ALIEN ENEMY

At the outbreak of the World War the position of enemy aliens within the belligerent countries became an acute problem. Inflamed public opinion saw in every alien a potential spy, and during the first few months of the war many innocent persons suffered. All countries adopted strict regulations for the interment or deportation of enemy aliens, and their property was sequestrated. In the United States, even before actual participation in the war, aliens of German and Austrian birth were extremely active in spreading propaganda and also in more forceful measures. These took the form of the blowing up of munition plants and bridges, and the attempted destruction of ships carrying munitions and food to England and France. When war was formally declared with Germany, German aliens in the United States were at once interned and their property which amounted to over half a billion dollars, was taken over by the United States and placed in the hands of the Alien Property Custodian who, wherever po ible, transferred the property to American citizens. The property of Americans in Germany was likewise taken over by the German government. The treaty of peace between Germany and the United States provided for am adjustment of the property rights of the citizens of both countries, but there still remained in the hands of the Alien Property Custodian, in 1923, German _ property valued at over $250,000,000, which awaited adjudication.