An Act to amend the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, and for other purposes
PL 84-285 (H.R.6382), enacted 08/09/1955

562 
August 9,1955 
[H. R. 6382] 
I n t e r n a ti onal 
Claims Settlemefnt 
Act of 1949,amend-
ments. 
64 Stat. 12. 
22 u s e 
1621 
note. 
61 Stat., pt. 2. 
5FR 1400; 3 CFR 
Cum. Supp., p. 64 5. 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. «, 1955 
[69 STAT» 
Public Law 285 
CHAPTER 645 
AN ACT 
To amend the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assemhled^ That the Interna-
tional Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, is further amended 
by inserting after the first section thereof the following: "TITLE I". 
SEC. 2. The word "Act", wherever it appears in title I in reference to 
the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, is amended to read 
"title". 
SEC. 3. The International Claims Settlement Act of 1949, as amended, 
is further amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"TITLE I I 
"VESTING AND LIQUIDATION or BULGARIAN, HUNGARIAN, AND 
RUMANIAN PROPERTY 
"SEO. 201. As used in this title the term— 
"(1) 'Person' means a natural person, partnership, association, 
other unincorporated body, corporation, or body politic. 
"(2) 'Property' means any property, right, or interest. 
"(3) 'Treaty of peace', with respect to a country, means the treaty 
of peace with that country signed at Paris, France, February 10,1947, 
which came into force between that country and the United States 
on September 15,1947. 
"SEC. 202. (a) In accordance with article 25 of the treaty of peace 
with Bulgaria, article 29 of the treaty of peace with Hungary, and 
article 27 of the treaty of peace with Rumania, any property which was 
blocked in accordance with Executive Order 8389 of April 10, 1940, as 
amended, and remains blocked on the effective date of this title, and 
which, as of September 15, 1947, was owned directly or indirectly by 
Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania or by any national thereof as defined 
in such Executive order, shall vest in such officer or agency as the 
President may from time to time designate and shall vest when, as, 
and upon such terms as the President or his designee shall direct. 
Such property shall be sold or otherwise liquidated as expeditiously 
as possible after vesting under such rules and regulations as the 
President or his designee may prescribe. The net proceeds remaining 
upon cqmpletion of the administration and liquidation thereof, in-
cluding the adjudication of any suits or claims with respect thereto 
under sections 207 and 208, shall be covered into the Treasury. 
Not-
withstanding the preceding provisions of this subsection, any such 
property determined by the President or his designee to be owned 
directly by a natural person shall not be vested under this subsection 
but shall remain blocked subject to release when, as, and upon such 
terms as the President or his designee may prescribe. If, at any 
time within one year from the date of the vesting of any property un-
der this subsection, the President or his designee shall determine that 
it w^as directly owned at the date of vesting by a natural person, then 
the President or his designee shall divest such property and restore 
it to its blocked status prior to vesting, subject to release when, as, 
and upon such terms as the President or his designee may prescribe, 
or if such property has beeii liquidated, shall divest the net proceeds 
thereof and carry them in blocked accounts with the Treasury, bearing 
no interest, in the name of the owner thereof at the date of vesting, 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
563 
subject to release when, as, and upon such terms as the President or 
his designee may prescribe. 
"(b) The net proceeds of any property which was vested in the 
Alien Property Custodian or the Attorney General after December 
17, 1941, pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act, as amended, 
and which at the date of vesting was owned directly or indirectly 
by Bulgaria, Hungary, or Rumania, or any national thereof, shall 
after completion of the administration, liquidation, and disposition 
of such property pursuant to such Act, including the adjudication of 
any suits or claims with respect thereto under such Act, be covered into 
the Treasury, except that the net proceeds of any such property which 
the President or his designee shall determine was directly owned by 
a natural person at the date of vesting shall be divested by the Presi-
dent or such officer or agency as he may designate and carried in 
blocked accounts with the Treasury, bearing no interest, in the name 
of the owner thereof at the date of vesting, subject to release when, as, 
and upon such terms as the President or his designee may prescribe. 
"(c) The determination under this section that any vested property 
was not directly owned by a natural person at the date of vesting 
shall be within the sole discretion of the President or his designee 
and shall not be subject to review by any court. 
"(d) The President or his designee may require any person to 
furnish, in the form of reports or otherwise, complete information, 
including information with regard to past transactions, relative to 
any property blocked under Executive Order 8389 of April 10, 1940, 
as amended, or as may be otherwise necessary to enforce the provisions 
of this section; and the President or his designee may require of any 
person the production of any books of account, records, contracts, 
letters, memoranda, or other papers relative to such property or as 
may be otherwise necessary to enforce the provisions of this section. 
"SEC. 203. Whenever shares of stock or other beneficial interest in 
any corporation, association, or company or trust are vested in any 
officer or agency designated by the President under this title, it shall 
be the duty of the corporation, association, or company or trustee or 
trustees issuing such shares or any certificates or other instruments 
representing the same or any other beneficial interest to cancel such 
shares of stock or other beneficial interest upon its, his, or their books 
and in lieu thereof to issue certificates or other instruments for such 
shares or other beneficial interest to the designee of the President, or 
otherwise as such designee shall require. 
"SEC. 204. Any vesting order, or other order or requirement issued 
pursuant to this title, or a duly certified copy thereof, may be filed, 
registered, or recorded in any office for the filing, registering, or 
recording of conveyances, transfers, or assignments of such property 
as may be covered by such order or requirement; and if so filed, 
registered, or recorded shall impart the same notice and have the same 
force and effect as a duly executed conveyance, transfer, or assign-
ment so filed, registered, or recorded. 
