War time memories and echoes of Turkish military methods during the advance of the British army into Palestine were revived here, when war claims of American nationals against the Turkish government came up for consideration before a mixed claims tribunal.
Claims of other nationals against the Turkish government were settled immediately after the World War, but the claims of American citizens were delayed owing to the protracted negotiations between the two governments.
The first meeting of the mixed claims commission, consisting of American and Turkish representatives was held in Istanbul on August 15, 1933. The commission agreed that all claims must be filed by August 15, 1934.
Over 220 Americans now in Palestine are claiming damages from the Turkish government for losses suffered during the war. Max Rhoade, Washington attorney, now in Palestine, represents 150 claimants. The total number of American claimants exceeds 1,500 and they ask hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages from the Turkish government.
The payment of the claims is to be fixed by special assessment at a future meeting of the mixed claims commission. The entire matter is governed by the Turkish-American Treaty signed on August 6, 1923. According to the terms of the treaty claims were to be adjusted by a commission chosen by the two governments.
A note exchanged between the two governments states: “Both governments are in accord in regard to the designation by each government of two representatives as members of a committee which will meet at Istanbul six months after the exchange of ratifications of the treaty signed at Lausanne, August 6, 1923, concerning the general relations between the United States and Turkey. This committee is to proceed to the examination of the claims presented by either government.”
The entire matter of the claims is now in the hands of the claims commission and a judgment is expected at an early date.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
