Announce Official Registration Period for Claims for Property Owned by U.S. Nationals in East German

The U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, an independent federal agency, has announced the beginning of the official registration period for claims for the loss of property owned by U.S. nationals in the German Democratic Republic (East Germany). The claims, according to a press statement issued by the commission dated Feb. 1, are those which arose prior to or since 1945 and which have not otherwise been settled. The deadline for the five-month registration period is July 1 of this year.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency was informed today at the commission that, in general, nonproperty claims such as those resulting from Nazi persecutions and murder of Jews are not included in this registration. “As a general rule.” Robert Maddex, a lawyer in the office of the commission’s general counsel, said of the registration, “property in question had to be owned by a U.S. citizen at the time of loss.” He noted that the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany is handling other types of claims. The Conference is at 15 East 26 St., New York, N.Y. 10010.

At the time the U.S. and East Germany initiated diplomatic relations in September 1974, State Department officials said that the Conference and an organization to be set up by East Germany would negotiate the claims against Nazi Germany. Maddex said that the claims the U.S. Commission would review include personal real property confiscated prior to or since 1945, including stocks in companies that were nationalized. The claims, he said, are strictly confined to American citizens.

The registration of claims is for the purpose of providing information for the negotiations with East Germany, the press statement noted. “The registration of a claim at this time will not constitute the filing of a formal claim against the German Democratic Republic nor will it ensure such a claim will be covered by any future agreement,” the statement said. It urged “individuals and businesses that suffered property losses in East Germany” to contact the Commission’s Washington office whose zip code is 20574.