"SEC. 205. Any payment, conveyance, transfer, assignment, or de-
livery of property made to the President or his designee pursuant to 
this title, or any rule, regulation, instruction, or direction issued under 
this title, shall to the extent thereof be a full acquittance and discharge 
for all purposes of the obligation of the person making the same; and 
no person shall be held liable in any court for or in respect of any such 
payment, conveyance, transfer, assignment, or delivery made in good 
faith in pursuance of and in reliance on the provisions of this title, or 
of any rule, regulation, instruction, or direction issued thereunder, 
"SEC. 206. The district courts of the United States are given juris-
diction to make and enter all such rules as to notice and otherwise, 
40 Stat. 411. 
50 u s e app. 1. 
Information. 
5 FR 
1400; 
3 
CFR, Cum. Supp. 
p. ' ' 
645. 
Stock 
s h a r e s , 
etc. 
F i l i n g of order 
of c o n v e y a n c e , 
etc. 
Acquittance and 
discharge of obli-
gation. 
J u r i s diction of 
district courts. 
564 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 ST A T . 
62 Stat. 928, 929. 
Suit for return of 
property. 
S 
FR 
1400; 
3 
CFR, Cutn. Stpp., 
p. 645. 
Notice of claim. 
5 
FR 
1400; 
3 
CFR, Cutn. Supp., 
p. 645. 
Reviewof denial. 
and all such orders and decrees, and to issue such process as may be 
necessary and proper in the premises to enforce the provisions of this 
title, with a right of appeal from the final order or decree of such 
court as provided in sections 1252, 1254, 1291, and 1292 of title 28, 
United States Code. 
"SEC. 207. (a) Any person who has not filed a notice of claim under 
subsection (b) of this section may institute a suit in equity for the 
return of any property, or the net proceeds thereof, vested in a des-
ignee of the President pursuant to section 202 (a) and held by such 
designee. Such suit, to which said designee shall be made a party 
defendant, shall be instituted in the District Court of the United 
States for the District of Columbia or in the district court of the 
United States for the district in which the claimant resides, or, if a 
corporation, where it has its principal place of business, by the filing 
of a complaint which alleges— 
"(1) that the claimant is a person other than Bulgaria, Hun-
gary, or Rumania, or a national thereof as defined in Executive 
Order 8389 of April 10, 1940, as amended; and 
"(2) that the claimant was the owner of such property imme-
diately prior to its vesting, or is the successor in interest of such 
owner by inheritance, devise, or bequest. 
If the court finds in favor of the claimant, it shall order the pay-
ment, conveyance, transfer, assignment, or delivery to said claimant 
of such property, or the net proceeds thereof, held by said designee or 
the portion thereof to which the court shall determine said claimant 
is entitled. If suit shall be so instituted, then such property, or, if 
liquidated, the net proceeds thereof, shall be retained in the custody 
of said designee until any final judgment or decree which shall be 
entered in favor of the claimant shall be fully satisfied, or until final 
judgment or decree shall be entered against the claimant or suit 
otherwise terminated. 
. "(b) Any person who has not instituted a suit under the provi-
sions of subsection (a) of this section may file a notice of claim under 
oath for the return of any property, or the net proceeds thereof, 
vested in a designee of the President pursuant to section 202 (a) and 
held by such designee. Such notice of claim shall be filed with said 
designee and in such form and containing such particulars as said 
designee shall require. Said designee may return any property so 
claimed, or the net proceeds thereof, whenever he shall determine— 
"(1) that the claimant is a person other than Bulgaria, Hun-
gary, or Rumania, or a national thereof as defined in Executive 
Order 8389 of April 10, 1940, as amended; and 
"(2) that the claimant was the owner of such property im-
mediately prior to its vesting, or is the successor in interest of 
such owner by inheritance, devise, or bequest. 
Any person whose claim is finally denied in whole or in part by said 
designee may obtain review of such denial by filing a petition therefor 
in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia 
Circuit. Such petition for review must be filed within sixty days after 
the date of mailing of the final order of denial by said designee and a 
copy must be served on the said designee. Within forty-five days 
after service of such petition for review, or within such further time 
as the court may grant for good cause shown, said designee shall tile 
an answer thereto, and shall certify and file with the court a transcript 
of the entire record of the proceedings with respect to such claim. 
The court may enter judgment affirming the order of the designee; or, 
upon finding that such order is not in accordance with law or that any 
material findings upon which such order is based are unsupported 
by substantial evidence, may enter judgment modifying or setting 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
565 
aside the order in whole or in part, and (1) directing a return of all 
or part of the property claimed, or (2) remanding the claim for 
further administrative proceedings thereon. If a notice of claim is 
filed under this subsection, the property which is the subject of such 
claim, or, if liquidated, the net proceeds thereof, shall be retained in 
the custody of said designee until any final order of said designee or 
any final judgment or decree which shall be entered in favor of the 
claimant shall be fully satisfied, or until a final order of said designee 
or a final judgment or decree shall be entered against the claimant, or 
the claim or suit otherwise terminated. 
"(c) The sole relief and remedy of any person having any claim 
to any property vested pursuant to section 202 (a) shall be that pro-
vided by the terms of subsection (a) or (b) of this section, and in the 
event of the liquidation by sale or otherwise of such property, shall 
be limited to and enforced against the net proceeds received therefrom 
and held by the designee of the President. The claim of any person 
based on his ownership of shares of stock or other proprietary interest 
in a corporation which was the owner of property at the date of vest-
ing thereof under section 202 (a) shall be allowable under subsection 
(a) or (b) of this section if 25 per centum or more of the outstanding 
capital stock or other proprietary interest in the corporation was 
owned at such date by nationals of countries other than Bulgaria, 
Hungary, Rumania, Germany, or Japan. 
