New Britain herald., 1923-04-12
45 MILLION YET TO
 BE GIVEN GERMANY
Alien Property Custodian Holds
 Many Rich Trusts
BY GEORGE II. MANNING Va abingdon Rurcau of New Britain HorAl


 (washington Bureau of New Britain Herald).
 Washington, D. C., April 12.-The economic situation in Germany will be improved by the return by tho U. S. Alien Property Custodian to alien owners of about 93 per cent of the trusts held during the war. valued at about $45,000.000 1t was asserted to- day by Thomas w. Miller. the alien property custodian.
 The return of that property is ex- pected to be begun, very soon under rules and regulations that have been designed to expedite the transfer and make the procedure very simple and inexpensive to those entitled to receive 1t, Mir. Miller said.
 Under the legislation pushed by congress, just before 1t adjourned, all alien owned property in all trusts held by the government of 3l0.000 and un- der and amounts not exceeding s1o,- 900 of the larger trusts will be return ed to the owners as quickly as possi- ble." said Custodian Miller These returns will amount to about s45.- 100000 out of the total of $347,000,- 900 now held by our government"
 "It is believed that the balance re- maining will be sufficient, to hold as a guarantee for the payment of Am erican claims against Germany. When this subject was before the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee of the House, a;Id also when the bill em- bodying the amendments to the Trad ing with the Enemy act was before ek IA al nf hn Ia ston, the discussion disclosed that there were two radically different schools of thought on the subject of the return of alien property. One school advocated the immediate and non-conditional return of all the prop erty; the other believed that the property should not be relinquished. but held and utilized for the payment of American claims as rapidly as the awards arc made by the mixed claims commission.
 "rhe last legislative instructions on the subject are contained in the Knox Porter peace resolution. adopted July 2, 1921, which specifically di- rects that the alien property shall be retained by the government until such time as the former enemy govern ments make suitable. provision for the satisfaction of claims of Americans against those governments. This does not necessarily mean that the prop erty of private individuals shall be confiscated and used for the payment of the claims of American citizens, hut it does seem clear that the Knox Porter resolution directed the reten- ton by this government of a sufficient amount of enemy owned property to guarantee the final settlement of American claims
 "Wnile adhering Co this policy the last congress was very emphat1caliy of the opinion that the continued re- tention and administration by the alien property custodian of the small tri,sts represented by theR93 per cent ufider S10,Ooo' is unnecessary and un- wise.
 "The, amendments to the law per init the return to certain classes Of women whose rights or whose prop erty were substantially American, but who were barred heretofore by fact Of citizenship; the prohibition of any property to insurance compani un- less they have satisfied claims whlcn may be filed against them; notwith- standing those claims may have been larred by statute of limitations; rayment. to the former owners Of an amount not exceeding $10,0e9 in any enc year of future income on trusts administered by the custodian; limit- ing attorney fees to three per cent; re- strictjng the right of recovery m so rar as it concerns patents, trade marks. copyrights, etc, if they nave ,,sen sold or licensed by the alien property custodian or are no" II" litigation" M