The Washington times., 1922-07-30
NEW ROW OVER
TREATY SEEN|N
GERMAN CLAIMS
Conflict Between Hughes and
Senate Brings Sharp Ex-
changes in Statement.
BY HARRY L. ROGERS.
international News Service.

A sharp conflict between Secretary
Of State Hughes and the Senate
over the manner of settling Amer
lean claims against Germany-re-
vealed in the announcement OF the
divergent views of the Secretary OF
State and Senator Underwood. the
Democratic leader-promised last
night another bitter treaty fight In
the Senate. ....-
To the statement Of Hughes yes.
terday that the Underwood plan rot
only would be embarrassing to-
President Harding, but would be "at
variance to the principles and prac.
tice generally observed by nations
In their relations to each other"
Underwood replied by declaring this
view to be In direct contravention"
to the separate treaty OF peace be.
tween Germany and the United
States.
While immediate consideration of
the resolution was blocked by an
objection from Senator Wadsworth
Rep) Of New York, its passage this
week is anticipated, especially as
Western Senators identified with
the Republican farm tariff bloc,
against whom 1t was directed, ex'
pressed a willingness that the
charges should be sifted to the
bottom.
Secretary Hughes expressed his
upinion Of the Underwood bill to
create an all.American claims COM
mission In letter to Senator Knute
Nelson, chairman of the Senate
judiciary Committee. The measure,
he said, seems to deal with the
settlement of claims as II 1t were
t,tirelv a domestic affair"
The fact that the United States
10 holding property OF formes
enemies in pledge makes It even
more important that thsv should be
represented on the commission,
Hughes declared.
Hughes Gives Reasons.
Pointing out that all property now
held by the Alien Property Custo-
dian would not be sufficient to meet
the claims provided for In the I'm.
derwood bill, Hughes expressed the
hope that mo measure of confisca-
ton would be adopted until there
has been a failure, after reasonable
opportunity, to provide for the sat
tsfaction OF the claims Of American
citizens, duly ascertained."
1T Is hardly necessary for me to
say that / am most anxious that a
settlement of the claims of Ameri-
can citizens should be promptly ef-
fected," Hughes said. "You un-
doubtedly appreciate that In addition
to the difficulties which, as a result
Of political and economic conditions.
have confronted the nations with
which the United States was asso-
eiated. in the war. in effecting set
tlement of claims against former
enemy countries. the Government. of
the Uhftsd States was Obliged to deaf
with conditions incident to the con.
clusion Of treaties with Germany,
Austria and Hungary to re-establish
friendly relations with those ma.
tions."
II regret very much that the Soc
retary Of State has taken this posi-
tion," said Senator Underwood,
especially as II is direct contra.
vention to the treaty Of peace that
he negotiated with Germany and
that was signed at Berlin. This sep
arate treaty OF peace embraces 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 Custodian and
the settlement Of American claims.
Finds Right in Treaty.
I'm the first place, these two
treaties, which are one so far as this
question is concerned, especially de-
clare that the settlement of the mat
ter should be left to Congress. The
Secretary seems to have overlooked
that proposition in suggesting that
action by Congress would en-
barrass the Administration.
ut must be borne in mind that
this Is not an open question unless
the Administration makes II one;
that all of the issues involved were
settled by an agreement in the Ger.
man treaty, In which the German
government agreed TO requisition the
property of her nationals in the
hands of the Alien Property Custod-
ian and then to pay her own na-
tioHals for the value Of the properly