But no such claim of a 
national of a foreign country shall be satisfied except after certification 
by the Department of State that the country of the national accords 
protection to nationals of the United States in similar types of cases. 
"(d) The designee of the President may retain or recover from 
any property, or the net proceeds thereof, returned pursuant to sub-
section (a) or (b) of this section an amount not exceeding that 
expended or incurred by him for the conservation, preservation, or 
maintenance of such property or proceeds, 
"SEC. 208. (a) Any property vested in the designee of the Presi-
dent pursuant to section 202 (a), or the net proceeds thereof, shall 
be equitably applied by such designee in accordance with this section 
to the payment of debts owed by the person who owned such property 
immediately prior to its vesting in such designee. No debt claim 
shall be allowed under this section— 
"(1) if it is asserted against Bulgaria, Hungary, or Rumania 
(including the government or any political subdivisions, agencies, 
or instrumentalities thereof); or 
"(2) if it is based upon an obligation expressed or payable 
in any currency other than the currency of the United States; or 
"(3) if it was not due and owing— 
" (A) on October 9,1940, in the event the property in respect 
of which such debt claim is filed was owned immediately 
prior to vesting by a national of Rumania; 
"(B) on March 4,1941, in the event the property in respect 
of which such debt claim is filed was owned immediately 
prior to vesting by a national of Bulgaria; or 
"(C) on March 13, 1941, in the event that the property in 
respect of which such debt claim is filed was owned imme-
diately prior to vesting by a national of Hungary. 
Any defense to the payment of such claim which would have been 
available to the debtor shall be available to the designee, except that 
the period from and after December 7, 1941, shall not be included for 
the purpose of determining the applicability of any statute of limita-
tions. Debt claims allowable under this section shall include only 
those of natural persons who were citizens of the United States at 
R e CO v e r y f o t 
maintenance, e t c 
Payment of debt 
claims. 
566 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9. 1955 
[69 
STAT» 
Notice in FR. 
D e t e r m i nation 
of designee. 
the dates their debtors became obligated to them; those of other 
natural persons who are and have been continuously since Decem-
ber 7,1941, residents of the United States; those of corporations organ-
ized under the laws of the United States or any State, Territory, or 
possession thereof, or the District of Columbia; and those acquired 
by the designee of the President under this title. 
Successors in 
interest by inheritance, devise, bequest, or operation of law of debt 
claimants, other than persons who would themselves be disqualified 
hereunder from allowance of a debt claim, shall be eligible for pay-
ment to the same extent as their principals or predecessors would have 
been. 
"(b) The designee of the President under this title shall fix a date 
or dates after which the filing of debt claims in respect of any or 
all debtors shall be barred, and may extend the time so fixed, and shall 
give at least sixty days' notice thereof by publication in the Federal 
Register. In no event shall the time extend beyond the expiration 
of one year from the date of the last vesting in the designee of the 
President of any property of a debtor in respect to whose debts the 
date is fixed. No debt shall be paid prior to the expiration of one 
hundred and twenty days after publication of the fii'st such notice 
in respect of the debtor, nor in any event shall any payment of a 
debt claim be made out of any property or proceeds in respect of 
which a suit or proceeding for return pursuant to this title is pending. 
"(c) The designee shall examine the claims, and such evidence 
in respect thereof as may be presented to him or as he may introduce 
into the record, and shall make a determination, with respect to each 
claim, of allowance or disallowance, in whole or in part. 
The deter-
mination of the designee that a claim is within either paragraph 
(1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section shall be final and shall 
not be subject to judicial review, and such claim shall not be con-
sidered a debt claim for any purpose under this section. 
Money available. 
"(d) Payment of debt claims shall be made only out of such money 
included in, or received as net proceeds from the sale, use, or other 
disposition of, any property owned by the debtor immediately prior 
to its vesting in the designee of the President, as shall remain after 
deduction of (1) the amount of the expenses of the designee (includ-
ing both expenses in connection with such property or proceeds there-
of, and such portion as the designee shall fix of his other expenses), 
and of taxes, as defined in section 212, paid by the designee in respect 
of such property or proceeds; and (2) such amount, if any, as the 
designee may establish as a cash reserve for the future payment of 
such expenses and taxes. If the money available hereunder for the 
payment of debt claims against the debtor is insufficient for the 
satisfaction of all claims allowed by the designee, ratable payments 
shall be made in accordance with subsection (g) of this section to 
the extent permitted by the money available and additional pay-
ments shall be made whenever the designee shall determine that 
substantial further money has become available, through liquidation 
of any such property or otherwise. 
The designee shall not be re-
quired, through any judgment of any court, levy of execution, or 
otherwise, to sell or liquidate any property vested in him, for the 
purpose of paying or satisfying any debt claim. 
"(e) If the aggregate of debt claims filed as prescribed does not 
exceed the money from which, in accordance with subsection (d) 
of this section, payment may be made, the designee shall pay each 
claim to the extent allowed, and shall serve by registered mail, on 
each claimant whose claim is disallowed in whole or in part, a notice 
of such disallowance. Within sixty days after the date of mailing 
of the designee's determination, any debt claimant whose claim has 
N o t i c e of di»-
tdlowance. 
69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
567 
been disallowed in whole or in part may file in the District Court 
of the United States for the District of Columbia a complaint for 
review of such disallowance naming the designee as defendant. 
Such 
complaint shall be served on the designee. 
The designee, within 
forty-five days after service on him, shall certify and file in said court 
a transcript of the record of proceedings with respect to the claim in 
question. Upon good cause shown such time may be extended by 
the court. 
