Germany was signed
in Berlin. This agreement provides
for a claims commission composed o.
two commissioners and an umpire.
One commissioner Is to be named by
each Government and the two Govern.
ments are to agree upon an umpire.
The umpire is to decide finally upon
any questions as to which the commits
sioners may disagree.
simultaneously with the signing OF
the agreement, the German Govern.
ment expressed its desire to have an
American citizen appointed as the
umpire and requested the President
Of the United States to make the
designation accordingly. Pursuant
to this request. the President has
named as umpire William r. Day. AS.
sociate Justice Of the United States
Supreme Court. The name OF the
American commissioner will be an.
nounced later.
The note requesting the President
OF the United States to designate the
umpire. which was addressed TO Am
bassador Houghton, is as follows:
Mr. Ambassador: The agreement
concluded today for the settlement OF
the amount of American claims for
damages. provided by Article Two.
that on basis OF an agreement be.
tween the two Governments concerned
an umpire shall be chosen. The Ger
man Government is convinced OF the
intention of the American Government
to carry out in an accommodating and
just manner the settlement of the
questions still TO he solved between
the two States concerned. the way to
which il opened by the signature OF
the agreement II is still farther
strengthened in this belief by the as
surances received from your Excel
lency.
The German Government believes
that the distrust OF nations toward
one another brought about by the
war and the severe economic damages
which II caused to all countries con.
cerned can be most certainly done
away with II these countries decide TO
approach the solution Of the questions
which have arisen between them as a
consequence OF the war In generous
manner and In the spirit Of mutual ac'
commodation.
The German Government welcomes
the fact that the American Govern
ment intends TO take the initiative in
this connection. In order to make
this possible and in order to give the
American Government a proof OF It's
confidence. the German Government
has the honor to request the President
of the United States to cause an
American person, seeming to him
suited for this responsible Office to &C
cept the position Of umpire. such at
is contemplated in the above men
toned agreement. should be crate
full to your Excellency II you would
transmit this proposal of the German
Government to the President of the
United States Al the same time
take advantage of this occasion to re
new to you. Mr.. Ambassador. the as
snrance OF my NEST distinguished con
! sideration.