Evening star., 1941-04-09
American Investment
Under Nazi Control
Set at 635 Millions
More Wealth Jeopordized
As Germuns Move
In Balkan Area
Ry OLIVER MCKEE.

OF the S77O,00O,000 in direct
United States investments on the
continent of Europe, approximately
$685. 100000 are either in Germany
o. Italy or in territory conquered or
controlled by the Nazi war machine.
Commerce Department experts esti-
mated today. These investments
represent the interest of American
companies in European business en-
terprises.
Greece and YugoSlavia are the
latest targets of the Nazi blitzkrieg.
United States direct investments in
Greece are estimated at about
ss,500,000. Warehouses and other
facilities constructed by American
tobacco companies account for a
substantial part of this total In
normal years the United States i'm
ports from Greece about S11 900 900
worth of tobacco annually.
American companies have already
shipped from Greece their holdings
of the 1899 Greek tobacco crop. Be-
cause of the war it is believed un-
likely that American companies will
purchase any substantial quantity of
the 1910 crop.
! Little in Yugoslavia.
Though American direct invest
fnents in Yugoslavia are Small-a
little more than $1,000 ,OO0-Ameri-
can investors have a substantial
stake in Rumania. estimated at
nearly s40,000,00 Some American
capital has also been invested in
Bulgaria-now a springboard for the
Nazi offensive against Greece and
Yugoslayia.
American capital has helped de-
velope the oil fields of Rumania,
and the American Telephone &
Telegraph Co. also made large
investment in that country. The
Rumanian government bought the
interests of the American company
early this year, and the latter was
reimbursed from Rumanian funds
frozen in the United States.
Though American companies. both
In Germany and the conquered
countries, still technically retain
title to the enterprises they own,
the operations are largely controlled
by the Nazis. according to reports
received here.
United States direct investments
In Germany we're estimated at S228.-
000,00C before the start of the pres
ent war. Manufacturing accounted
for 10 per cent of the total, followed
IN order by petroleum and sales
companies. The principal commod-
ity groups represented in these in
vestmentS in Germany were auto
motive, chemicals, machinery. metal
products and electrical, and tele-
phone equipment and supplies.
American investments in the occu-
pied and aXis-dominated countries
are estimated as follows: Austria, S.
1888 900; Belgium, S34, 800 900; Czecho-
Slovakia, s4,725 900; Denmark, sl3.-
$4,000; Hungary, s9.306,000; the
Netherlands. s18,S36,00O Norway.
s26,681 900: Poland, s33, 100000, and
Rumania and Bulgaria. S43, ,952, 900.
According to Commerce Depart
ment estimates. American direct in
veStmentS in Italy totaled a little
more than $1,000, 900 and in France
Sl45,000000. Most of the business
enterprises in France in which
American capital has been invested
are believed to be in the occupied
area, and are thus subject to Naz
control.
American investors held approxi-
mately 100000 900 in foreign dollar
bonds of continental governments
and private corporations at the end
Of 1889. Since the Nazis hold most
of the continent, Berlin is now in a
position to determine future inter-
est and other payments on the larger
part of these American investments.
The latest Treasury figures show
that the United States has a little
over 500 5000 in short-term assets
In Europe. The bulk of these are
either in Germany or in areas under
Nazi domination.