Such record shall include the claim as filed, such evidence 
with respect thereto as may have been presented to the designee or 
introduced into the record by him, and the determination of the 
designee with respect thereto, including any findings made by him. 
The court may, in its discretion, take additional evidence, upon a 
showing that such evidence was offered to and excluded by the desig-
nee, or could not reasonably have been adduced before him or was 
not available to him. 
The court shall enter judgment affirming, modi-
fying, or reversing the designee's determination, and directing pay-
ment in the amount, if any, which it finds due. 
"(f) If the aggregate of debt claims filed as prescribed exceeds 
the money from which, in accordance with subsection (d) of this 
section, payment may be made, the designee shall prepare and serve 
by registered mail on all claimants a schedule of all debt claims allowed 
and the proposed payment to each claimant. 
In preparing such 
schedule, the designee shall assign priorities in accordance with sub-
section (g) of this section. 
Within sixty days after the date of 
mailing of such schedule, any claimant considering himself aggrieved 
may file in the District Court of the United States for the District 
of Columbia a complaint for review of such schedule, naming the 
designee as defendant. 
A copy of such complaint shall be served 
upon the designee and on each claimant named in the schedule. 
The 
designee, within forty-five days after service on him, shall certify 
and file in said court a transcript of the record of proceedings with 
respect to such schedule. Upon good cause shown such time may be 
extended by the court. 
Such record shall include the claims in ques-
tion as filed, such evidence with respect thereto as may have been 
presented to the designee or introduced into the record by him, any 
findings or other determinations made by the designee with respect 
thereto, and the schedule prepared by the designee. The court may, 
in its discretion, take additional evidence, upon a showing that such 
evidence was offered to and excluded by the designee or could not 
reasonably have been adduced before him or was not available to 
him. 
Any interested debt claimant who has filed a claim with the 
designee pursuant to this section, upon timely application to the 
court, shall be permitted to intervene in such review proceedings. 
The court shall enter judgment affirming or modifying the schedule 
as prepared by the designee and directing payment, if any be found 
due, pursuant to the schedule as affirmed or modified and to the extent 
of the money from which, in accordance with subsection (d) of this 
section, payment may be made. Pending the decision of the court 
on such complaint for review, and pending final determination of any 
appeal from such decision, payment may be made only to an extent, 
if any, consistent with the contentions of all claimants for review. 
"(g) Debt claims shall be paid in the following order of priority: 
(1) Wage and salary claims, not to exceed $600; (2) claims entitled 
to priority under sections 3466 and 3468 of the Revised Statutes (31 
U. S. C , sees. 191 and 193), except as provided in subsection (h) of 
this section; (3) all other claims for services rendered; for expenses 
incurred in connection with such services, for rent, for goods and mate-
rials delivered to the debtor, and for payments made to the debtor for 
goods or services not received by the claimant; (4) all other debt 
Schedtile of debt 
c l a i m s 
allowed, 
etc* 
Order of priority. 
568 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 
STAT< 
Hearings; etc. 
Time limitations. 
Service fees. 
claims. No payment shall be made to claimants within a subordinate 
class unless the money from which, in accordance with subsection (d) 
of this section, payment may be made permits payment in full of all 
allowed claims in every prior class. 
"(h) No debt of any kind shall be entitled to priority under any 
law of the United States or any State, Territory, or possession thereof, 
or the District of Columbia, solely by reason of becoming a debt due 
or owing to the United States as a result of its acquisition by the 
designee of the President under this title. 
"(i) The sole relief and remedy available to any person seeking 
satisfaction of a debt claim out of any property vested in the designee 
under section 202 (a), or the proceeds thereof, shall be the relief and 
remedy provided in this section, and suits for the satisfaction of debt 
claims shall not be instituted, prosecuted, or further maintained except 
in conformity with this section. 
No person asserting any interest, 
right, or title in any property or proceeds acquired by the designee 
shall be barred from proceeding pursuant to this title for the return 
thereof, by reason of any proceeding which he may have brought pur-
suant to this section; nor shall any security interest asserted by the 
creditor in any such property or proceeds be deemed to have been 
waived solely by reason of such proceeding. 
Nothing contained in 
this section shall bar any person from the prosecution of any suit at 
law or in equity against the original debtor or against any other per-
son who may be liable for the payment of any debt for which a claim 
might have been filed hereunder. 
No purchaser, lessee, licensee, or 
other transferee of any property from the designee shall, solely by 
reason of such purchase, lease, license, or transfer, become liable for 
the payment of any debt owed by the person who owned such property 
prior to its vesting in the designee. 
Payment by the designee to any 
debt claimant shall constitute, to the extent of payment, a discharge 
of the indebtedness represented by the claim. 
"SEC. 209. The officer or agency designated by the President under 
this title to entertain claims under section 207 (b) and section 208 shall 
have power to hold such hearings as may be deemed necessary; to 
prescribe rules and regulations governing the form and contents of 
claims, the proof thereof, and all other matters related to proceedings 
on such claims; and in connection with such proceedings to issue sub-
penas, administer oaths, and examine witnesses. 
Such powers, and 
any other powers conferred upon such officer or agency b^ section 207 
(b) and section 208 may be exercised through subordinate officers 
designated by such officer or agency. 
"SEC. 210. No suit may be instituted pursuant to section 207 (a) 
after the expiration of one year from the date of vesting of the 
property in respect of which relief is sought. 
No return may be 
made pursuant to section 207 (b) unless notice of claim has been 
filed within one year from the date of vesting of the property in re-
spect of which the claim is filed. 
