Jewish Groups in U.S. to Get $3,000,000 in Heir Less Property

A conference committee of the House and Senate is processing a bill which would make available to Jewish organizations up to $3,000,000 in heirless German Jewish property now held in the United States by the Alien Property Custodian.

The bill would empower the President to designate certain organizations to act as heirs, and to use the funds for the benefit of persecutees of Jewish faith. Certain safeguards are established. There is a limit placed upon the amount of property which may be turned over. That limit is $3,000,000.

In explaining the bill, Rep. Arthur G. Klein said “many of these people whose property was taken from them” died during the pending of legal proceedings and could not get their money or property returned. Their heirs were entitled to it, be explained; Hitler’s extermination of Jews wiped out so many family groups that no heirs were left in numerous cases. Therefore the property is still being held, and it is this property, or up to $3,000,000 worth of it, which will now go to appropriate Jewish organizations.

EISENHOWER OPPOSES RETURN OF SEIZED GERMAN ASSETS

At the same time, it became known here today that President Eisenhower has notified Chancellor Konrad Adenauer of Germany that the White House does not back a bill now pending in Congress to return to their former owners assets seized from German individuals or firms during World War II.

Sen. Everett M. Dirksen is sponsor of the bill, which would return at least $450,000,000 worth of such assets to those who owned the property when the U.S.A. and the Nazi regime went to war. The bill stands little chance of passage at this session of Congress.