Evening star., 1949-01-30

Tons of documents recently arr
support the Once Of Alien Propert
attacks against its legal claim to s
many millions Of dollars.
This vast job of administration
ofdcial eye of Attorney General {
tering upon the second phase Of
this extensive, far-fiung battle for
property. To prepare himself ade-
quately MIR. Clark has so Justice
Department employees in Europe,
principally in Germany, aided by
an equal number of Germans.
This force is engaged in scouting
out important papers to aid in
court tests. as well as getting any
other pertinent information. The
ofice's authority is limited to
property located in the United
States and its possessions. But vital
documents and witnesses may be
found in the former enemy coun-
tries-or elsewhere.
May Be More Property
Assistant Attorney General David
L. Bazelon Is director Of the ONCE
of Alien Property. Harold I. Bayn-
ton, the deputy director, told The
Star this collecting Of documents
really has q twofold purpose
First, he said, it will prepare the
department for any court cases
that may arise. But, secondly, the
papers also will enable the Office
to secure valuable information orl
additional enemy property in the
United States and its Territories
that has heretofore been overlooked.
Now that the Federal Govern
ment has taken legal title to any
obvious enemy property 1t has
found lying around beneath the
Stars and Stripes, the time has
come to dig for any hints of addi-
tional property that lies hidden.
To spur this quest investigators in
Germany have been thumbing
through all manner Of papers-let-
ters, corporation books, documents
Of various types and any records
that might throw light on the sub
ject.
For the Germans are known to be
O methodical people. Some scrap OF
information they have recorded may
put the once Of Alien Property on
the trail of q new bonanza.
Thus far, the packing cases full OF
records that have reached WASH
ington total 1s.4so pounds.
Legal Basis for Seizures
The Germans were by far the most
important enemy group In this
country, when it came to business
and property. While the japanese
operated through small business
ventures for the most part, the Ger
mans were active here through large
and powerful corporations in the
Reich. The other ~ enemy aliens
here did not cut much of a figure.
The capture Of alien property for
the benefit of American citizens and
the Federal treasury is another OF
the complex aspects Of the after
math of World War II.
The legal basis for this property
seizure Is the Trading With the
Enemy Act. The Federal Govern
ment had the pattern set in World
War I as q guidepost. But the
once Of Alien Property, even at the
close of World War II, was holding
assets from the prior conflict with q
book value of s65,s33,925. Nearly
$4,000, 900 of this was cash. So ever
after 80 years, liquidation of World
War I enemy property still con-
tinues.
Today, the once of Alien Property
finds itself with enemy property o1
q total estimated value Of $400, ,00O,-
600. Included in the widely -distrib.
uted assets are $4,000 patents ant
100000 copyrights-representing
worthwhile cultural and business
heritage.
Based on available evidence, thu
ONCE seizes property. stock or assets
Of q corporation-or both-depend.
snt upon the prior ownership.
Mountain of Paper Work
In the Orient, the forces Of Gen
Douglas Macarthur aided in collect
ing material for the Justice Depart
ment. In Germany. Gen. Lucius
Clay, the United States military
governor, and his subordinates as
sisted the Justice Department in It's
quest for important papers bearing
on seized property.
So, the departments active force
of investigators has been able to
send back to Washington huge
amounts of papers that will be OF
immense value in many law suits
These will aid in establishing the
United States legal position to the
satisfaction of the courts. the inter-
ested officials are confident.
The ONCE of Alien Property now
holds legal title to lots, houses
money, big corporations, copyrights
and many other kinds Of property
1t even owns a japanese Shintt
temple in Hawaii, Mr.. Baynton re.
called from his own personal knowl-