"SEC. 211. No property or proceeds shall be returned under this 
title, nor shall any payment be made or judgment awarded in re-
spect of any property vested in any officer or agency designated by 
the President under this title unless satisfactory evidence is furnished 
to said designee, or the court, as the case may be, that the aggregate 
of the fees to be paid to all agents, attorneys at law or in fact, or 
representatives, for services rendered in connection with such return 
or payment or judgment does not exceed 10 per centum of the value 
of such property or proceeds or of such payment. 
Any agent, at-
torney at law or in fact, or representative, believing that the aggre-
gate of the fees should be in excess of such 10 per centum may, in the 
case of any return of, or the making of any payment in respect of, 
€9 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
569 
such property or proceeds by the President or such officer or agency 
as he may designate, petition the district court of the United States 
for the district in which he resides for an order authorizing fees in 
excess of 10 per centum and shall name such officer or agency as re-
spondent. 
The court hearing such petition or a court awarding 
any judgment in respect of any such property or proceeds, as the 
case may be, shall approve an aggregate of fees in excess of 10 per 
centum of the value of such property or proceeds only upon a finding 
that there exist special circumstances of unusual hardship which re-
quire the payment of such excess. Any person accepting any fee 
in excess of an amount approved under this section, or retaining for 
more than thirty days any portion of a fee, accepted prior to such 
approval, in excess of the fee as approved, shall be guilty of a violation 
of this title. 
"SEC. 212. (a) The vesting in any officer or agency designated 
TaxeB. 
by the President under this title of any property or the receipt by 
such designee of any earnings, increment, or proceeds thereof shall 
not render inapplicable any Federal, State, Territorial, or local tax 
for any period before or after such vesting. 
"(b) The officer or agency designated by the President under this 
title shall, notwithstanding the filing of any claim or the institution 
of any suit under this title, pay any tax incident to any such prop-
erty, or the earnings, increment, or proceeds thereof, at the earliest 
time appearing to him to be not contrary to the interest of the 
United States. 
The former ownei* shall not be liable for any such 
tax accruing while such property, earnings, increment, or proceeds 
are held by such designee, unless they are returned pursuant to this 
title without payment of such tax by the designee. Every such tax 
shall be paid by the designee to the same extent, as nearly as may be 
deemed practicable, as though the property had not been vested, and 
shall be paid only out of the property, or earnings, increment, or 
proceeds thereof, to which they are incident or out of other property 
acquired from the same former owner, or earnings, increment, or 
proceeds thereof. 
No tax liability may be enforced from any prop-
erty or the earnings, increment, or proceeds thereof while held by the 
designee except with his consent. Where any property is trans-
ferred, otherwise than pursuant to section 207 (a) or 207 (b) hereof, 
the designee may transfer the property free and clear of any tax, 
except to the extent of any lien for a tax existing and perfected at 
the date of vesting, and the proceeds of such transfer shall, for tax 
purposes, replace the property in the hands of the designee. 
"(c) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, 
the manner of computing any Federal taxes, including without limi-
tation by reason of this enumeration, the applicability in such com-
putation of credits, deductions, and exemptions to which the former 
owner is or would be entitled, and the time and manner of any pay-
ment of such taxes and the extent of any compliance by the designee 
with provisions of Federal law and regulations applicable with re-
spect to Federal taxes, shall be in accordance with regulations pre-
scribed by the Secretary of the Treasury to effectuate this section. 
Statutes of limitations on assessments, collection, refund, or credit of 
Federal taxes shall be suspended with respect to any vested property 
or the earnings, increment, or proceeds thereof, while vested and for 
six months thereafter; but no interest shall be paid upon any refund 
with respect to any period during which the statute of limitations is 
so suspended. 
"(d) The word 'tax' as used in this section shall include, without 
limitation by reason of this enumeration, any property, income, excess-
profits, war-profits, excise, estate, and employment tax, import duty, 
570 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 S T AT 
D e t e r m i nation 
of expenses, etc. 
Liens, etc. 
Penalties. 
and special assessment; and also any interest, penalty, additional 
amount, or addition thereto not arising from any act, omission, 
neglect, failure, or delay on the part of the designee. 
"SEC. 213. Prior to covering the net proceeds of liquidation of any 
property into the Treasury pursuant to section 202 (a), the designee 
of the President under this title shall determine— 
"(1) the amount of his administrative expenses attributable 
to the performance of his functions under this title with respect 
to such property and the proceeds thereof. The amount so deter-
mined, together with an amount not exceeding that expended or 
incurred for the conservation, preservation, or maintenance of 
such property and the proceeds thereof, and for taxes in respect 
of same, shall be deducted and retained by the designee from the 
proceeds otherwise covered into the Treasury; and 
"(2) that the time for the institution of a suit under section 
207 (a), for the filing of a notice of claim under section 207 (b), 
and for the filing of debt claims under section 208 has elapsed. 
The determinations of the designee under this section shall be final 
and conclusive. 
"SEC. 214. No property conveyed, transferred, assigned, delivered, 
or paid to the designee of the President under this title, or the net 
proceeds thereof, shall be liable to lien, attachment, garnishment, 
trustee process, or execution, or subject to any order or decree of any 
court, except as provided in this title. 
"SEC. 215. AVhoever shall willfully violate any provision of this 
title or any rule or regulation issued hereunder, and whoever shall 
willfully violate, neglect, or refuse to comply with any order of the 
President or of a designee of the President under this title, issued in 
compliance with the provisions of this title shall be fined not more 
than $5,000, or, if a natural person, imprisoned for not more than 
five years, or both; and the officer, director, or agent of any corporation 
who knowingly participates in such violation shall be punished by 
a like fine, imprisonment, or both. 
"TITLE III 
61 Stat., pt. 2. 
" C L A I M S 
A G A I N S T BULGARIA, HUNGARY, RUMANIA, ITALY, ^ND THE 
SOVIET UNION 
"SEC. 301. As used in this title the term— 
"(1) 'Person' means a natural person, partnership, association, 
other unincorporated body, corporation, or body politic. 
"(2). 'National of the United States' means (A) a natural person 
who is a citizen of the United States, or who owes permanent alle-
giance to the United States, and (B) a corporation or other legal 
entity which is organized under the laws of the United States, any 
State or Territory thereof, or the District of Columbia, if natural 
persons who are nationals of the United States own, directly or indi-
rectly, more than 50 per centum of the outstanding capital stock or 
other beneficial interest in such legal entity. It does not include aliens. 
"(3) 'Treaty of peace', with respect to a country, means the treaty 
of peace with that country signed at Paris, France, February 10,1947, 
which came into force between that country and the United States on 
September 15, 1947. 
'^(4) 'Memorandum of Understanding' means the Memorandum of 
Understanding between the United States and Italy regarding Italian 
assets in the United States and certain claims of nationals of the 
United States, signed at Washington, District of Columbia, August 
14, 1947 (61 Stat. 3962). 
69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
571 
"(5) 'Soviet Government' means the Union of Soviet Socialist Re-
publics, including any of its present or former constituent republics, 
other political subdivisions, and any territories thereof, as constituted 
on or prior to November 16, 1933. 
"(6) 'Litvinov Assignment' means (A) the communication dated 
November 16, 1933, from Maxim Litvinov to President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt, wherein the Soviet Government assigned to the Govern-
ment of the United States amounts admitted or found to be due it 
as the successor of prior governments of Russia, or otherwise, pre-
paratory to a final settlement of the claims outstanding between the 
two Governments and the claims of their nationals; (B) the com-
munication dated November 16, 1933, from President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt to Maxim Litvinov, accepting such assignment; and (C) 
the assignments executed by Serge Ughet on August 25, 1933, and 
November 15, 1933, assigning certain assets to the Government of 
the United States. 
"(7) 'Russian national' includes any corporation or business asso-
ciation organized under the laws, decrees, ordinances, or acts of the 
former Empire of Russia or of any government successor thereto, and 
subsequently nationalized or dissolved or whose assets were taken 
over by the Soviet Government or which was merged with any other 
corporation or organization by the Soviet Government. 
"(8) 'Commission' means the Foreign Claims Settlement Commis-
sion of the United States, established pursuant to Reorganization 
Plan Numbered 1 of 1954 (68 Stat. 1279). 
"(9) 'Property' means any property, right, or interest. 
"SEC. 302. There are hereby created in the Treasury of the United 
States five funds to be known as the Bulgarian Claims Fund, the Hun-
garian Claims Fund, the Rumanian Claims Fund, the Italian Claims 
Fund, and the Soviet Claims Fund. The Secretary of the Treasury 
shall cover into each of the Hungarian, Rumanian, and Bulgarian 
Claims Funds, the funds attributable to the respective country or its 
nationals covered into the Treasury pursuant to subsections (a) and 
(b) of section 202 of this Act. The Secretary of the Treasury shall 
cover into the Italian Claims Fund the sum of $5,000,000 paid to the 
United States by the Government of Italy pursuant to article II of 
the Memorandum of Understanding. The Secretary shall cover into 
the Treasury the funds collected by the United States pursuant to the 
Litvinov Assignment (including postal funds due prior to November 
16,1933, to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics because of money 
orders certified to that country for payment) and shall cover into 
the Soviet Claims Fund the funds so covered into the Treasury. The 
Secretary shall deduct from each claims fund 5 per centum thereof 
as reimbursement to the Government of the United States for the 
expenses incurred by the Commission and by the Treasury Depart-
ment in the administration of this title. 
Such deduction shall be 
made before any payment is made out of such fund under section 310. 
All amounts so deducted shall be covered into the Treasury to the 
credit of miscellaneous receipts. 
"SEC. 303. The Commission shall receive and determine in accord-
ance with applicable substantive law, including international law, 
the validity and amounts of claims of nationals of the United States 
against the Governments of Bulgaria, Hungary, and Rumania, or 
any of them, arising out of the failure to— 
"(1) restore or pay compensation for property of nationals 
of the United States as required by article 23 of the treaty of 
peace with Bulgaria, articles 26 and 27 of the treaty of peace 
with Hungary, and articles 24 and 25 of the treaty of peace 
22 
note« u s e 
1621 
Claims Funds. 
61 Stat. 3962. 
C l a i m s of U.S. 
nationals. 
572 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 S T A T . 
6 1 Stat., pt. 2. 
61 Stat. 3962. 
Court judgments. 
P r e f e r e n t i a l 
claims. 
P u b l i c ation in 
FR of time limits. 
with Rumania. 
Awards under this paragraph shall be in 
amounts not to exceed two-thirds of the loss or damage actually 
sustained; 
"(2) pay effective compensation for the nationalization, com-
pulsory liquidation, or other taking, prior to the effective date of 
this title, of property of nationals of the United States in Bul-
garia, Hungary, and Rumania; and 
"(3) meet obligations expressed in currency of the United 
States arising out of contractual or other rights acquired by 
nationals of the United States prior to April 24, 1941, in the 
case of Bulgaria, and prior to September 1, 1939, in the case of 
Hungary and Rumania, and which became payable prior to Sep-
tember 15,1947. 
"SEC. 304. The Commission shall receive and determine, in accord-
ance with the Memorandum of Understanding and applicable sub-
stantive law, including international law, the validity and amount 
of claims of nationals of the United States against the government 
of Italy arising out of the war in which Italy was engaged from 
June 10, 1940, to September 15, 1947, and with respect to which 
provision was not made in the treaty of peace with Italy. 
"SEC. 305. (a) The Commission shall receive and determine in 
accordance with applicable substantive law, including international 
law, the validity and amounts of— 
"(1) claims of nationals of the United States against a Russian 
national originally accruing in favor of a national of the United 
States with respect to which a judgment was entered in, or a war-
rant of attachment issued from, any court of the United States or 
of a State of the United States in favor of a national of the 
United States, with which judgment, or warrant of attachment 
a lien w^as obtained by a national of the United States, prior to 
November 16, 1933, upon any property in the United States 
which has been taken, collected, recovered, or liquidated by the 
Government of the United States pursuant to the Litvinov 
Assignment. 
Awards under this paragraph shall not exceed 
the proceeds of such property as may have been subject to the 
lien of the judgment or attachment; nor, in the event that such 
proceeds are less than the aggregate amount of all valid claims 
so related to the same property, exceed an amount equal to the 
proportion which each such claim bears to the total amount of 
such proceeds; and 
"(2) claims, arising prior to November 16, 1933, of nationals 
of the United States against the Soviet Government. 
"(b) Any judgment entered in any court of the United States or 
of a State of the United States shall be binding upon the Commission 
in its determination, under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this 
section, of any issue which was determined by the court in which the 
judgment was entered. 
"(c) The Commission shall give preference to the disposition of the 
claims referred to in paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of this section, 
over all other claims presented to it under this title. 
"SEC. 306. Within sixty days after the date of enactment of this 
title, or wdthin sixty days after the date of enactment of legislation 
making appropriations to the Commission for payment of adminis-
trative expenses incurred in carrying out its functions under this title, 
whichever date is later, the Commission shall publish in the Federal 
Register the time when and the limit of time within which claims may 
be filed under this title, which limit shall not be more than one year 
after such publication, except that with respect to claims under section 
305 this limit shall not exceed six months. 
69 S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
573 
"SEC. 307. The amount of any award made pursuant to this title 
based on a claim of a national of the United States other than the 
national of the United States to whom the claim originally accrued 
shall not exceed the amount of the actual consideration last paid 
therefor either prior to January 1, 1953, or between that date and 
the filing of the claim, whichever is less. 
"SEC. 308. The Commission shall as soon as possible, and in the 
order of the making of such awards, certify to the Secretary of the 
Treasury, in terms of United States currency, each award made 
pursuant to this title. 
"SEC. 309. All payments authorized under this title shall be dis-
bursed exclusively from the claims fund attributable to the country 
with respect to which the claims are allowed pursuant to this title. All 
amounts covered into the Treasury to the credit of the claims funds 
created by section 302 are hereby permanently appropriated for the 
making of the payments authorized under this title. 
"SEC. 310. (a) The Secretary of the Treasury shall make payments 
on account of awards certified by the Commission pursuant to this title 
as follows: 
"(1) Payment in full of the principal amount of each award made 
pursuant to section 305 (a) (1) and each award of $1,000 or less made 
pursuant to section 303 or 304; 
"(2) Payment in full of the principal amount of each award of 
$1,000 or less made pursuant to section 305 (a) (2); 
"(3) Payment in the amount of $1,000 on account of the principal 
of each award of more than $1,000 in amount made pursuant to section 
303, 304, or 305 (a) (2) ; 
"(4) After completing the payments under the preceding para-
graphs of this subsection from any one fund, payments from time to 
time, in ratable proportions, on account of the then unpaid principal 
of all awards in the principal amount of more than $1,000, according 
to the proportions which the unpaid principal of such awards bear 
to the total amount in the fund available for distribution on account 
of such awards at the time such payments are made; 
" (5) After payment has been made in full of the principal amounts 
of all awards from any one fund, pro rata payments from the re-
mainder of such fund then available for distribution on account of 
accrued interest on such awards as bear interest. 
"(b) Such payments, and applications for such payments, shall be 
made in accordance with such regulations as the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall prescribe. 
"(c) For the purposes of making any such payments, an 'award' 
shall be deemed to mean the aggregate of all awards certified in favor 
of the same claimant and payable from the same fund. 
"(d) With respect to any claim which, at the time of the award, is 
vested in persons other than the person to whom the claim originally 
accrued, the Commission may issue a consolidated award in favor of 
all claimants then entitled thereto, which award shall indicate the 
respective interests of such claimants therein; and all such claimants 
shall participate, in proportion to their indicated interests, in the 
payments provided by this section in all respects as if the award had 
been in favor of a single person. 
"SEC. 311. (a) If a corporation or other legal entity has a claim on 
which an award may be made under this title, no award may be made 
to any other person under this title with respect to such claim. 
"(b) A claim based upon an interest, direct or indirect, in a corpora-
tion or other legal entity which directly suffered the loss with respect 
to which the claim is asserted, but which was not a national of the 
United States at the time of the loss, shall be acted upon without regard 
Award amount. 
Certification 
Treasury, 
P a y m e n t s by 
Treasury. 
"Award". 
Interest 
poration. 
in cor-
574 
PUBLIC LAW 285-AUG. 9, 1955 
[69 
S T A T , 
C o l l a b o r ators 
with hostile coun-
tries. 
62 Stat. 807. 
Unpaid balance 
of claim, etc. 
Finality of Com-
mission's action. 
^propriations. 
Ante, p. 457. 
Co mpl e tion of 
C o m mi s s i o n ' s 
affairs. 
P a yme nt 
fo r 
services. 
Penalty. 
to the nationality of such legal entity if at the time of the loss at least 
25 per centum of the outstanding capital stock or other beneficial 
interest in such entity was owned, directly or indirectly, by natural 
persons who were nationals of the United States. 
"SEC. 312. No award shall be made under this title to or for the 
benefit of any person who voluntarily, knowingly, and without duress, 
gave aid to or collaborated with or in any manner served any govern-
ment hostile to the United States during World War II, or who has 
been convicted of a violation of any provision of chapter 115, of 
title 18, of the United States Code, or of any other crime involving 
disloyalty to the United States. 
"SEC. 313. Payment of any award made pursuant to section 303 
or 305 shall not, unless such payment is for the full amount of the 
claim, as determined by the Commission to be valid, with respect to 
which the award is made, extinguish such claim, or be construed to 
have divested any claimant, or the United States on his behalf, of 
any rights against the appropriate foreign government or national for 
the unpaid balance of his claim or for restitution of his property. 
All awards or payments made pursuant to this title shall be without 
prejudice to the claims of the United States against any foreign 
government. 
"SEC. 314. The action of the Commission in allowing or denying any 
claim under this title shall be final and conclusive on all questions of 
law and fact and not subject to review by any other official of the 
United States or by any court by mandamus or otherwise, and the 
Comptroller General shall allow credit in the accounts of any certify-
ing or disbursing officer for payments in accordance with such action. 
"SEC. 315. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such 
sums as may be necessary to enable the Commission and the Treasury 
Department to pay their administrative expenses incurred in carrying 
out their functions under this title. 
"SEC. 316. The Commission shall complete its affairs in connection 
with the settlement of claims pursuant to section 305 (a) (1) not 
later than two years, and all other claims pursuant to this title not 
later than four years, following the date of enactment of this title, 
or following the date of enactment of legislation making appropria-
tions to the Commission for the payment of administrative expenses 
incurred in carrying out its functions under this title, whichever date 
is later. 
"SEC. 317. (a) The total remuneration paid to all agents, attorneys-
at-law or in fact, or representatives, for services rendered on behalf 
of any claimant in connection with any claim filed with the Com-
mission shall not exceed 10 per centum of the total amount paid under 
this title on account of such claim, or such greater amount as may be 
determined pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Any agree-
ment to the contrary shall be unlawful and void. Whoever, in the 
United States or elsewhere, demands or receives, on account of services 
so rendered, any remuneration which, together with all remunera-
tion paid to other persons on account of such services and of which 
he has notice, is in excess of the maximum permitted by this section, 
shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than 
twelve months, or both. 
"(b) Not later than three months after the Commission has com-
l^leted its affairs in connection with the settlement of all claims pay-
able from the fund from which an award is payable, any agent, at-
torney-at-law or in fact, or representative who believes that the total 
remuneration for services rendered in connection with the claim upon 
which such award is made should exceed the maximum otherwise per-
mitted by this section may, pursuant to such procedure as the Com-
69 
S T A T . ] 
PUBLIC LAW 287-AUG. 9, 1955 
575 
mission shall prescribe by regulation, petition the Commission for an 
order authorizing the payment of remuneration in excess of such 
maximum. 
The Commission shall issue such an order only upon a 
finding that there exist special circumstances of unusual hardship 
which require the payment of such excess; and such order shall state 
the amount of the excess which may so be paid. 
The determination 
of the Commission in ruling upon such petition shall be within the 
sole discretion of the Commission and shall not be subject to review 
by any court. 
"SEC. 318. The following provisions of title I shall be applicable 
to this title: Subsections (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), and (j) of section 
4; and subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 7." 
SEC. 4. Public Resolution Numbered 36, Seventy-sixth Congress, 
approved August 4, 1939 (53 Stat. 1199), entitled "Resolution to pro-
vide for the adjudication by a Commissioner of Claims of American 
nationals against the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist 
Republics", is hereby repealed. 
Approved August 9, 1955. 
Ante, p. 562> 
Repeal. 
Public Law 286 
CHAPTER 646 
AN ACT 
To authorize the dual employment of custodial employees in post oflSee buildings 
operated by the General Services Administration, and for other purposes. 
Augiist 9, 1955 
[S. 2403] 
Be if enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That the Postmaster 
General, with the consent of the Administrator of General Services, 
may appoint custodial employees working under the jurisdiction of 
the General Services Administration at Federal buildings occupied 
in any part by the postal service to positions in the postal service to 
perform postal duties in addition to their regular duties as such 
custodial employees, without regard to section 2 of the Act of July 31, 
1894, as amended (IT. S. C, title 5, sec. 62). Such employees shall be 
paid compensation at the rate provided by law for each position, 
without regard to the provisions of sections 1763, 1764, and 1765 of 
the Revised Statutes, as amended (U. S. C , title 5, sees. 58, 69, and 
70). 
Approved August ^, 1955. 
C u s t o d i a l em-
ployees, GSA. 
D u a l e m p l o y -
ment. 
28 Stat. 205. 
Public Law 287 
AN ACT 
CHAPTER 647 
To provide recognition of the fiftieth anniversary of the Devils Tovper National 
Monument, Wyoming, the first national monument, established by the President 
of the United States pursuant to the Antiquities Act of 1906; to authorize the 
addition of certain land to the monument, to permit land exchanges, and 
for other purposes. 
August 9, 1955 
[S. 2049] 
Be it enacted ly the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That, in recognition 
of the fiftieth anniversary of the Devils Tower National Monument, 
Wyoming, the first national monument, established on September 24, 
1906, by the President of the United States pursuant to the Antiquities 
Act of 1906, and in order to provide suitable public campground 
facilities and other developments for the public benefit and to facilitate 
administration thereof, the Devils Tower National Monument here-
D e v i l s Tower 
N a t i o n a l Monu-
ment. 
34 Stat. 225. 
16 u s e 431-433.